04-07-2025
'Built in the early 70s': sports club hopes $3.1m upgrade can lure more players
A Hunter sports club hopes a $3.1 million upgrade to their home ground can help lure more players, as the "stage one" development puts it on par with rival teams.
The Maitland Saints, who play in the Hunter Central Coast AFL, have shifted into temporary facilities at Max McMahon Oval for the rest of this season while an amenities building is redeveloped.
The project at the Rutherford ground will deliver dedicated men's and women's change rooms for the first time, a new canteen and other spaces.
It replaces a decades-old building, and has been an upgrade more than a decade in the making.
"That building was built in the early 70s," Saints chairman Lindsay Guy told the Newcastle Herald on Friday.
"It was originally a rugby league ground, named after one of Maitland's famous rugby league sons.
"It became a bit of a community ground, cricket has been played on it for years - Western Suburbs - but during the other time, it is our home ground."
The Saints formed in 2007 as a junior club, and were initially based at Lorn Park. But the club has grown over the years and now has more than 300 players across 14 junior teams, two men's teams and a women's team.
Guy said the new building would give the club "more of a sense of place", and there were plans for a second stage incorporating an additional clubhouse down the track.
"It's a new building, it will be a nice place for people to come to," he said.
"What we're hoping is that it will help us attract some new players as well.
"It will just change the atmosphere of the club.
"Stage two is what we're now pushing for, a function room, a clubhouse where we can host things. That will really bring it together."
The first stage commenced in recent weeks and is expected to be completed early next year. The project is being funded mostly via a federal government grant, and by Maitland council.
Guy praised the council for improvements to the playing surface in recent years, and the installation of nets behind the goalposts. The field is "actually bigger than the MCG", he said, and is the biggest in the league.
"The council is really, really interested in growing the sport of AFL, particularly the mayor Philip Penfold," Guy said.
"He has a huge interest in developing more sporting facilities. He is a great advocate of local sport. He pushes for all of the codes."
The upgrade comes as fellow Hunter Central Coast AFL club Singleton Roosters deliver a similar project.
Maitland are unbeaten and leading the women's second division, while their men's first-grade team are rebuilding under a new coach, Guy said.
Second last after one win in eight games, they are away to last-placed The Entrance-Bateau Bay on Saturday.
"We've got a bunch of young blokes coming through," Guy said. "It's probably going to take a year or two to come together."
Elsewhere in round 11 of men's first grade, the Black Diamond Cup, competition leaders Newcastle City are on the road against Terrigal Avoca in a top-of-the-table clash.
Nelson Bay, who are fourth, host fifth-placed Cardiff. Warners Bay, running third, are away to Killarney Vale, who are sixth.
In women's first grade, Terrigal hosts Newcastle City, Cardiff travels to Singleton, and Killarney Vale welcomes Warners Bay.
A Hunter sports club hopes a $3.1 million upgrade to their home ground can help lure more players, as the "stage one" development puts it on par with rival teams.
The Maitland Saints, who play in the Hunter Central Coast AFL, have shifted into temporary facilities at Max McMahon Oval for the rest of this season while an amenities building is redeveloped.
The project at the Rutherford ground will deliver dedicated men's and women's change rooms for the first time, a new canteen and other spaces.
It replaces a decades-old building, and has been an upgrade more than a decade in the making.
"That building was built in the early 70s," Saints chairman Lindsay Guy told the Newcastle Herald on Friday.
"It was originally a rugby league ground, named after one of Maitland's famous rugby league sons.
"It became a bit of a community ground, cricket has been played on it for years - Western Suburbs - but during the other time, it is our home ground."
The Saints formed in 2007 as a junior club, and were initially based at Lorn Park. But the club has grown over the years and now has more than 300 players across 14 junior teams, two men's teams and a women's team.
Guy said the new building would give the club "more of a sense of place", and there were plans for a second stage incorporating an additional clubhouse down the track.
"It's a new building, it will be a nice place for people to come to," he said.
"What we're hoping is that it will help us attract some new players as well.
"It will just change the atmosphere of the club.
"Stage two is what we're now pushing for, a function room, a clubhouse where we can host things. That will really bring it together."
The first stage commenced in recent weeks and is expected to be completed early next year. The project is being funded mostly via a federal government grant, and by Maitland council.
Guy praised the council for improvements to the playing surface in recent years, and the installation of nets behind the goalposts. The field is "actually bigger than the MCG", he said, and is the biggest in the league.
"The council is really, really interested in growing the sport of AFL, particularly the mayor Philip Penfold," Guy said.
"He has a huge interest in developing more sporting facilities. He is a great advocate of local sport. He pushes for all of the codes."
The upgrade comes as fellow Hunter Central Coast AFL club Singleton Roosters deliver a similar project.
Maitland are unbeaten and leading the women's second division, while their men's first-grade team are rebuilding under a new coach, Guy said.
Second last after one win in eight games, they are away to last-placed The Entrance-Bateau Bay on Saturday.
"We've got a bunch of young blokes coming through," Guy said. "It's probably going to take a year or two to come together."
Elsewhere in round 11 of men's first grade, the Black Diamond Cup, competition leaders Newcastle City are on the road against Terrigal Avoca in a top-of-the-table clash.
Nelson Bay, who are fourth, host fifth-placed Cardiff. Warners Bay, running third, are away to Killarney Vale, who are sixth.
In women's first grade, Terrigal hosts Newcastle City, Cardiff travels to Singleton, and Killarney Vale welcomes Warners Bay.
A Hunter sports club hopes a $3.1 million upgrade to their home ground can help lure more players, as the "stage one" development puts it on par with rival teams.
The Maitland Saints, who play in the Hunter Central Coast AFL, have shifted into temporary facilities at Max McMahon Oval for the rest of this season while an amenities building is redeveloped.
The project at the Rutherford ground will deliver dedicated men's and women's change rooms for the first time, a new canteen and other spaces.
It replaces a decades-old building, and has been an upgrade more than a decade in the making.
"That building was built in the early 70s," Saints chairman Lindsay Guy told the Newcastle Herald on Friday.
"It was originally a rugby league ground, named after one of Maitland's famous rugby league sons.
"It became a bit of a community ground, cricket has been played on it for years - Western Suburbs - but during the other time, it is our home ground."
The Saints formed in 2007 as a junior club, and were initially based at Lorn Park. But the club has grown over the years and now has more than 300 players across 14 junior teams, two men's teams and a women's team.
Guy said the new building would give the club "more of a sense of place", and there were plans for a second stage incorporating an additional clubhouse down the track.
"It's a new building, it will be a nice place for people to come to," he said.
"What we're hoping is that it will help us attract some new players as well.
"It will just change the atmosphere of the club.
"Stage two is what we're now pushing for, a function room, a clubhouse where we can host things. That will really bring it together."
The first stage commenced in recent weeks and is expected to be completed early next year. The project is being funded mostly via a federal government grant, and by Maitland council.
Guy praised the council for improvements to the playing surface in recent years, and the installation of nets behind the goalposts. The field is "actually bigger than the MCG", he said, and is the biggest in the league.
"The council is really, really interested in growing the sport of AFL, particularly the mayor Philip Penfold," Guy said.
"He has a huge interest in developing more sporting facilities. He is a great advocate of local sport. He pushes for all of the codes."
The upgrade comes as fellow Hunter Central Coast AFL club Singleton Roosters deliver a similar project.
Maitland are unbeaten and leading the women's second division, while their men's first-grade team are rebuilding under a new coach, Guy said.
Second last after one win in eight games, they are away to last-placed The Entrance-Bateau Bay on Saturday.
"We've got a bunch of young blokes coming through," Guy said. "It's probably going to take a year or two to come together."
Elsewhere in round 11 of men's first grade, the Black Diamond Cup, competition leaders Newcastle City are on the road against Terrigal Avoca in a top-of-the-table clash.
Nelson Bay, who are fourth, host fifth-placed Cardiff. Warners Bay, running third, are away to Killarney Vale, who are sixth.
In women's first grade, Terrigal hosts Newcastle City, Cardiff travels to Singleton, and Killarney Vale welcomes Warners Bay.
A Hunter sports club hopes a $3.1 million upgrade to their home ground can help lure more players, as the "stage one" development puts it on par with rival teams.
The Maitland Saints, who play in the Hunter Central Coast AFL, have shifted into temporary facilities at Max McMahon Oval for the rest of this season while an amenities building is redeveloped.
The project at the Rutherford ground will deliver dedicated men's and women's change rooms for the first time, a new canteen and other spaces.
It replaces a decades-old building, and has been an upgrade more than a decade in the making.
"That building was built in the early 70s," Saints chairman Lindsay Guy told the Newcastle Herald on Friday.
"It was originally a rugby league ground, named after one of Maitland's famous rugby league sons.
"It became a bit of a community ground, cricket has been played on it for years - Western Suburbs - but during the other time, it is our home ground."
The Saints formed in 2007 as a junior club, and were initially based at Lorn Park. But the club has grown over the years and now has more than 300 players across 14 junior teams, two men's teams and a women's team.
Guy said the new building would give the club "more of a sense of place", and there were plans for a second stage incorporating an additional clubhouse down the track.
"It's a new building, it will be a nice place for people to come to," he said.
"What we're hoping is that it will help us attract some new players as well.
"It will just change the atmosphere of the club.
"Stage two is what we're now pushing for, a function room, a clubhouse where we can host things. That will really bring it together."
The first stage commenced in recent weeks and is expected to be completed early next year. The project is being funded mostly via a federal government grant, and by Maitland council.
Guy praised the council for improvements to the playing surface in recent years, and the installation of nets behind the goalposts. The field is "actually bigger than the MCG", he said, and is the biggest in the league.
"The council is really, really interested in growing the sport of AFL, particularly the mayor Philip Penfold," Guy said.
"He has a huge interest in developing more sporting facilities. He is a great advocate of local sport. He pushes for all of the codes."
The upgrade comes as fellow Hunter Central Coast AFL club Singleton Roosters deliver a similar project.
Maitland are unbeaten and leading the women's second division, while their men's first-grade team are rebuilding under a new coach, Guy said.
Second last after one win in eight games, they are away to last-placed The Entrance-Bateau Bay on Saturday.
"We've got a bunch of young blokes coming through," Guy said. "It's probably going to take a year or two to come together."
Elsewhere in round 11 of men's first grade, the Black Diamond Cup, competition leaders Newcastle City are on the road against Terrigal Avoca in a top-of-the-table clash.
Nelson Bay, who are fourth, host fifth-placed Cardiff. Warners Bay, running third, are away to Killarney Vale, who are sixth.
In women's first grade, Terrigal hosts Newcastle City, Cardiff travels to Singleton, and Killarney Vale welcomes Warners Bay.
