WAGGA City Wanderers coach Michael Babic has called for soccer to be given its own stadium in the city, adamant they "don't get treated fairly" with money allocated or facility upgrades.
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Repairs by Wagga City Council are currently underway on the club's main field at Gissing Oval after damage to the goal mouth areas caused by the general public, given council doesn't rule the public park off limits.
Babic said he would never begrudge youngsters using the oval to kick around a football, but said it highlighted the need for the code to be given its own stadium to look after.
"It would be nice for the governments to inject some funds into a football stadium somewhere," he said.
"You look at what's happening with Bolton Park and the revamp that's happening down there, the home of rugby union (Jubilee Park) and the funds put in there, it would be nice for soccer to also have that.
"My feeling with Wagga is football doesn't get treated fairly, just the evidence of numbers doesn't support the actual money put iinto it.
"That's just my impression, I don't see the numbers of how much money (is put in). You look at the development at Bolton Park, it's already a pristine oval, so does it really need another injection?
"I'm pretty sure most of the data indicates the largest number of kids are playing our football. It would be nice for the governments to recognise that and put some money into giving us a home in Wagga, because that's what they need."
Last year Football Wagga launched a campaign to help bank-roll a $10 million upgrade of Rawlings Park, which would include a boutique stadium, lighting for three other fields and an upgrade of other facilities in the precinct.
The lights are expected to officially be unveiled in the near future and be ready for use for Football Wagga fixtures this season.
Football Wagga's aim was to raise $500,000 in two years by offering $500 double passes for the first year of the planned stadium's operation.
Babic said Gissing Oval could also be an option to be upgraded.
"I'd like to see the local football competitions play its finals on the home of football, not Equex Centre," he said.
"It's a lovely stadium but it's the home of rugby league. It would be nice if we had a real football stadium that we could look after and protect."
Babic said a stadium would allow the code to host big representative carnivals, and boost the local economy.
"I go to Goulburn three or four times a year and there's hundreds of people come to town for those events, people stay overnight in hotels and eat at local cafes and restaurants," he said.
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