By Kylie Stevens
CANLEY Vale-Lansvale Junior Rugby League Club is desperatly looking for light at the end of the tunnel.
The club, which has more that 200 players is in urgent need of night lights at their
Adams Park home ground and is appealing for communiyy assistance.
The club has just received a $30,000 sponsorship from "Richards on the Park" but are
still a long way off from the $120,000 estimated cost of the lights.
The club aims to get enough sponsorship to have the lights installed in time for the
start of next season.
The club already subsidises the cost of it's players to take to the field and will
run at a loss if they purchase the lights themselves without any assistance.
Parents pay $65per player each season - the rest of the $200 is subsidised through
sponsorships and canteen proceeds.
Club secretary Toni Luc said the need for night lights has become a major concern for the expanding club.
The club has grown from 5 teams to 14 within four years and will field an A-grade women's
team in the new women's competition.
it's U16s side has to play it's 4pm kick-off home games away because it gets too
dark in the corners later on in the match and the same will apply to the women's side when their
competition kicks off next month.
"Having more teams means that we need more space," mrs Luc said.
"We're not like some clubs other clubs in the area who only pick the best players.
We take everyone. On training nights, our main field is used by our senior teams who use at least
half of it. with other teams using the rest at the same time, it makes it almost impossible.
The second field is not well lit and is only useful for fitness drills because the players cannot
see the ball".
Safety reasons is a major concern, especially for the youngsters.
"We worry about the fact the park is an open field with no fencing or night lights," Mrs Luc said.
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Let there be light,
club pleads
 Turn the lights on:
These Canley Vale-Lansvale juniors are appealing for community help to purchase night lights.
Picture: Carlos Furtado
"We also have to clear the field before it gets dark of sticks, stones and other
obstacles. we need the lights but if the club has to pay for them, we will be unable to subsidise
the cost of our players. This is a chance for businesses to help the community. A lot of the kids from this community
come from low income families but want to play football".
Businesses who come to the rescue with sponsorship of the lights will have a sign for life on the light poles.
Details 0404 644 730.
With thanks
Wednesday 27th April 2005
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