Abermain Rams will receive $952,500 in NSW Government funding to transform their home ground, with upgrades to improve playing conditions and support the club's growing population.
The funding delivered through the Active Regional Communities Package will support the Rams Football Field Rebirth Project, which aims to improve facilities for junior and female football, regional competitions and broader community use.
The project will include levelling and reorienting the main and training fields, alongside improvements to safety, drainage, irrigation and turf quality.
The Rams have doubled their participant numbers in two years and club president Leonie Winner said the funding was a significant milestone after years of work to improve the facilities.
“It means a lot [to us]. It's a momentous occasion for us,” Winner said.
“The fields are held together with weeds and bindis and as you can imagine that's not real pleasant for the kids. We have such a great community and we want to give them the best facilities we can."
Winner said the improved playing surfaces would reward the players and community members who had supported the club throughout the process.
“For the players to be able to have a surface to run on that's even, doesn't have holes and bumps so the ball will go in a straight line. They deserve this," Winner said.
"They've come with us on this journey from 2024 to where we are now when we are starting to realise we're getting the improvements done."
The funding was announced at Abermain Soccer Fields on Thursday by Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty, Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley and Member for Cessnock Clayton Barr.
Moriarty said the upgrades would help secure the club’s future and support its continued success.
“By contributing to the football grounds here [at Abermain], it will mean they will have even more success in the future,” Moriarty said.
“Regional communities know better than anyone what will improve their quality of life, which is why we are investing in projects that will make a real difference to how people live, work and connect.”
Northern NSW Football Government Relations Manager Gary Fisher said the funding would provide a major boost for the club's continued growth.
“It's an incredible investment. To have almost one millon dollars of regional money to be invested in this [Abermain Soccer Fields] facility and the Hunter region is incredible. It's a large chunk of money that will revolutionise the club in the way they operate,” Fisher said.
Fisher said the Rams had grown by 100 per cent over the last two years and the addition of two full-sized fields would help accommodate future demand.
“This money will continue their ongoing development and growth and by having two full sized fields here will revolutionise the club and set them up well for the future,” Fisher said.
Hunter Valley Football Operations Manager Kyle Branscombe said the project would also benefit local juniors and the wider community.
“We know that clubs are built on volunteers and juniors, so this is fantastic and I really cannot wait for the fields to be upgraded,” Branscombe said.
“I look forward to the future that this grant provides.”