St George Soccer Stadium
Encyclopedia
St. George Soccer Stadium is a recently-reopened football stadium
in Banksia, New South Wales
, Australia
.
who played in local competition until playing in the national competition at the time, the National Soccer League
. The ground occupies a part of Barton Park, next to Muddy Creek
, a tributary of the Cooks River
in Banksia
. Over time the stadium has been used less and less, commensurate with its dilapidation. The stadium has never been renovated over its lifespan.
In 2006, the St. George-Budapest club, now the St George Saints
, played their last match at the stadium, deeming it unsafe and unstable, with the grandstand on the verge of collapse. The St. George Saints now play at Belmore Sports Ground
, an arena outside the St.George district. In 2005 the St. George Saints were controversially axed from the new look New South Wales Premier League
and took legal action against the decision along with the Bonnyrigg White Eagles
, but were unsuccessful. They now play in the New South Wales Super League, which is one level below the state's highest, the NSW Premier League. The St. George Saints will be looking at liquiditing the club, entering them as a club team in the St. George Soccer Football Association due to rumour of them being demoted to the New South Wales State League Division One
in 2010.
There was some discussion in the media that the St. George Illawarra Dragons and Sydney FC
would play at a new stadium development at Barton Park, and for it to be transformed into Sydney
's first football-only venue, but these talks have dissipated, with the Dragons now playing at the newly redeveloped Jubilee Oval and Sydney FC staying at the Sydney Football Stadium in Moore Park.
Between 2007-2008 the ground was not fit to be used as a playing arena. It was widely vandalised with graffiti, with litter on the pitch and throughout the stand. In the grandstand the floor and seating was pulled out. The stand had structural cracks running through the side of it, leaving the grandstand covered in security fences, due to fears of it being unstable. Once the home ground of a dominant NSL
team, it appeared that the days of the 15,000 seat stadium were numbered.
decided that they would use St George Stadium for its upcoming home games in the 2009 New South Wales Super League season. They have been using this stadium ever since.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in Banksia, New South Wales
Banksia, New South Wales
Banksia is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Banksia is located 12 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Rockdale and is part of the St George area....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
History
The ground was opened in 1978 to be the home of St. George-BudapestSt George Saints
The St. George Saints Football Club are an Association football club based in the St. George region of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. The club plays its home games at St. George Stadium, after playing a brief stint at Belmore Sports Ground in the 2007-08. The St...
who played in local competition until playing in the national competition at the time, the National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
. The ground occupies a part of Barton Park, next to Muddy Creek
Muddy Creek
Muddy Creek may refer to:*Muddy Creek , a tributary of the Colorado River*Muddy Creek *Muddy Creek *Muddy Creek , a list of Muddy Creeks in the state*In Pennsylvania...
, a tributary of the Cooks River
Cooks River
The Cooks River is a 23 kilometre long urban waterway of south-western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia emptying into Botany Bay. The course of the river has been altered to accommodate various developments along its shore...
in Banksia
Banksia, New South Wales
Banksia is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Banksia is located 12 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Rockdale and is part of the St George area....
. Over time the stadium has been used less and less, commensurate with its dilapidation. The stadium has never been renovated over its lifespan.
In 2006, the St. George-Budapest club, now the St George Saints
St George Saints
The St. George Saints Football Club are an Association football club based in the St. George region of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. The club plays its home games at St. George Stadium, after playing a brief stint at Belmore Sports Ground in the 2007-08. The St...
, played their last match at the stadium, deeming it unsafe and unstable, with the grandstand on the verge of collapse. The St. George Saints now play at Belmore Sports Ground
Belmore Sports Ground
Belmore Sports Ground, formerly known as Belmore Oval, is a multi-purpose stadium in Belmore, New South Wales, Australia. The park covers and from 1951 has contained the Belmore Bowling Recreation Club green. It is close to Belmore railway station....
, an arena outside the St.George district. In 2005 the St. George Saints were controversially axed from the new look New South Wales Premier League
New South Wales Premier League
The New South Wales Premier League is the highest state-level men's soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. Nationally, it is considered one grade lower than the A-League...
and took legal action against the decision along with the Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Bonnyrigg White Eagles F.C. is a football club in Sydney currently playing in the New South Wales Premier League.- History :Established by Serbian migrants from the Cabramatta area of south-west Sydney, their primary supporter base has been the local Serbian community...
, but were unsuccessful. They now play in the New South Wales Super League, which is one level below the state's highest, the NSW Premier League. The St. George Saints will be looking at liquiditing the club, entering them as a club team in the St. George Soccer Football Association due to rumour of them being demoted to the New South Wales State League Division One
New South Wales State League Division One
The New South Wales State League Division One is the third-highest state level men's association football division in New South Wales, Australia. The competition is conducted by Football NSW, the state's governing body....
in 2010.
There was some discussion in the media that the St. George Illawarra Dragons and Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
would play at a new stadium development at Barton Park, and for it to be transformed into Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
's first football-only venue, but these talks have dissipated, with the Dragons now playing at the newly redeveloped Jubilee Oval and Sydney FC staying at the Sydney Football Stadium in Moore Park.
Between 2007-2008 the ground was not fit to be used as a playing arena. It was widely vandalised with graffiti, with litter on the pitch and throughout the stand. In the grandstand the floor and seating was pulled out. The stand had structural cracks running through the side of it, leaving the grandstand covered in security fences, due to fears of it being unstable. Once the home ground of a dominant NSL
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
team, it appeared that the days of the 15,000 seat stadium were numbered.
Current Uses of the Stadium
In March 2009, the St George SaintsSt George Saints
The St. George Saints Football Club are an Association football club based in the St. George region of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. The club plays its home games at St. George Stadium, after playing a brief stint at Belmore Sports Ground in the 2007-08. The St...
decided that they would use St George Stadium for its upcoming home games in the 2009 New South Wales Super League season. They have been using this stadium ever since.