By Laura Michell
Whittlesea’s premier soccer facility – Epping Stadium – will be closed for at least six weeks as the council attempts to return the pitch to W-League standards.
Players from Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City, and the Professional Footballers Association criticised the Harvest Home Road pitch following the Melbourne W-League derby at the venue on January 5.
In its Talking Points Tuesday feature on social media, the PFA said the pitch was an “Epping fail”, adding that it put players at risk of serious injury.
The association said it surveyed players after the match and players from both teams reported divots throughout the pitch. Some said it was the worst surface they had played on in the five years of the W-League.
They said the pitch was a “poor reflection” on women’s sport.
Melbourne Victory is using the stadium as an alternative home ground for its W-League, while the club’s NPL side also plays at the venue.
Whittlesea council acting city transport and presentation director Susan Hecker said a fungal outbreak damaged the playing surface.
She said the ground would be closed while the surface returns to an acceptable standard.
“We were disappointed to discover the ground, recognised as one of the best in the country, was not up to standard for games playing in the last few weeks,” Ms Hecker said.
“Council officers are currently monitoring the situation.”
Melbourne Victory chief executive Trent Jacobs said the club and Football Federation Australia would continue to monitor the pitch but its weekend W-League and Y-League matches would be moved to Lakeside Stadium.
In a statement, the club said that while the FFA match commissioner and match officials deemed the Epping Stadium pitch fit for play on January 5, it was not at the standard Victory has come to expect from the venue.
“This decision will allow work on the Epping Stadium pitch to continue, which will prepare the venue for the upcoming PS4 National Premier League season,” the statement said.
