The junior club of rugby league greats Greg Alexander and Brad Fittler will enjoy the spoils of a $2 million investment if the current State Government is re-elected next week.
The whopping multi-million-dollar commitment by the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government will be used to construct a brand-new clubhouse at Allsopp Oval, the home of the Cambridge Park Junior Rugby League Club.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Penrith MP Stuart Ayres visited Cambridge Park on Monday afternoon, to make the announcement in front of scores of excited club volunteers and players.
Home to more than 400 players and over 150 volunteers, Cambridge Park Junior Rugby League Club was formed in 1968. Among the dozens of NRL players it has produced over the decades, the club is also doing plenty of good work in the female rugby league space.
“Penrith is a sporting powerhouse, and this funding commitment will go a long way to boosting grassroots participation and developing local talent,” Perrottet said.
“We’ve got to make sure that we continue to invest in facilities and Stuart (Ayres) raised this one with me and I can now see why we need to invest $2 million and get better amenities here.”
Ayres said the new amenities building will do wonders for the growing club and its thriving women’s program.
“We’ve done a lot of work on community facilities right around Penrith… but this club haven’t seen any love in a really long time,” he told the Weekender.
“This club has now over 400 people that are registered with it, a growing women’s program and their facilities just do not meet anywhere near what happens here on a weekend.
“We’ve got to be able to provide more change rooms, so men and women can use the same field on the same day in appropriate conditions and that’s what we are going to deliver here.”
Cambridge Park Junior Rugby League Club Secretary Nicole Brennan said new amenities would help accommodate for the growing number of players the club has.
“This will give the club the facilities we need to improve the experience of players, volunteers and supporters, plus having a fit-for-purpose female friendly building is a game-changer,” she said.
Nathan Taylor
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender's Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.