Norwood Oval facility wins AFL’s 2021 Ken Gannon Award

Norwood Oval’s $10 million redevelopment has been recognised as the SA winner of the AFL’s Ken Gannon Community Football Facilities Award for 2021.

After Whyalla’s Bennett Oval received the State award in 2020, the Redlegs’ redevelopment was given the nod for its ability to breathe new life into an “iconic South Australian Football venue.”

Featuring a new 180-seat function room titled the ”Wolf Blass Community Centre”, the Woods Street premises now also includes state-of-the art changerooms which include unisex facilities for umpires and female footballers.

A new “Premier’s Bar” was also included in the build along with upgrades to the historic Sir Edwin T Smith Stand, which included refurbished home team changerooms as well as unisex showers, toilets and a new merchandise outlet.

The Norwood Football Club and the City of Norwood Payneham and St Peters were the key drivers behind the redevelopment while the Australian Football Facilities Fund, State and Federal Governments also contributed.

“We are incredibly excited as a club to finally have facilities to call home; supporting the values of our football club being inclusive,
united, community-focused, one club, innovative and professional,” Norwood chief executive officer James Fantasia said.

“Our new facilities are in high demand with the increased number of female teams playing at AFLW and SANFLW levels.

“Improving facilities is essential for these competitions to continue and to expand.”

City of Norwood Payneham and St Peters Mayor Robert Bria said the Council and local community was thrilled to learn the much-loved and iconic Oval received the Award.

“To be honoured with the Ken Gannon Community Football Facilities Award is an incredible result and testament to the vision, determination and hard work in what was a huge team effort,” Mayor Bria said.

“I would like to thank the Australian Football Facilities Fund for this Award and its contribution to the redevelopment.’’

The Ken Gannon Awards recognise best practise in community football facility development across Australia, along with the people, clubs and other stakeholders driving the best projects.