Dear Member,
I’m writing to confirm that our club’s ISUZU UTE A-League team will play ten of their thirteen home games of the 2022/23 Season at Macedonia Park, Stirling.
As we’re sure you’re aware, the club has been forced to relocate to a temporary home due to the ongoing stadium renovations at HBF Park, but will return to that venue for three regular-season home fixtures beginning March 10th.
We have been confronted by a unique set of challenges caused by circumstances completely beyond our control.
Being informed so late in the piece of the unavailability of HBF Park for an additional six home games beyond the original four has severely delayed and thrown our season-planning into disarray.
Our Members and fans were our primary consideration throughout the decision-making process and there is no perfect outcome.
We have worked tirelessly to ensure that our Members, partners and fans are able to attend games at a venue which is of a rectangular orientation and fit for football.
As well as needing a rectangular venue, we wanted to avoid having to play “home” fixtures on the east coast given that our Members, partners and fans have been deprived of normality in terms of home games for the past two years.Â
Obviously there are major financial implications for our club and we are discussing with the State Government potential compensation for loss of access to HBF Park.
We’re pleased to say the State Government is looking to provide significant financial support, match day/event and temporary infrastructure support to enable us to host home matches at Macedonia Park.
Significant temporary infrastructure improvements will be made to render Macedonia Park fit for A-League football, including the addition of temporary seating to build its capacity, pitch renovation, additional parking and a temporary lighting upgrade and the State Government has agreed to assist in implementing these improvements.
This work, however, will take time to complete and as a result, Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has had to amend our season fixtures.
The original first two home games of the ISUZU UTE A-League Men’s campaign, v Central Coast Mariners on Sunday 23 October and v Brisbane Roar on Sunday 13 November, will be rescheduled at Macedonia Park for later in the season, thereby ensuring that the club retains its 13 scheduled home fixtures.
The first home game will now take place under lights on Saturday 10 December at 7.30pm WST against Western United.
The game against Central Coast Mariners on Saturday 23 October will be reversed and played instead at Central Coast Stadium, while details regarding the new scheduling of the Sunday 13 November meeting with Brisbane Roar are to be confirmed.Â
Macedonia Park is an historic football venue and we look forward to making it our home.
Retaining our full allocation of home games was an absolute non-negotiable and we are confident that the infrastructure improvements will create an atmospheric boutique venue with a strong community football feel.
We will endeavour to create the best possible fan experience, turning the venue purple each week and giving our team the best possible chance to be successful this season.
The move to Macedonia Park also provides a shared home venue for our Men’s and Women’s teams for the first time in Glory’s history, thereby strengthening the sense of unity within the club.
Out of adversity comes opportunity and we have worked very hard to try and obtain the best solution from an extremely difficult set of circumstances and ensure that this season is a successful and memorable season one on and off the field.
We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Stirling Macedonia Football Club and the City of Stirling for their support and acknowledge the similarly proactive approach of the APL who have stood alongside us as we have pushed our case for a venue fit for for football and in our claim for compensation.
Finally, we would also like to once again sincerely apologise to you, our loyal Members, fans and corporate partners, for the distress this situation has caused and thank you for your patience and understanding.
We look forward to welcoming you to Macedonia Park as our Men and Women go for glory in 2022/23.
Season 2022/23 Members can expect to receive a personalised email communication regarding their Membership status and refund details by 5pm this Friday (23rd September).
A fixtures update inclusive of revised dates and kick-off times is also expected in the coming days.
#ONEGlory
