Football clubs to seek electronic scoreboard

Securing a new electronic scoreboard for Woy Woy Oval is high on the agenda of the Umina Rugby Union and Rugby League Clubs following a successful first season using the new facilities at the oval.

Life member of the Woy Woy Rugby Union Club, Mr John Kenny, said the club had installed a sound system at their own expense and will now collaborate with Woy Woy Rugby League Club to get a scoreboard for the new facility.

"We had temporary score boards for the finals and we have ground announcers that give people information about safety and give out the scores," he said.

The old score board, in a brick building on the far side of the field had been vandalised and remained unused for years before the grandstand needed to be closed due to concrete cancer, according to Mr Kenny.

"The scoreboard is something we have been working on.

"It has been taken up with our committee and we will liaise with the Rugby League Club to plan what grants we will require because there are different pricings on scoreboards.

"I would think that if you are going to spend that much money on a ground that it should have a scoreboard that can be used for community events such as Christmas Carols so you can have the videos and graphics on display.

"It is a priority now and we are hopeful we will get it before the start of the next season."

Mr Kenny said the 800-plus crowd that gathered for the opening match of the 2016 season set the scene for healthy crowds at home games throughout the year.

"Our aim this year has been to get the clubs moved back into the facilities and get them through the first season and get the games back here," he said.

Rugby Union home games have been played at the oval every second Saturday and then Rugby league games are played on alternate Sundays.

The schedule enables the new facilities to be shared effectively without too much wear on the playing surface, Mr Kenny explained.

He said the clubs' relationship with the Central Coast Council continued to be "first class".

The $8.5 million oval and grand stand redevelopment did not include a sound system or a score board.

"The Rugby League Club has just chosen its new committee and we will endeavour to meet with them shortly."

According to Mr Kenny, the Union and League clubs that share the new facilities were both small.

"We only have four senior teams and 190 juniors and we need to cover all insurances, national participation fees, ground fees and we maintain a duty of care that is second to none so there is always a cost factor involved."

Woy Woy Rugby Union Club decided several years ago to look for ways to give back to the local community.

Their major annual season launch in February attracts speakers and guests of national (if not international) significance and is the club's main fund raiser but 10 per cent of funds raised are donated to the Umina Men's Shed.

"We have donated over $10,000 to Umina Men's Shed in four years."

The Woy Woy Grand Stand seats 600 and includes four change rooms, medical rooms, drug testing facilities, a canteen and upstairs serveries and a club house that is shared by the union and league fraternities.

"The economic benefits of this new facility to the local community are just starting to filter through including the flow-on to hotels, clubs and coffee shops."

The scoreboard is definitely high on the agenda now the clubs have made it through the first season in their new home, along with plans to bring representative tournaments to the oval.

"Our strengths are that the Union and League work in well together because we are both proud to have a facility that we want to look after," Mr Kenny said.

Central Coast Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the Council would be happy to work with the two clubs to assist them to identify available funding opportunities for the score board.

Interview, 10 Nov 2016

John Kenny, Woy Woy Lions Rugby Union Club

Interview, 87 Nov 2016

Ian Reynolds, Central Coast Council

Reporter: Jackie Pearson