Florida’s footballing hub alive and ready to take on the coming season
“We would turn nobody away because we would rather have them here than on the streets.”
Recreational facilities and football grounds in particular, hold a special place in the hearts of those who made memories on their hallowed fields.
The long grass visible from the roads that run past Trezona Park may have had some community members worried that the grand old lady of West Rand football was preparing to pay the ferryman. While the state-imposed lockdown has savaged the club’s finances, Florida Albion Football Club is alive and kicking, preparing in earnest for the upcoming season.
Noleen Isaacs will lead the club as chairlady, assisted by vice-chairman Shafique Smith, and both will be looking to scrape together every resource they have to continue the club’s rich heritage. Key among those resources are the spirit and commitment of their members who rolled up their own sleeves to prepare the grounds, taking turns to cut and clear grass throughout the weekend.
Central to Florida Albion’s current predicament is their struggle with the City of Johannesburg to put pen to paper on a new long-term lease. “We have had people come to us with sponsorship opportunities but we can’t secure their funds without a defined lease period. People can’t spend money if they think it can just be taken away at any time,” explained Shafique. What little reserve funds they had went to paying staff and groundskeepers throughout 2020.
Johannesburg Property Company, the state entity that manages the leasing of municipal facilities, has not responded to requests for comment, but the continued delay creates a backlog of urgent issues that compound the club’s efforts. Theft and vandalism have left the boundary fence in dire need of repairs, and cable thieves have rendered the floodlights inoperable, while recent heavy rains have caused the bar area ceiling to cave in.
Despite the challenges, Noleen and Shafique see the limitless potential the club has to be a beacon of hope and a focal point for the area’s youth. “We would love to set up a youth centre where kids can spend their afternoon doing homework, then playing in a safe environment,” said Noleen. “We would turn nobody away because we would rather have them here than on the streets,” she continued.
The grounds host more than just football as softball, baseball and drum majorette clubs call it home, with hopefully even the return of cricket a possibility. The tuck shop, bar and the 5-a-side court all have tremendous potential and both Noleen and Shafique are open to discussing any partnership ideas any interested parties might have.
Football training will resume shortly and members past and present are advised to contact Noleen on 083 204 5931 for any enquiries. Trezona Park has a legendary reputation for serving the football fraternity throughout the decades, and preserving that status is worthwhile not only for the community of today, but for those who came before and those who will cherish it in the future.
