No question what is top of the wish list for Wairarapa United in the 2015 football season.
Way ahead of anything else is the construction of an artificial turf at Masterton's Memorial Park which, complete with lights, would allow their premier football side to play all their Central League home games in Wairarapa ... a far cry from this year when more than half were staged at Maidstone Park in Upper Hutt because of the lack of suitable grounds and amenities here.
"We've got everything crossed that the artificial turf will become a reality," Wairarapa United president Phil Keinzley said yesterday in referring to a proposal which has already been given the green light to the tune of almost $1.3 million by two major funding agencies, Trust House and Lotteries, and is under consideration by the Masterton District Council.
"It would be huge for us, not only for our players and management team but also our supporters and sponsors. It's been embarrassing to give home advantage away so often and we don't want to have to even think about doing that again, not that we would probably be allowed to anyway."
A remarkable 7-4 win over Napier City Rovers on Saturday after being down 4-1 at one stage means Wairarapa United are virtually certain to come third behind Miramar Rangers and Western Suburbs in this year's 10-team Central League, a commendable effort by any standards but one which Keinzley greets with mixed feelings.