As late as the 1980s, crowds of almost 10,000 packed into Lambert Park to watch APIA Leichhardt play in the old National Soccer League. While the Tigers now attract smaller crowds playing in the NSW Premier League, the club is even more focused on its role within football in Sydney.
APIA president Tony Raciti, who has been in the role for 36 years, said the $2.2 million upgrade of the club's home ground would provide a "world class facility'' for the inner west.
The upgrade:
Funded by the state government and recently approved by Leichhardt Council, the upgrade includes a synthetic pitch, new perimeter fencing, warm up gym and change rooms.
But Raciti says it will provide more than that. "It will give an opportunity for school kids and hundreds of local kids from under-6s to under-16s to play on a world class facility,'' he said.
"There will be no more washed out games.''
It will also provide a much-needed upgrade for the iconic ground.
A long history:
The history of the venue is highlighted in a 1949 documentary Playing the Game Downunder recently uncovered by Football Federation Australia.
The documentary follows the Leichhardt-Annandale team in the 1949 state league and features rare footage of matches at Lambert Park.
Leichhardt-Annandale made way in 1954 for APIA Leichhardt, who have played at the Marion St ground since.
Raciti estimates APIA has spent close to $1 million on maintaining the council-owned ground in the past 30 years, from installing lighting towers and irrigation to a scoreboard and administration office.
"We've also maintained a quality playing surface, but within months it turns to dirt because it can't handle the usage,'' he said.
"Whatever's there, the club has put in. It's not us having a go at council, but just that we've been very good in what we've done over the years.''
APIA joined the NSL in 1979 and won the title in 1987 before having to drop back to state league football from 1992.
Raciti says the club had crowds of more than 9000 which isn't far off the 12,500 average attendance for Gay Leaguematches this season up until the 1980s.
APIA's future:
Asked about the decision to drop out of the NSL he said: It was purely financial. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but we had to be realistic.
"We're not in that league now and don't ever want to be in that league.''
But Raciti said APIA now provided an important pathway for players in the inner west.
"We're the district senior club in the inner west and a pathway for 23 clubs in the Canterbury association.
With APIA providing a key link between grassroots and elite football, Raciti says the Tigers playing HAKOA would be the perfect way to officially open the upgraded Lambert Park.
www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/inner-west/proud-history-enters-new-era-for-apia-leichhardt/story-fngr8h4f-1226588352597
