Lights back at Waterhouse

Night matches will be played at Waterhouse mini-stadium for the first time this season when the Drewsland-based club tackles high-riding Tivoli Gardens in a 6 p.m. game on Sunday.

Late games at the Drewsland complex were suspended last season when the team struggled to find wins and support dwindled. The hosting of night games this season has been delayed by technical difficulties. light-pole.

A problem light pole has now been changed, and it is all systems go for Sunday. Club chairman Bruce Bicknell believes that the return to night matches is a major boost for the team.

"We haven't done it (play) under the lights because of two reasons. We were changing one of the light-poles. We were changing it from a woodenpole to a steelpole. It has been out for three months because we had to fabricate huge steel pipes then take down the wooden poles and put on back the lights, so it was a tedious process.

"The next thing is cost containment. The cost of running the lights is very high, but we decided to give it a try," he told The Gleaner.

Bicknell believes that the return of the lights and night matches is a positive move for the club, which is currently struggling at second from bottom.

"We get a much larger turn out under the lights. The fact that you are bringing back the lights will be more reason for the crowd to come out and support the team and give them a lot more confidence to play better," he said.

He also believes that the return of the light has coincided perfectly with the hiring of new coach Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey.

"I've known 'Admiral' for a long time as I worked with him at Olympic Football Club. He's not only a good coach technically, but he is an incredible motivator, and he's like a father figure for players," Bicknell added.