New ownership for Latrobe City Soccer Stadium

The new owners of the Latrobe City Soccer Stadium in Morwell have declared they will work to restore the sporting ground and explore other ways to use the precinct.

A private consortium made up AFL legend Glenn Archer and Darren Matthews, who once owned the Traralgon Indoor Sports Centre in the 1990s, has bought the venue, previously known as Mobil Park, after months of negotiations with the previous owner.

Commenting on the new owners’ plans, Matthews stated “firstly, we saw an opportunity to put something back into grassroots sport.

“It evolved into more of an understanding of the region but also the passion people had for the venue - we didn't realise how much it meant to people.”

Tony Salvatore, President of tenant the Falcons 2000 Soccer Club said the deal was a huge relief after uncertainty surrounded the club's future at the stadium during negotiations of the terms of their lease last year, stating “it allows us to focus on the junior and senior teams ... we can put our energy back in to the teams rather than negotiating a place to stay.

“This gives us the opportunity to plan for next year too, 2011 is our 50 year anniversary.”

Matthews said he was happy to have the football club as anchor tenants, adding “we are going through the process of all the things that need to be upgraded and trying to bring it back to its former glory and then we hope to have further interest from other sporting clubs or from locals who believe they could utilise it.”

Settlement is due to take place in February.