Upgrades begin for Pirtek Park
BY ALEX TIGANI
Attention local footy history buffs.
If you are one for Bengalla Hunter Valley Group 21 nostalgia, this month’s A-Plus Contracting Hunter Valley Mining Charity Rugby League Day will mark the last to be held at Singleton’s Pirtek Park as we have known it since 2008.
The home of the Singleton Greyhounds is set to commence on the $1.345 million facility upgrade from Monday, September 19.
This is one of Singleton’s eight projects which combined for $8 million from the State Government’s Resources for Regions Round 7 list.
The funding will allow the club to build a new function area and female amenities.
“This was the timed purely so we could get this work done during the off-season,” Singleton Greyhounds senior president Luke Gardner told The Hunter River Times.
“Hopefully we’re not playing by a construction site next season.”
A young club junior James Bradley posed for a photo on the field prior to its construction in 2007 for the town’s local newspaper.
Fast forward 15 years later and he will be one to watch for the Maitland Pickers’ in this Sunday’s Newcastle Rugby League first grade grand final.
Other club juniors who have graced the field include Kerrod Holland and Josh King. They went onto to combine for 150+ NRL games with their respective clubs.
The ground has also hosted a number of school tournaments, most notably the Steve Simpson Shield, as well as many Group 21 and Greater Northern Tigers’ fixtures.
Need we mention the Greyhounds’ fairytale opening season at the ground?
“Probably the first grand final we won in 2008 when it was Resco Park, we won all three grades that day so it was a pretty special time for the club,” Gardner mentioned.
“But she’s due for an upgrade, we need to upgrade a few things and add the facilities for the girls to cater for them because Group 21 Ladies League Tag wasn’t around back then.
“This week has been in the pipeline since the announcement was made.”