Swans to return to Lake Oval

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  • SWANSBEST
    On the Rookie List
    • Jan 2003
    • 868

    Swans to return to Lake Oval

    Swans set for Lake Oval return flight
    By Stephen Rielly
    January 28, 2004





    The Swans are poised to return to the nest from which they flew in 1982, with the club negotiating to establish a new Victorian base at Lake Oval.

    Twenty-two years after leaving the ground and Melbourne behind for survival in Sydney, the Swans want to take their Victorian fans and their business in the state back to the ground now known as Bob Jane Stadium but which they called home for 78 of their 84 years in the VFL.

    Sydney's Victorian manager, Tony Morwood, confirmed yesterday that the club was close to an agreement with the tenants of the ground, the South Melbourne soccer club, that could bring its return by April.

    The club, he said, hoped to move its offices from its present St Kilda Road address, create a permanent social club and open a merchandise and ticket office at the ground, which the National Soccer League club now occupies alone.

    "At the moment we're in discussions, but things are looking good," Morwood said.


    "We've never had in Melbourne a consistent home, a permanent place for our fans to socialise. The Swans' supporter base in Melbourne is significant and the club feels that it is important to offer them something and establish a focal point for the work we do in Victoria."

    Morwood, a 229-game player for the Swans and an important member of the team that went north as an unwitting missionary for the code, said Sydney boasted 4400 Victorian-based members in 2003 but regularly drew 15,000 fans to its games played in Melbourne.

    He said that apart from the sense of homecoming, the plan would also amount to a cross-cultural alliance, bringing football and soccer together to offer added benefits for the fans of both clubs.

    Members of one club could be entitled to discounts on memberships of the other and the idea of a joint membership is being considered.

    At a function at the ground on the day of Sydney's Wizard Cup match against Carlton, on February 22, Swans members will be offered free entry to South Melbourne's match later that day.

    Morwood has been negotiating with Mark Patterson, chief executive of South Melbourne, who is a former chief executive of the Western Bulldogs.

    "We see rewards for both parties. It's a heartland thing and an opportunity to establish a second home that I think we've needed for a long time," Morwood said.

    WMP
  • robbieando
    The King
    • Jan 2003
    • 2750

    #2
    There is a GOD

    This is great news and something which I believed should of happened years ago. The perfect place to call home and hopefully it will end the stuffing around of us down here in Melbourne in regards to the social club. I wonder if this means the old members stand is going to done up or not (surely this would be its ideal location at the Lake Oval)
    Once was, now elsewhere

    Comment

    • Bleed Red Blood
      Senior Player
      • Sep 2003
      • 2057

      #3
      When I read this arcticle I was so happy, and I still am.

      Tony Morwood was the right man for the job.
      Last edited by Bleed Red Blood; 28 January 2004, 10:12 AM.

      Comment

      • motorace_182
        On the Rookie List
        • Jan 2003
        • 961

        #4
        I honestly feel Tony is doing a better job....
        - Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in a world they've been given, than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact, it's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration, it's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing!

        Comment

        • Bear
          Best and Fairest
          • Feb 2003
          • 1022

          #5
          Originally posted by robbieando
          There is a GOD

          This is great news and something which I believed should of happened years ago. The perfect place to call home and hopefully it will end the stuffing around of us down here in Melbourne in regards to the social club. I wonder if this means the old members stand is going to done up or not (surely this would be its ideal location at the Lake Oval)
          No, that would take millions and be uneconomic.

          I wonder if this is heritage listed as I am expecting this to go one day... I was in Melbourne for the long weekend and went past - it is looking decrepit, although Albert Park as a whole is looking great.

          Maybe we should look to get it listed if it is not??
          "As a player he simply should not have been able to do the things he did. Leo was a 185cm, 88kg full-back and played on some of the biggest, fastest and best full-forwards of all time, and constantly beat them." Roos.
          Leo Barry? you star! We'll miss ya, ''Leapin''.

          Comment

          • DST
            The voice of reason!
            • Jan 2003
            • 2705

            #6
            The stand is already listed and is the very reason why it is still standing today, otherwise it would have been knocked down ages ago.

            Very good news regarding the permanent base. Went into the bar social club area during the family day and with a bit of an upgrade will make a great venue to watch the games on TV and meet the players afterwards upstairs in the function room.

            What will be interesting is the soccer conection. With South Melbourne very unlikely to remain in the new premier league, it will drop back to the Victorian league. My understanding is that the new Melbourne United consortium will use the ground as their base and spend some serious dollars improving the facilities as well.

            DST
            "Looking forward to a rebuilt, new, fast and exciting Swans model in 2010"

            Comment

            • Charlie
              On the Rookie List
              • Jan 2003
              • 4101

              #7
              I was of the understanding that the only reason that the stand hasn't been taken down was because it was too dangerous??

              Surely it wouldn't be heritage listed? For a start, it's in such a state that their could be no realistic architectural value... and how that stand could be considered significant, but not the Members Stand at the 'G, I wouldn't understand.
              We hate Anthony Rocca
              We hate Shannon Grant too
              We hate scumbag Gaspar
              But Leo WE LOVE YOU!

              Comment

              • Dooloo
                Warming the Bench
                • Jan 2004
                • 166

                #8
                That brings back some memories. What great news that is. I can still remember going into the rooms after the games at the Lake Oval and chatting with the players, getting autographs etc. To a 12 year old kid, thats about as close to heaven as possible.
                We are in exciting times now. Who would want to support any other team. Bring on the siren. Goooooo Bloooodddsss!!!
                You Just Do Not Get a Better Grand Final Win Than That

                Comment

                • DST
                  The voice of reason!
                  • Jan 2003
                  • 2705

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Charlie
                  I was of the understanding that the only reason that the stand hasn't been taken down was because it was too dangerous??

                  Surely it wouldn't be heritage listed? For a start, it's in such a state that their could be no realistic architectural value... and how that stand could be considered significant, but not the Members Stand at the 'G, I wouldn't understand.
                  The state of something has nothing to do whether it is heritage listed or not, would it surprise you to learn that the old broken tiles on the wall of the Flinders St Station in the Southbank underpass are heritage listed that's right they can't move or destroy them, just renovate them".

                  Same for the stand at the old Lake Oval.

                  As for the MCG members stand that was the second such building to stand there, it was less than 50 years old and had no architecural value what so ever (although had great sentimental value to a lot of people though).

                  The Lake Oval stand can be knocked down if it is deemed un-safe but in all likelyhood the council are not willing to pay for the demolition and no one else is lining up to pay for it either. So it stands there (like alot of other heritage listed sites) doing nothing but rot.

                  DST
                  "Looking forward to a rebuilt, new, fast and exciting Swans model in 2010"

                  Comment

                  • Diego
                    Suspended by the MRP
                    • Jan 2003
                    • 946

                    #10
                    Surely the old signage and type written is of some value. If you look closely at the stand you could still see all the old signs that were painted on the walls.

                    A lot of money needs to be spent on it for it to be fully functional and really you might as well knock 3/4 of it down. When I climbed in over the fence last year to take pics, the whole lot was literally standing on a thin piece of wood. I touched a bit of the stand and it crumbled in my hand.

                    one thing I could feel was the old south melbourne spirit and closing my eyes I could hear the old members yell things out.

                    Amazing feeling being in there. I have pictures but couldn't be bothered posting them.

                    BTW don't tell anyone I broke in..

                    Comment

                    • Mad Swan
                      On the Rookie List
                      • Jan 2004
                      • 1

                      #11
                      This is fantastic news. I used to live over the road from the oval and loved the place as a kid.

                      Will increase Melbourne based fans interest as a result....

                      Comment

                      • robbieando
                        The King
                        • Jan 2003
                        • 2750

                        #12
                        Look I'm still happy at this with or without the stand as the Oval is still OUR home. What makes me happy the most is that we are finally going to a have a set place for the office and club pub in the one place that isn't going to be taken away from us for one reason or another.

                        On Tony Morwood, its what I've said all along about the Melbourne Office, get someone who knows what the club is all about and get someone who knows what its like to be a Swans supporter in this town to run it and things will get better.
                        Once was, now elsewhere

                        Comment

                        • Angelic Upstart
                          On the Rookie List
                          • Apr 2003
                          • 111

                          #13
                          Originally posted by DST
                          With South Melbourne very unlikely to remain in the new premier league, it will drop back to the Victorian league. My understanding is that the new Melbourne United consortium will use the ground as their base and spend some serious dollars improving the facilities as well.

                          DST
                          I think South Melbourne are a very good chance of being in the new APL, a better chance than any other team except Perth and Adelaide United. The plan is that Melbourne will have two teams, with South and Melbourne Utd the front-runners.

                          But back on topic, as a member of both South Melb SC and the Swans I think it's great news if it goes ahead - a win-win for everyone.

                          Comment

                          • JF_Bay22_SCG
                            expat Sydneysider
                            • Jan 2003
                            • 3978

                            #14
                            Originally posted by robbieando
                            There is a GOD

                            This is great news and something which I believed should of happened years ago. The perfect place to call home and hopefully it will end the stuffing around of us down here in Melbourne in regards to the social club. I wonder if this means the old members stand is going to done up or not (surely this would be its ideal location at the Lake Oval)
                            Anything but that Albert on the Lake place, which is just a big room with as little sole as the MA Noble after-match area.

                            Personally I like Bell's alot. I feel very comfortable there. Luckily so do the players.

                            It is interesting that 6-12 months ago we pleaded on RWO to have the exact things we are getting now in Melbourne- a professionally run operation under the auspices of a former club champion. Naturally the fans are starting to identify with things again.

                            As a Sydneysider though, I do sigh with bemusement at Melbourne actually getting a Swans "League Club" and social facilities before we do.

                            Hmmmmmm.
                            "Never ever ever state that Sydney is gone.They are like cockroaches in the aftermath of a nuclear war"
                            (Forum poster 'Change', Big Footy 04Apr09)

                            Comment

                            • JF_Bay22_SCG
                              expat Sydneysider
                              • Jan 2003
                              • 3978

                              #15
                              Originally posted by Diego
                              Surely the old signage and type written is of some value.

                              When I climbed in over the fence last year to take pics, the whole lot was literally standing on a thin piece of wood. I touched a bit of the stand and it crumbled in my hand.

                              one thing I could feel was the old south melbourne spirit and closing my eyes I could hear the old members yell things out.

                              Amazing feeling being in there. I have pictures but couldn't be bothered posting them.

                              BTW don't tell anyone I broke in..
                              Just as an aside, isn't it great that Sydney based Swans fans actually WANT to learn about our South Melbourne history these days.

                              On my 1st trip to Melbourne I actually wanted to see the ground. It was one of the first things I actually wanted to do. Luckily back then it was still in its footy configeration. And there were people inside the ground working on something. They were very touched that there were two Swans fans from Sydney in full regalia wanting to come and see the ground, so they gave us a big of a tour. It was great, I nearly had tears in my eyes.

                              JF
                              "Never ever ever state that Sydney is gone.They are like cockroaches in the aftermath of a nuclear war"
                              (Forum poster 'Change', Big Footy 04Apr09)

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