Matt Benson: mad as hell and he doesn't care who knows it
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:17 pmCEO Update – February 2009
You be the judge
Surprisingly - there has been quite a bit written of late regarding Sturt and Unley (which we call House Brothers Oval).
I was contacted some time ago by a reporter who had been tipped off regarding some comments in a Sturt internet chat room regarding our future here. I went to pains to assure him there was little to the story – but it resulted in a headline in the following Messenger “Unley shift on cards.”
If you look at the actual content of the story – nothing backed the headline up at all. I was quoted as saying, “we would be irresponsible if we weren’t exploring all options for improving our football facilities” and then stressed, “relations with the council were good.” The article talked about us long complaining about our rental situation – with no actual comment from me on that issue, and then quoted some supporters in the chat room.
Later, in a leaked consultant’s report (that I have never seen) – The Messenger again went off on a tangent regarding House Brothers Oval and a multi-use community centre. I welcomed that news and commented “I think the council is exploring options for the future – just like we are. The club would embrace a community centre and if we could be involved it would be wonderful.”
The Sunday Mail then got fired up and contacted me. I wanted to focus on facilities for players - which is why I requested a photo in the gym. I commented to the Mail – “we have to think about where the club will be in the next 10 to 20 years and we can’t remain here with the facilities as they are. The ground (read facilities) needs to be renovated or refurbished – and if we can’t do that we would have to consider a relocation.”
Pretty straight forward stuff really.
I indicated we were not in a financial position to afford the $500,000 or so to overhaul the football facilities. I did not say at any stage we expected that amount of money from the council!
I went on to point out that the club’s first priority was remaining at Unley Oval, and a key to achieving that was getting council approval for a new sub-lease of the ground-floor of our building which could contribute to funding oval renovations.
Controversial – I wouldn’t have thought so!
Some council members have since reacted with comments and letters to papers – which in my view have been emotive and not based on comments made by me – rather on what they have chosen to focus on.
I would like to clear some things up:
1. The club does not wish to stop playing football at House Brothers Oval!
2. Our facilities are old and outdated and need an overhaul – therefore, should we be exploring our future options for the players? Absolutely!
3. The club has never left Unley Oval – we have been based here for 100 years – we played league games at Adelaide Oval for a period in the 80’s and 90’s – probably equating to 80-100 Saturday afternoons! I tire of the bleatings of Sturt bashers on this point – the sad reality for them is that we have ALWAYS been based here! Never left – never ‘came home’!
4. We do not expect, and have never said the council should pay $500,000 for upgraded facilities. Indeed, we have to work with the council over the next few months to determine what is reasonable for all parties moving forward.
I will not be making further comment on this issue as it is continually taken out of context. Trust that the club is diligently working through a considered analysis of our future requirements for football, administration and training – and everything we do has the best interests of our club as the primary focus and at the heart of our decision making!
On a more positive note – the performance of our young players in the trial against a near full strength Power side at Alberton was outstanding – the first quarter was toe to toe. Unfortunately none of that was reported in the papers – you would have thought that Sturt and the Port Magpies were virtual opponents and didn’t exist. They weren’t even moved to call us regarding our players who featured on the front page of the sports section to find out their names – well, at least they bother to do that in their social pages.
The boys are having an internal trial at Waikerie Oval this weekend – this will be an excellent hit out for them given we play Westies there in round 14.
Please keep sending in your memberships – and keep the pressure on your Sturt supporting mates who haven’t signed up yet – WE NEED THEM.
Cheers for now
Matt Benson
You be the judge
Surprisingly - there has been quite a bit written of late regarding Sturt and Unley (which we call House Brothers Oval).
I was contacted some time ago by a reporter who had been tipped off regarding some comments in a Sturt internet chat room regarding our future here. I went to pains to assure him there was little to the story – but it resulted in a headline in the following Messenger “Unley shift on cards.”
If you look at the actual content of the story – nothing backed the headline up at all. I was quoted as saying, “we would be irresponsible if we weren’t exploring all options for improving our football facilities” and then stressed, “relations with the council were good.” The article talked about us long complaining about our rental situation – with no actual comment from me on that issue, and then quoted some supporters in the chat room.
Later, in a leaked consultant’s report (that I have never seen) – The Messenger again went off on a tangent regarding House Brothers Oval and a multi-use community centre. I welcomed that news and commented “I think the council is exploring options for the future – just like we are. The club would embrace a community centre and if we could be involved it would be wonderful.”
The Sunday Mail then got fired up and contacted me. I wanted to focus on facilities for players - which is why I requested a photo in the gym. I commented to the Mail – “we have to think about where the club will be in the next 10 to 20 years and we can’t remain here with the facilities as they are. The ground (read facilities) needs to be renovated or refurbished – and if we can’t do that we would have to consider a relocation.”
Pretty straight forward stuff really.
I indicated we were not in a financial position to afford the $500,000 or so to overhaul the football facilities. I did not say at any stage we expected that amount of money from the council!
I went on to point out that the club’s first priority was remaining at Unley Oval, and a key to achieving that was getting council approval for a new sub-lease of the ground-floor of our building which could contribute to funding oval renovations.
Controversial – I wouldn’t have thought so!
Some council members have since reacted with comments and letters to papers – which in my view have been emotive and not based on comments made by me – rather on what they have chosen to focus on.
I would like to clear some things up:
1. The club does not wish to stop playing football at House Brothers Oval!
2. Our facilities are old and outdated and need an overhaul – therefore, should we be exploring our future options for the players? Absolutely!
3. The club has never left Unley Oval – we have been based here for 100 years – we played league games at Adelaide Oval for a period in the 80’s and 90’s – probably equating to 80-100 Saturday afternoons! I tire of the bleatings of Sturt bashers on this point – the sad reality for them is that we have ALWAYS been based here! Never left – never ‘came home’!
4. We do not expect, and have never said the council should pay $500,000 for upgraded facilities. Indeed, we have to work with the council over the next few months to determine what is reasonable for all parties moving forward.
I will not be making further comment on this issue as it is continually taken out of context. Trust that the club is diligently working through a considered analysis of our future requirements for football, administration and training – and everything we do has the best interests of our club as the primary focus and at the heart of our decision making!
On a more positive note – the performance of our young players in the trial against a near full strength Power side at Alberton was outstanding – the first quarter was toe to toe. Unfortunately none of that was reported in the papers – you would have thought that Sturt and the Port Magpies were virtual opponents and didn’t exist. They weren’t even moved to call us regarding our players who featured on the front page of the sports section to find out their names – well, at least they bother to do that in their social pages.
The boys are having an internal trial at Waikerie Oval this weekend – this will be an excellent hit out for them given we play Westies there in round 14.
Please keep sending in your memberships – and keep the pressure on your Sturt supporting mates who haven’t signed up yet – WE NEED THEM.
Cheers for now
Matt Benson
