Hume City unveils state-of-the-art facility20.12.2013
Broadmeadows Valley Park transformed into a $12.2 million football facility.
By Matthew McNamara
BROADMEADOWS Valley Park, home of Hume City Football Club, has been transformed into a $12.2 million state-of-the-art football facility.
The new stadium features a fully covered 580 seat grandstand, five change rooms, two match official change rooms, two club offices, two physio rooms and ample storage.
To top it off, the club has a large social function area which offers seating for up to 230 people and has a vantage point which allows 270-degree views of all pitches across the soccer precinct.
“It is a facility that is second to none across Victoria” said Hume City Football Operations Manager Hakan Dogan.
“We are the only club in Victoria that has sole access to an A-Class facility, day in and out for 52 weeks of the year.”
Dogan was thankful to the Hume City Council for its assistance.
“The Council has been fantastic, the leisure department played an integral part in assisting us with the development of this wonderful facility," he said.
"With the NPL around the corner, we feel that with the facility that we have now, and the licensed coaching staff we are getting on board, that this club will be well positioned as one of the premier clubs in Victoria and we encourage everybody from within the football community to come along to our open day on January 16 to view the facilities first hand.”
The social rooms offer a stunning view over the main pitch, but also offer views to the outside pitches.
Dogan said this was what the members of the club had been asking for years.
“It doesn’t matter what club you go to, parents seem to drop their kids off and go home because there is nothing else to do. We are trying to break that barrier down, and we have a large projector screen in our social rooms and a lovely bar setting," he said.
"Parents can stay in the warmth and still watch their kids train whilst enjoying a cup of coffee in our social rooms.”
Hume City senior coach Lou Acevski , who also doubles as the club's inaugural Technical Director, was also delighted with the new facility.
“For me, this is the best facility I have seen outside of the A-League. Next year we have stated that with the introduction of the NPL, we want our junior players to have the best: the best coaches, the best pitches and the best facilities," Acevski said.
"I think we can truly now say that we are ticking all of these boxes. We have three excellent pitches, including the (synthetic) pitch, plus construction is underway for another.
"We have the best social rooms, change room facilities and physio rooms. Myself and our coaching staff have designated offices. We hope to make the club a social hub for parents and players alike seven days of the week.”
Hume City only received the keys from Council on Tuesday, and work remains ongoing.
The club has committed itself to applying for an NPL licence for the 2014 season and beyond.
Hume City will have an open day on January 16, 2014 and invites all members of the football fraternity to attend to view the facilities.
See the pictures of Hume City's new facility
here