By: Mark Bell

Coober Pedy is about to experience it’s first ever night football match. Hornridge has agreed to be the first team from Roxby Downs to play under lights on Saturday 23rd May.

Coober Pedy Saints at Thursday night's training under the lights

The money to install the lights has come from a variety of sources. The Office of Recreation and Sport gave $50,000 as part of their round of grants and between the local community, the Coober Pedy Saints and a fundraising night at Prominent Hill involving OZ Minerals, Thiess and Lucas, they managed to raise $11,000. The District Council of Coober Pedy budgeted the remaining $90,000 to make the lights a reality.

Each of the six light towers stand 18m high with 7 x 2000W lights making Oxiana Oval suitable for hosting small ball sports such as cricket at night. The earthworks and installation of the lights was done by DCCP workers with Rawsons Electrical supplying their expertise in installing the control system.

Shayne Nelson, Coober Pedy Saints Utility says “The players are very much looking forward to this night match. We appreciate the facilities that we have and hope that a large crowd comes out to support us.”

Training over The Saints are ready for the club room showers

The Saints are looking very promising this year with 16-20 players regularly being at pre-season training twice a week for the last three months. This is a big increase on the 10-12 players attending in previous years. An encouraging performance in the Lightning Carnival last month has also got the players full of confidence that this year is their year.

Entry fee for the night match is $5 with the gates opening at 6pm. The match will kick off at 7pm with bar and canteen facilities available.

The Coober Pedy Football Club would like to thank the Woomera & Districts Football League and the Hornridge Sports Club for supporting them in helping achieve this milestone.

A second night match is also scheduled for Coober Pedy on the 13th June. This match will start an hour earlier at 6pm.