David Harding
Cain LynchFarewell to 'the Pit'
August 14th 2010 10:57
Source: The Mercury - The voice of Tasmania
by Brett Stubbs
IT was the scourge of opposition clubs and deserving of its nickname of "The Pit" but today will be the end of an era with the last senior roster football game played at the Kingston Beach Oval.
The postage stamp-sized ground that has struggled to handle heavy rain has been the Kingborough municipality's only football venue for exactly 100 years in November.
But with the new grounds near the Kingborough Sports Centre close to completion for next season, today's Kingborough-Claremont match will be Kingston Beach's grand finale barring a home final.
The Tigers, as either Kingston or Kingborough, have resided at the ground for all of those 100 years, playing in different competitions such as the Huon and SFL.
Club volunteer and former president Rodney Herweynen said it was with mixed feelings the Tigers would create a new den.
"It was certainly aptly known as 'The Pit', there is no doubt about that," Herweynen said. "While it is our home ground, we have loved playing there and had titanic battles with great teams.
"We've had our bums kicked a few times and we've won some great games.
"But it will be great for Kingborough to have a decent-sized ground that can handle the weather with new clubrooms."
Herweynen said during the halcyon days of the Huon competition, clashes between arch-rivals Kingston and Channel would draw crowds of up to 3000.
Tigers coach Adam Henley said while many a Friday night last season was spent getting fire trucks to pump excess water off the ground, it also had many advantages.
"We had a talk about it last night and a few guys were getting a bit emotional about it," Henley said.
"In one way it is an asset to us because no other club likes playing down there. Everyone has got gripes about it so it gives us a hand up straight away."
Summer tenant, the Kingborough District Cricket Club, is also relocating to the new grounds, leaving Kingston Beach to have a synthetic wicket laid.
by Brett Stubbs
IT was the scourge of opposition clubs and deserving of its nickname of "The Pit" but today will be the end of an era with the last senior roster football game played at the Kingston Beach Oval.
The postage stamp-sized ground that has struggled to handle heavy rain has been the Kingborough municipality's only football venue for exactly 100 years in November.
But with the new grounds near the Kingborough Sports Centre close to completion for next season, today's Kingborough-Claremont match will be Kingston Beach's grand finale barring a home final.
Coach Adam Henley, left, and football director David Johnson at 'The Pit'. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES
The Tigers, as either Kingston or Kingborough, have resided at the ground for all of those 100 years, playing in different competitions such as the Huon and SFL.
Club volunteer and former president Rodney Herweynen said it was with mixed feelings the Tigers would create a new den.
"It was certainly aptly known as 'The Pit', there is no doubt about that," Herweynen said. "While it is our home ground, we have loved playing there and had titanic battles with great teams.
"We've had our bums kicked a few times and we've won some great games.
"But it will be great for Kingborough to have a decent-sized ground that can handle the weather with new clubrooms."
Herweynen said during the halcyon days of the Huon competition, clashes between arch-rivals Kingston and Channel would draw crowds of up to 3000.
Tigers coach Adam Henley said while many a Friday night last season was spent getting fire trucks to pump excess water off the ground, it also had many advantages.
"We had a talk about it last night and a few guys were getting a bit emotional about it," Henley said.
"In one way it is an asset to us because no other club likes playing down there. Everyone has got gripes about it so it gives us a hand up straight away."
Summer tenant, the Kingborough District Cricket Club, is also relocating to the new grounds, leaving Kingston Beach to have a synthetic wicket laid.
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