James Murphy
IT will not only be sporting action on show at the Nangwarry Football and Netball Club on Saturday, as the Saints open their new clubroom facilities to the public.
After disaster struck in 2019 and the club’s old building was destroyed in a suspicious fire, the wider community rallied to help the club back on its feet.
Now, after many hours from trades and volunteers alike, the new complex will be ready to open to the Mid South East Football League community this weekend when Nangwarry hosts Glencoe for Round 3 of the 2022 season.
Nangwarry Football Club president Shane Ploenges looks forward to the opening and the prospect of a successful season for the Saints.
“It has been a long drawn-out process but we can finally see that things are coming together and it looks really promising,” he said.
The new clubrooms will be similar in size to the original structure but with the addition of the canteen, booth and barbecue all under the one roof.
Ploenges said that would make the facility more “user-friendly” on game days.
He is also excited for socialising to return for spectators and players after games – something which had fizzled out due to the absence of a clubroom.
Plenty of socializing can be expected on Saturday, with a 25-year reunion for Nangwarry’s 1997 premiership also on the cards.
The grand final was fittingly played against Glencoe, which adds further interest to the day.
Just a few finishing touches are left to go on the clubrooms and Ploenges said it will be down to the wire but he is confident the facility will be all ready to go on game day.
With plenty happening off the field, the excitement is not exclusively on the sidelines this year, with the Saints’ A Grade football team appearing stronger than recent years and a positive vibe shared around the club.
“We got very close to a win in our first game,” Ploenges said.
“We will be a lot more competitive than what we have been for a few years.”
Ploenges is confident 2022 could be the year the Saints break their long-standing drought, with the last time A Grade footballers sang their team song way back in 2014.
“I think we will shake a few teams this year and hopefully we can pick up a couple of wins,” he said.
“It would be really good if we could get one this first home game, it would really get the place pumping.”
A win on Saturday might be a tough ask as Glencoe looks strong again this year.
However, nothing is set in stone and it would be the ultimate occasion for such a momentous moment in the club’s history.
