First game confirmed @ Seddon Fields, 3pm V Weenix. Good way to start the season off.
all their games are supposedly to be played there
time was NZF(A) would kick teams out of the National League for not having an enclosed ground - obviously not a worry anymore!!!!
Suburbs have played at fencilbles ground last few years and that has no barriers or fences at all
For Suburbs, even less in the way of barriers or fences at Madills this year than Riverhills last year I would've thought
For Waitak at Seddon at least there is decent fence between spectators and the turf
why do we care about fences? Serious question.
It's our top league, playing on a park gives the impression that NZF and those clubs don't really care about the league or the fans
I get that but it clearly dosn't effect the quality seeing as last year Waitakere played in a Stadium and Suburbs played in a park and the quality on the field couldn't have been more different.
Ideally it would be great to get clubs into a stadium but not to any detriment to the on-field product.
I would say in Auckland that Seddon Fields is at the top end of Club venues (probably only behind Kiwitea Street) so I think it's a great move from Waitakere to play there instead of Trusts.
If the games were really well attended I would probably want to see more stadiums being used but the crowd numbers are just not there.
Eastern Suburbs played at Riverhills (Fencible's ground) which has metal barriers along the sidelines lines, and banks at either end.
As far as NZD is concerned, I don't think "a decent fence" is much of a priority compared to having spectator seating. Not sure how Seddon fields will solve that but Madills will have temporary seating up I imagine.
But I agree with you chopper, Seddon Fields is light years above playing out of Trusts Stadium where the best seats are literally 150 metres away from either goal posts.
If the pitch at Madills is better than Riverhills it's also a massive improvement there as well and I don't think anyone gives a fudge that it doesn't have a fence.
Long term I think clubs need to look at grounds like Glenfield, Ellerslie, or Birkenhead and developing them into Kiwitea-esque stadiums.
Chops, aren't Ellerslie's new club houses a step in that direction?
Kind of - although our new clubrooms won't be overlooking turf - they will be overlooking the grass as that has a bigger impact on our community.
This is my take on it - If a club really wants to charge for their games then they will have to find a venue to be externally fenced.
if the pitch is fenced (rope, pipe or other) it's a competition regulation and for me it dosn't matter which way that is achieved as long as things like pitch quality and changing rooms etc are meeting the standards.