CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB - HOME OF THE SEAGULLS

NORWOOD OVAL HISTORY - 2000 - 2009

2001 Centenary year
Norwood Football Club celebrated 100 years of football on the Norwood Oval with a re-enactment of the first match played against Sturt in 1901. The game was played for premiership points on May 4th before a crowd of 13,745 spectators. It was a spectacular occasion with players dressed in period costumes for the pre-match warm-up. Norwood won 12.10 (86) to Sturt 9.13 (67)

The club published a booklet, detailing the history of Norwood Oval. A plaque was unveiled on May 4, 2001 to commemorate 100 years of football on the Norwood Oval. It also recognised the Sturt Football Club’s centenary.

The refreshment outlet on Coopers Hill was rebuilt by past player and tradesman, Gerry D’Antiochia, at a cost of $20,000 with sponsorship support from Coopers Brewery.

Coopers Hill has become a very popular viewing area for generations of spectators.

2003 The Redlegs Club sold
The Redlegs Club was sold to developers for $3.2 million and a proposal to build new headquarters at the rear of the southern grandstand was considered by the Board. Members ultimately rejected the plan and overturned the Board.

A newly elected Board acquired the Norwood Community Club at 138 The Parade. This property became the club’s social base until sold in 2006 for $5.4 million dollars.

2004 The Redlegs Club demolished
The Redlegs Club was demolished to make way for a new housing estate. The club’s limited social activities were transferred to the Premiers Bar and on match days to the RSL clubrooms.

Premier’s Bar - A major upgrade, costing $20,000 was undertaken in the area beneath the Baulderstone Stand. It was first known as ‘Macca’s Bar’ following the retirement of champion centreman and captain Garry McIntosh in 1999 and then later renamed the Premiers Bar. It was the club’s only licensed area open to members most afternoons with the club’s honour boards and photographs on display.

2005 Cooper’s Corner
A substantial new food and beverage outlet was erected in the north-western corner of the oval and fitted out by Coopers Brewery. In all $25,000 was expended on the project. Coopers corner is an outstanding spectator facility and a very popular viewing area on match days.

The player’s gymnasium and warm-up area was refurbished for the commencement of the season.

2006 Major improvements
The SANFL donated sections of their redundant bench type aluminum seating at Football Park to suburban grounds. Norwood’s allocation was installed in various sections around the oval perimeter.

President, Joe Tripodi generously donated new goal posts which were sourced from Football Park at a cost of $7,000.

Change rooms re-modelled -
President, Joe Tripodi, was the driving force behind the project . A major upgrade of the player’s change rooms was undertaken prior to the 2006 playing season. A steel mezzanine floor was constructed above the league player’s locker room extending to the western wall of the Sir Edwin T. Smith pavilion to create two new rooms for coaches and players. In the downstairs section a shower block, toilets and lockers were constructed. A players’ lecture room with video equipment was completed at the western end of the corridor. Access to the mezzanine was made from the corridor via a staircase.

It was the first major upgrade of player facilities since 1963 when newly appointed club President, Bert Baulderstone, substantially remodelled the change rooms.

Wally Miller Gates - With the sale of the Redlegs Club, the Wally Miller Gates, which were erected in 1995 and opened across the eastern end of Florence Street, were dismantled and placed in storage. The ornate wrought iron gates were slightly modified and positioned at the Woods St entrance near the RSL clubrooms.

2007 Coopers Stadium
In a generous sponsorship deal the Norwood Oval became known as Coopers Stadium.

2008 Visiting league team room upgrade
The visiting league change rooms at the eastern end of the Sir Edwin T. Smith pavilion received a substantial makeover in January 2008. Funds for the project were provided by the SANFL as a part of a plan to upgrade the visitors’ change rooms at all suburban ovals. Only the lockers and bench seating were retained from the original interior.

Norwood’s lowest score - On May the 23rd Norwood scored 1 goal 3 behinds against Glenelg. It was Norwood’s lowest score on the Norwood Oval since league football commenced at The Parade in 1901.

On the 12th of December the club’s administration was re-located at the western end of the mezzanine floor of the southern grandstand. A steel stairway constructed in the breezeway provides the external entrance to the administration offices.

2009
After an absence of 10 years, baseball returned to Norwood Oval with the formation of the Adelaide Bite team in the national competition

A collage of action football photographs initiated by groundsman, Barry Solomon, was installed in Coopers Corner in 2009.

A remote control digital timeclock was erected on the scoreboard.