SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie PLAYERS from Italy, Switzerland and England could play crucial roles in Peninsula Strikers’ assault on the State 2 South-East championship. Italian defensive midfielder Leandro Parrella, 29, and Swiss central defender Raphael Stulz, 23, arrived in Melbourne last week. The Italian ace has an impressive CV having spent 11 years at Vicenza Calcio in Serie B. He started in the club’s academy squad and eventually served a two-year apprenticeship before advancing to the senior squad. Parrella spent two seasons playing with the under 21s and reserves before joining fourth-tier outfit Mezzocorona and helping it win promotion to…
Author: Neil Walker
GRAND plans to build a $14 million tennis centre at Centenary Park have not been slammed out of bounds despite the Centenary Park Golf Club deciding not to be part of the proposed project. Councillors at December’s public council meeting heard the volunteer-run golf club wanted to remain self-sufficient rather than move to a commercial footing. Frankston mayor Cr Brian Cunial said last week council had met with representatives of the Frankston Tennis Club, Bayside Gymnastics Club, Tennis Victoria and Gymnastics Victoria and had agreed to exclude the golf course and management of the club from the planned Centenary Park…
CONSTRUCTION on the long-awaited expansion of the Frankston Basketball Stadium will begin next month. Frankston Council has awarded a contract to Williamstown-based Devco Project & Construction Management to build stage one of the $12.45 million project. Devco built the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna South in 2012. Frankston mayor Cr Brian Cunial said the stadium expansion – to include new courts, more seating, a new entry and reception area, new change rooms and upgraded car park – will support the continued growth of basketball in the region. Frankston and District Basketball Association secretary Rob Little said the association will continue…
FRANKSTON has a new eatery at the foreshore albeit on a temporary basis. A pop-up cafe managed by the Food Truck Park company opened on Boxing Day and will serve up food and drinks from the ground floor of the newly constructed Frankston Yacht Club until 28 January. The $10.7 million Yacht Club, mostly funded by ratepayers, opened late last year. Negotiations between council and a restauranteur over a lease for a cafe and restaurant in the beachfront building collapsed at the last minute before the club premises opened. At last month’s public council meeting, council CEO Dennis Hovenden said…
FOOTBALL will return to Frankston Park during the Dolphins’ exile from the VFL. AFL Victoria has decided to stage two VFL games at the home of the Frankston Dolphins Football Club and several TAC Cup matches and practice games. Essendon Football Club’s VFL team will take on Port Melbourne on Saturday 6 May and Richmond’s VFL side will play Werribee in a round 13 clash on Saturday 15 July. Frankston mayor Cr Brian Cunial said council welcomed AFL Victoria’s decision and said it is an encouraging sign for the future of the Dolphins. The Dolphins went into voluntary administration in…