From the CEO: Facilities Update

Dear Members and Supporters,

I am pleased to share an exciting update on our ongoing facility improvements at South Adelaide Football Club.

New Changeroom for Our Female Footballers

We have officially commenced demolition beneath the Jim Deane Grandstand to pave the way for a brand-new state of the art changeroom exclusively for our female footballers. With a generous $2 million grant from the State Government, our highly successful women’s team will soon have a dedicated facility to call their own. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to our State Government, outgoing Minister for Sport Katrine Hildyard, and the Office for Recreation, Sport & Racing for making this project possible.

Our female footballers have been extraordinarily patient since their formation in 2018, and I couldn’t be more excited to see this project finally moving forward. The girls will be delighted to now have more toilets than premierships—although that may soon change given their current form.

The new facility will offer a host of amenities including meeting, medical, locker, ice bath, toilet, shower, and storage facilities, which will no longer be shared with the men’s team. The current area, which has housed the Club’s Bistro storage and maintenance areas since 1995, will be repurposed, with maintenance functions moved to a new location.

Construction is in the capable hands of Alliance Commercial and will be managed by Place Project Management, with an expected completion time of four to five months.

Additional Club Enhancements

In addition to the changeroom project, I’m delighted to note that, as part of the State Government grant, we upgraded our 30-year-old irrigation system last November. The new, technology-driven system installed by BTM Turf Group will help maintain our oval’s standards while reducing water costs.

Due to some water damage from a burst pipe in the function room prior to Christmas, we will also be undertaking repair works in Jimmy Deane’s Bistro over the coming weeks. Please note that the Bistro will be closed for lunch on the following dates in February:

• Monday 10th
• Wednesday 12th
• Monday 17th
• Wednesday 19th

Additional repairs, including the installation of new carpets, are also scheduled later this month. During the construction of the female changeroom, some increased noise may be experienced in the Bistro; however, I hope this will not cause too much inconvenience. The Gaming Room will remain unaffected throughout these works.

Thank you for your continued support and patience as we work to enhance our club’s facilities for everyone. I look forward to sharing more updates as these projects progress. If you haven't already, there is still time to jump on board as a member and get your membership back before round 1. It is an exciting time around the place as our Senior Women's team look to chase back to back Premierships, and our Senior Men's team looks to continue their growth in 2025. 

Kind Regards,

Neill Sharpe
CEO, South Adelaide Football Club