IT USED to be a field of sporting dreams, but now it’s an eyesore and will soon no longer exist.
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Tamworth’s Federation Park soccer fields used to be the place men and boys would take to the field to “bend it like Beckham”, but now it’s all bent out of shape.
The fields were left to rack and ruin after being abandoned in favour of Tamworth Regional Council’s new Gipps St sporting fields two years ago.
Ever since the Tamworth and District Soccer Federation moved out of the complex, the grounds surrounding the now-dilapidated clubhouse have played host to several activities.
Most recently it’s been the home of golfing enthusiasts, who have used the wide open spaces to fire off a few shots.
And what used to be the city’s main soccer field has been turned into a makeshift show jumping arena.
Recently a large hole was knocked into a wall of the brick-and-Colorbond building – which wasn’t part of the demolition plan.
Reports suggest it was decided the best way to remove some large whitegoods stored on the ground floor of the building and needed elsewhere was to knock out a wall in the building’s exterior – using a car.
The issue of the fields has come under Tamworth Regional Council’s attention several times. Rangers have been deployed to clear off the people using the fields for the wrong purposes.
The clubhouse is slated for demolition in the coming months, but, to date, has been left to stand during the wait for plans for the Tamworth Racing Precinct to get the green light.
Councillor Paul Durant brought up the issue of the former football park and its poor condition at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
“They’re an eyesore. It’s falling apart and it looks a bit of a disaster,” he said.
Council general manager Paul Bennett responded to Cr Durant’s comments, reassuring him the building was slated for demolition in the near future.
The Tamworth Football Association confirmed with The Leader that all of the items it wanted from the old clubhouse had been removed.
Spokesman Wayne Clarke said the only things of value left at the grounds were some of the existing goal posts.
“Arrangements are in place to remove some of them to outlying areas, like Manilla and Woolomin, because we have had requests from schools and other organisations to move them there. From our end there isn’t anything left in the building that’s of any use to us,” Mr Clarke said.
