.JPG)
Monday’s three State-wide Cup Finals have been switched from Clennett’s Lightwood park to KGV Park, the home of Tasmanian football.
The times of the games have also been amended.
The main event, the Milan Lakoseljac Cup Final, will now kick off at 1.30pm, while the Women’s State-Wide Cup will now be the day’s curtain-raiser, kicking off at 11am.
The previously scheduled curtain-raiser had been the WSL Development League final but that will now end the day’s proceedings and kick off at 4pm.
Football Tasmania switched the venues because of the wild winter weather that has been hitting the State, which has led to the pitch at Clennett’s Lightwood Park being water-logged.
Three games played on the pitch would be likely to damage it for the remainder of the league campaign and could jeopardise the performances of Kingborough Lions United teams.
“Given the rain that has fallen in recent days, and what is expected for the remainder of the week, following further discussions with the host club and participating teams, Football Tasmania has made the decision to move the two senior State Wide cup final matches to KGV,” Mr Bulkeley said.
“We want to ensure the day is as successful as it can be and that significant damage is not done to Lightwood Park by playing the matches which would negatively impact the club for the rest of the season.”
Mr Bulkeley said although the fixture was originally moved away from KGV, he was confident the venue would be able to host a successful day of football, with game times adjusted to avoid potential issues with the facility’s known lighting faults.
“Although we would normally play showpiece fixtures at KGV, this season we made the decision to temporarily move the finals to Lightwood Park while KGV prepares for upgrade works,” he said.
“This decision was made after considering the ongoing shortcomings of the pitch lighting at KGV, as well as the quality of the change rooms. The intention was and remains to play future State Wide cup finals and other high-level matches at KGV, once the upgrades have been completed, with work scheduled to commence later this year. This work will see new lighting, the replacement of the synthetic pitch and the construction of new change rooms.
“We’re now working closely with owners of KGV, the Glenorchy Council, to ensure the venue is in the best possible condition for Monday, and we very much look forward to welcoming the football community for what promises to be a brilliant day of football.”