Footscray ANA will usher in its 85th anniversary season with a brand new pavilion that will set up its future.
ANA, last year’s VTCA west B1 champion, is scheduled to move into the new $1.4 million facility at Angliss Reserve before the end of this month and in time for the season’s opening round.
It’s been a long time coming for ANA.
“We were in a 1960s, non-purpose-built pavilion, which we had to share and that was incredibly unfairly proportioned,” ANA president John Wetzler told Star Weekly.
“We had one-third of the pavilion and Kingsville Baptists had two-thirds, yet we were three times the size of their club.
“Now, not only do we have a $1.4 million redevelopment nearing completion with change rooms for umpires, two sets of showers, four change rooms, disabled facilities, men’s and women’s toilets, a purpose-built commercial kitchen and large social area … but Kingsville Baptists have decided after moving to Skinner Reserve last year that they’ll stay there, so we’ll be the sole cricket club at Angliss Reserve. It’s huge.”
Footscray ANA has fond memories of celebrating premiership glories in the old clubrooms, but the club is looking forward to creating some fresh ones in the new rooms.
“Despite our sub-standard facilities in the past, we’ve been a successful club, winning premierships across the grades,” Wetzler said. “The club is now largely reborn. We’re very bullish about our future.”
Footscray ANA wants to see continued growth in the junior ranks. The club has announced that no junior will have to pay fees to play cricket this season.
ANA will have teams from under-11s to under-17s, as well as running In2Cricket, T20 Blast and Girls Only programs. “It’s all about getting more juniors to the club,” Wetzler said.
Footscray ANA will be holding a player registration/information day this Saturday from 10am-12pm at Angliss Reserve in Roberts Street, Yarraville.
For more information, check out www.footscrayana.com.au.
