Renovated Grandstand for the Wingham Tigers
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SportsTranscript
00:00 So what we have now here Mick is, we've got a four metre platform here now where we actually,
00:04 you've got the best view of the ground you know, and this area will become pretty much
00:09 our, I guess you could call it corporate, it might be two bigger words for us here at Wigan,
00:13 but you know what I mean, it's going to be where we can have sponsors and they can bring their
00:17 workers or whatever here for the day and enjoy a day watching the footy from up here with some
00:21 beer and some food. You know obviously the cost, again we're just trying to make it a better day
00:26 of the footy for people and I think you know we've done the right thing with this area,
00:30 we'll have some nice new furniture in that area and as I said you've got the best view in the
00:33 ground. And this will be the first major work done here since 1977, I wonder if half of them
00:38 are obviously stuff over there. Yeah pretty much since it was first built, yeah. The council got
00:43 no blueprint for the plans for the original plans I reckon, they lost them so because it was actually
00:47 Wigan Municipal Council. Yeah that's right. And obviously besides now obviously the improvements
00:53 and you've seen for yourself now the difference which obviously you'll show people with the new
00:57 grandstand going right out, the cover going right out, probably the playing surface, we spent about
01:02 10,000 bucks in topsoil in that in off-season. It's probably the playing surface has probably
01:08 never been in better condition for the last probably 20 years or so wouldn't you think Scotty?
01:12 Did Benny Walsh do that? Nah well nah he was a little bit involved but it's mainly just been
01:20 voluntary work from the club you know Stephen Blanche is back doing a lot with the ground and
01:24 obviously Mitch Collins has put a lot in as well you know his time. Any further plans? We do actually
01:30 all this down the front we're going to be concreting our footpath, disable access all the
01:36 way up here, replace all the pavers, concrete and that hopefully going to happen before we start the
01:41 season. Just once again club, people involved, volunteers, plenty of people, tradesmen that help.
01:48 Obviously we're looking at like a concrete path Mick from where the concrete finishes there now
01:52 so people with wheelchairs that'll have access. I mean Scotty where are we at as far as like
01:57 obviously our big project is a disability toilet. Obviously we don't have the funds for that, we're
02:06 always looking for grants for that. We've spoken to Mr Gillespie and that sort of stuff and
02:12 I guess we just got to wait and see what happens there but obviously that's a priority that then
02:17 probably makes us you know like possibility I suppose with our improvements with our change
02:21 rooms and that as well. We could be a chance of having a NRL trial or you know a divisional game
02:27 or something like that here you know who knows. Individual seating would be nice down here.
02:33 It's down the track and as I said like we've got to apply for grants now because council
02:38 have no money they've been crying poor for a long time. Disabled toilet is a top priority at the
02:44 moment so Mr Gillespie did mention to us that he'd get his office to look into it for us.
02:52 And obviously down the track improve I mean we've mentioned improved lighting,
02:57 a new fence right around the perimeter like actually the old fence on the outside Mick.
03:03 That's something we wouldn't mind updating as well but you know it's all down the track.
03:08 Yeah, you've got to have a plan mate. Yeah and um.
03:11 The grandstand's going to have a new name of course or a name. It doesn't look like you've
03:16 got a name at the moment does it? Yeah well that's actually been decided but of course we won't
03:21 unveil that till the first home game and of course the other big thing Mick which is a big thing you
03:25 know I thought now's the time with all the improvements we've had and that the grandstand
03:30 been you know all completely finished it's a time now to name the grandstand after
03:34 someone's or some fellas or whatever we do. It's the right time to do it I believe. We've also got
03:40 a new naming of the ground as well it's now the actual regional Australia Bank Stadium who um
03:45 who've become on the sponsors so there'll be signs you know as you said in your drawer and that now
03:49 you'll see it'll be regional Australia Bank Stadium Wingham it'll be no longer the Wingham
03:53 Sporting Complex and they've tied in for about a three-year deal at that. Okay and uh who's your
03:58 first game? We play Port City here so which will be a good drawer for us you know like um
04:05 oh look I regardless of who they bring with them I think if you know it it'll be a boom game for us
04:10 because we'll be announcing the grandstand's going to be named the official opening of this
04:13 of the you know the improvements it'll be a boom game for us um you know and again we're probably
04:19 going to have a competitive team again you know things are looking good off the field as well so
04:23 on the field so I dare say it'll be a boom day in the first game here. I'm pretty sure it's a
04:28 Saturday isn't it? Yeah. First round first week first week of the comp or the second week?
04:34 It'll probably change. No it's the first week yeah yeah yeah yeah very first game so.
04:38 And finally finally a club has looked after the most important people
04:45 the media. Group three to my knowledge first immediate room.
04:51 I get a bit large sitting in there by myself.
04:55 Just make sure you bring all the relevant parcels.
05:01 You know all the good thing that's happened over the last three or four years with the improvements
05:04 with obviously the the change rooms and you know our new canteen and obviously there in the end
05:09 the grandstand and that sort of stuff is unfortunately the thing is that two of the
05:13 blokes who were pretty instrumental in a lot of the stuff happening won't be here to celebrate
05:17 the day when we have the official opening and that obviously being Steve Bromhead who was you know our
05:21 state member correct? Yep. And then obviously Daniel Aldridge you know who was pretty heavily
05:26 involved through the council you know he's done a lot of good work for us and that and that's
05:29 probably the you know the bit of a barbature of those two blokes who had a lot to do with it
05:34 won't be here to celebrate and see the you know the final sort of results of their hard work.
05:40 So it started on the on the the extension of the the grandstand roof at the end of last
05:46 footy season so it's sort of been what three or four months and was finished at Christmas time
05:51 but obviously you know I personally I think it just makes the grandstand look three times bigger but
05:57 you know there's obviously a lot of work done by Marrick Engineering, local bloke Dave Wilson he
06:01 pretty much done all this and look I just think you know to have full coverage now of the
06:06 of the actual seated part of the grandstand is fantastic and it's all about our I guess it's
06:11 our club we're trying to you know improve every year we're trying to you know make ourselves a
06:16 better club make us a more friendly club to come and watch footy. You know we know we've got the
06:21 best food you know we we've probably nearly got the best amenities we've got the best beer we've
06:26 got the best crowd in group 340 and well actually the the club won the my shout steak sandwich of
06:31 the year last year for last season too. Oh absolutely magnificent straight from Wyngham
06:35 Beef Export sliced that morning I would dare say Scotty. You should go and get that story and put
06:39 it up in the thing then. I'll vouch for them. And obviously you know we have a good a good
06:47 interlink with the junior league as well in Wyngham working together there as well.
06:50 They're a new president this year. Yeah they got a new president and yeah like things are looking
06:56 good for the footy club you know and all right you know I probably personally myself you know
06:59 and I've been involved for a long time I think the club is probably financially I know we're in a
07:04 very good position but I think the club wise we're probably in as good as position as the club as we
07:09 were probably back to the baker days if you know what I mean you know 20 years ago. Yeah Mitch
07:14 Collins has brought a lot of good stuff into the club as a coach you know or we just want some
07:17 bloody premiership now. That's our that's our biggest dream before we all die so but as I said
07:23 you know I think there's a great feel about our club and I'm proud to be a part of it. Premiership
07:28 before we decide that's enough someone else can have a crack. Yeah so the good thing about the
07:32 green stand too is the roof's going the right way. That's a bonus. Doesn't always have any
07:39 groups. We're really happy with the final result and I'm sure you know if people haven't been out
07:45 to have a look yet when they get to come for the first time they'll be pleasantly surprised and
07:50 just as impressed as we are with it all so and we look forward obviously to seeing as many people as
07:54 we can on that first game I think it's the 27th of April when we'll actually you know unveil the
08:01 naming of the new grandstand as well which will be it'll be a great day for our footy club I'm sure.
08:07 you
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