GEELONG Rangers Soccer Club’s Myers Reserve complex is set to host regular Friday night fixtures in both local and state competitions next season following the news that match standard floodlights are scheduled to be installed on the main pitch later this year.

PHOTO: Geelong Rangers’ Myers Reserve is set to light up Friday nights next year following the planned installation of floodlights to the main pitch in November.

The installation of floodlights at the Bell Post Hill venue is part of more than $2.3 million that will be spent on badly needed and well overdue capital improvements to several of the region’s northern suburbs based football venues during the coming off season.

After receiving a grant from the City of Greater Geelong Council for floodlight upgrade on pitches 1 and 2 earlier this year, Rangers have been patiently waiting for the much needed floodlights to be erected in time for the 2019 league season.

Rangers’ secretary Martin Brandwyk said his club was very pleased to have received funding to further improve the facilities at its Myers Reserve complex.

“This will not only help us in the hosting of night fixtures but will also allow us to improve training for our ever expanding player membership,” he said.

”This is something we have worked towards for a number of years now. We would like to thank the City of Greater Geelong for this funding as well as our members who have also contributed to this important project in 2018.

“We will also continue our fundraising and sponsorship activities to further support this project and others in the future at Geelong Rangers,” added Brandwyk.

Near neighbours Corio will also enjoy the fruits of a $100,000 Council Grant which will be used to install drainage and resurface the main pitch at Hume Reserve, also in time for the 2019 season.

Work on the second pitch was successfully completed towards the end of the current season.

In addition to the surface improvements, the Eagles have also received a $30,000 Grant from Council to update the outdated Hume Reserve Masterplan which was first released almost a decade ago.

Just down the road in Norlane, Geelong Soccer Club has received a similar grant to Rangers’ to upgrade the floodlights on its second pitch, which will be crucial for the newly promoted NPL club which will also host WNPL club Galaxy United at its Stead Park venue next year.

Other northern suburbs based clubs that will see the commencement of major capital improvements in the off season at their respective venues include Bell Park SC with a new $810,000 changeroom facility, Lara United FC with a $750,000 changeroom/pavilion expansion and Golden Plains SC with a new full sized pitch at the Bannockburn Recreation Precinct worth an estimated $435,000.

The facility upgrades come hot on the heels of Football Federation Victoria’s successful launch of the highly anticipated ‘State Football Facilities Strategy to 2026’ on August 27 at AAMI Park, Melbourne.

The strategy outlines FFV’s plan to work hand-in-hand with local communities and governments to upgrade football facilities across the state, in order to ensure they can meet the demands of Australia’s fastest growing club-based participation sport.