The Courier |
SENIOR football will return to Snake Valley this month for the first time in nine years.Carngham-Linton is deep in preparations for a homecoming clash and is calling on all Saints – past and present – to join the party at the ground.
The Saints traditionally divided home games between their Snake Valley and Linton bases but have played solely at Linton since 2005, largely because netball facilities at Snake Valley were considered to not be up to standard.
Carngham Recreation Committee has led a lengthy community push to bring the ground back into action, bit by bit.
On June 29, the Saints will return home in a Central Highlands Football League clash against Gordon.
They will play all remaining CHFL home fixtures this season from that
point in Snake Valley.
Carngham-Linton Football Netball Club president Sam Richardson said the club could hardly wait.
“It’s really important for the club. The constitution of the club has always been that we’ve played half our games in Linton and half in Snake Valley,” Richardson said.
“A lot of people at our club live and are based in the Snake Valley area.
“It’s a unique ground with a fantastic social set up.”
The bulk of work at the ground has been made with voluntary labour and sheer hard fundraising work.
A new blue flexipave netball court, with bright flood lights and change room, was the focus of the facility revamp.
The vast, open oval surface was also upgraded.
Social club rooms have long hosted the Saints’ presentation and vote count nights.
Richardson said the Saints had often trained at Snake Valley but only a handful of long-serving Saints would have played a match at the venue.
He hoped it was enough to offer some sense of a home ground advantage for the Saints, while a round 14 clash on July 27 might bring back old memories against former Lexton Plains foe Skipton.
The Saints will mark their homecoming game at Snake Valley with a spit roast dinner and festivities, including the club’s major fundraising raffle – red footballs lifted by a crane and dropped on a target.
All football, netball, recreation committee and club members are invited.
For more information on the reunion, phone Sam on 0418 856 047 or Alec on 0412 477 963.
The Saints play one more match at their Linton ground this season on June 15.
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