As part of the ALDI MiniRoos Road Trip, Football Queensland (FQ) had the opportunity to visit Biloela’s Callide United Football Club.

Celebrating its 40th year this year, Callide United FC has received a $199,999 Community Sport Infrastructure Grant from Federal Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd to upgrade the lighting at its home grounds.

After applying for the grant last year and missing out on the first round, Club Treasurer Leanne Seagrott was delighted to hear the news they had been successful.

“We were in a bit of disbelief to start with but now that we have it, it will be so beneficial for us,” Seagrott said.

Receiving the grant will allow the club to replace its main field lights and add additional lights to the back of those poles to service the other fields for night time training sessions.

“We are fortunate enough to receive the funding and we can only go on from here to bigger and better things with the use of the new lights,” said Seagrott.

“Our existing lights are about 30 years old and there are a couple of posts that aren’t even working, so this is going to give us the opportunity to do things at night time.

“Especially in our Summer months when it is so hot during the day, it will allow the kids to train in the cooler time of the day making it safer for them.”

With a focus on grassroots football, members of the strong rural club are hopeful that the grant will not only improve the training conditions for current players, but also allow more children to be able to play at the club.

“We are a big family-oriented club, and we all get together to keep the kids on the right path,” Seagrott said.

“You get enjoyment out of it yourself seeing the kids develop, especially when they get the opportunity to go a little bit further.”

Biloela was one of the 17 regional clubs being visited to introduce football to youngsters in regional Queensland as part of the ALDI MiniRoos Road Trip.

A coach education session was also hosted for local coaches in the area.

“The kids really enjoyed it but our coaches were just so impressed and thankful someone was here to go through a few things with them and they got a lot out of it,” Seagrott said.

“Everybody loved seeing them up here.”

Callide United FC’s project is expected to be completed in mid-2019.

The ALDI MiniRoos Road Trip will visit Dalby, Warwick and Goondiwindi on the final leg of the road trip beginning this Friday, 15 March.

Words: Zoe Nilsen
Images: Callide United FC