An enterprising solution in Victoria to the shortage of grounds

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Brighton Grammar redeveloped its playing fields and installed an artifical playing surface, then hired it back to a large junior club. Smart and sustainable! This is the way to go and not just for schools.

Grammar helps Sandy to beat the drought
Written by Craig Mackenzie / Friday 13th November 2009

SANDRINGHAM soccer club juniors have signed a three-year agreement with Brighton Grammar believed to be in excess of $100,000.


One of the state-of-the art synthetic surfaces at Brighton Grammar.

The agreement gives Sandringham year-long access to the school’s recently developed synthetic pitch and football facilities in what is understood to be the first significant community-style sports relationship entered into by the Anglican boys school based in Melbourne’s bayside suburbs.

Brighton Grammar launched a $3.5 million redevelopment of its three playing fields late last year with the Mitchell Oval being extended, levelled and transformed into a world class soccer pitch.

Last season Sandringham soccer club fielded 59 junior and sub-junior teams and ranks just behind neighbouring junior club Brighton in terms of registered participants. Brighton is the largest junior club in Victoria.
“Basically we want to provide a pathway for children from around five and six (years old) to progress into elite competition,” said Sandringham president Simon Polinelli.
“Bayside and so many other councils have a well-documented problem with water and one of the answers to this problem is a synthetic surface.”

GW believes that Sandringham will pay Brighton Grammar $35,000 a year over the course of the agreement but Polinelli was loathe to discuss a specific figure.
“I’m not going to get into a discussion about commercial arrangements but obviously a significant fee is involved.”