When South Coast United Soccer Club introduced an over 35s team last season, there were plenty of people keen to take part.
The Friday night games provided opportunities for those who couldn’t play on weekends – often because they were busy with kids’ sport or work commitments – so new players, including new arrivals to Australia, and some familiar faces flocked to sign up.
The only problem was the lighting at the club’s Hackham Sports Complex home ground wasn’t bright enough to host night games, forcing them to lug all their gear – and asking opposing teams to travel even further – to Aldinga for games.
“It really felt like we were running 2 clubs each weekend,” says club secretary Alex Hammett.
“We had other clubs – some that come from the northern suburbs in peak-hour traffic – forfeit games because they just couldn’t physically get all their players down there in time for kick off.”
But a new $116,000 City of Onkaparinga project has changed all that, with 4 new 115-lux lighting towers replacing the previous, weaker lighting ready for pre-season.
The new lights not only allow the club to host night games at Hackham – providing them a genuine home-ground advantage – but they also ensure mid-week trainings, and early starts and late finishes to prepare for its A, B and C-grade weekend games, are brighter and safer for players, spectators and volunteers.
Alex says it’s one of the most significant upgrades in the club’s 44-year history, bringing it in line with rival South Australian Amateur Soccer League clubs.
“Things like lights and change rooms [jointly upgraded by the council and state government in 2021–22] make a big difference to player experience and for recruitment,” she says.
“But it also has flow-on effects that don’t just benefit the club.”
Alex says their Friday night Aldinga games didn’t attract many spectators, but the club hoped hosting true home games would ensure bigger crowds who would stay for a drink or a meal at the Hackham Sports Complex, supporting local clubs and fostering community connection.
“We pride ourselves on being a family orientated, community driven club that welcomes new players and their families to be part of the club environment. Sporting clubs are so much more than just the sport itself, they provide strong connections, culture, health and wellbeing support and are an important part of the social structure. South Coast United is home to players from 17 – 60+ and from countries all over the world, and this provides a great opportunity for new friendships, work opportunities and to support many local businesses.
The project is just one of more than a dozen projects the council is delivering to renew key sport and recreation assets in 2025–26 (totalling $3.35 million); to support healthy, thriving people; and to foster connected, supportive communities.
Other key projects include sports lighting renewal at Christie Downs’ Peregrine Park for baseball and softball, and at Morphett Vale Tennis Club; irrigation renewal at Willunga Golf Course; new playing surface and repainting of Port Noarlunga Sports Ground’s hard courts; a refresh of The Quarry Bike Jumps at Seaford; replacement of Clarendon Bowling Club’s synthetic bowling green; and an upgrade of Port Noarlunga Soldiers Memorial Bowling Club’s amenities to ensure they’re disability compliant.
In addition, the City of Onkaparinga invests about $2 million into maintenance of sport and active recreation assets across the council’s network each year, ensuring the facilities remain safe and functional, and meet the needs of the community.
The council’s sport and recreation network includes 313 sports lights, 203 hard courts, 34 cricket pitches and practice nets, 31 turfed ovals, 24 BMX bike jump sites, 14 skate facilities, 19 bowling and croquet greens, 4 pump tracks and 25,114m in sports fencing (ovals and perimeter).