Redfern Oval
 Redfern Oval, South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Wests Tigers pre-season trial game, 8 February 2009 | |
 | |
| Full name | Redfern Oval |
|---|---|
| Location | Redfern, New South Wales |
| Capacity | 5,000 (formerly 20,000) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Renovated | Multiple times |
| Tenants | |
| South Sydney Rabbitohs (NSWRL) (1948-1987) Redfern All Blacks | |
Redfern Oval is an Australian football ground, in the Sydney suburb of Redfern, New South Wales. The South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby League Football Club played at Redfern Oval between 1948 and 1987.[1] Rabbitoh supporters often refer to Redfern Oval as "The Holy Land".[citation needed]
The former National Rugby League ground had a main grandstand on the wing with seats on either side and a hill surrounding the rest of the ground with a few rows of seats near the fence. The total capacity of the ground was around the 20,000 mark, until the redevelopment. The current ground has a lone grandstand with bench style seating, with the structure incorporating the Rabbitohs' training equipment/gym, as well as a cafe and basic luxury hospitality. The seating is covered by a large roof spanning the width of the structure. The stand is wheelchair accessible and also contains hearing loop accessibility. The player's tunnel is accessed by a small staircase which is below field level. Around the rest of the ground (which is now all public park, including the field) is three rows of terraced, hill seating.
$19 million was spent by the City of Sydney Council to completely upgrade and renovate Redfern Oval which has allowed the Rabbitohs to return to Redfern in 2009 with state-of-the-art training facilities for players and coaches.
The upgrade offers the Rabbitohs a professional standard playing surface and facilities to allow the oval to be used as their preferred training ground and for a limited number of pre-season and exhibition matches.
The Rabbitohs Use of the Park
Premiership Matches (1948 - 1987)
In 1948, the South Sydney Rabbitohs began playing at this ground, as part of their home-ground usage. They played here until the end of 1987, where they move to the Sydney Football Stadium the following year.
In July 1987 Souths played Manly in front of a record crowd of 23,257.[2]
After 1987, Redfern was only used in the premiership as South Sydney's training ground. However, it did host the Charity Shield game between the Rabbitohs and St George in 1988, the last time the venue hosted the game between the clubs. Redfern also as hosted two games of the 1995 Tooheys Challenge Cup pre-season competition with a double header on 11 February. In the early game Cronulla defeated the Sydney Tigers 18-10, while the Rabbitohs marked their return to the ground with a 14-19 loss to a new team in the premiership, the Perth based Western Reds.
After a break of 9 years, Redfern Oval returned as South Sydney's home ground for three games in the 1996 ARL season. Its return match saw the Gold Coast Chargers pip the Rabbitohs 18-16. South Sydney then won their final two premiership games at the ground, defeating the Western Reds 24-18, before accounting for the South Queensland Crushers 48-16 on 14 July 1996 in front of 3,107 fans.[3]
Return to Redfern / RTR (2009 – present)
References
- ^ Club Records at rabbitohs.com.au
- ^ "Austadiums". Australia. 9 December 2010. p. 1. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Redfern Oval @ Rugby League Project
External links
- Redfern Oval at Austadiums