A 3D rendering of Whanganui Athletic Football Club's new home. Image / Supplied
A 3D rendering of Whanganui Athletic Football Club's new home. Image / Supplied
Whanganui Athletic Football have unveiled plans for new clubrooms at their Wembley Park home.
President Peter Czerwonka said they had finalised a lease agreement with Whanganui District Council and were ready to push forward with their fundraising efforts.
Czerwonka said the idea of new clubrooms has been discussed many timesover the last few years between Trevor Strong and Brian Stewart, two long-time players and members of the club.
"A few of the old boys of the club came up with this idea which was a little far-fetched, but had a lot of merit to it. Instead of pumping money into an old facility and being exactly the same as we have always been, why don't we completely upgrade?"
Project leader Trevor Strong said the idea accelerated in 2020 as the current clubrooms, also at Wembley Park, needed a new roof due to leaks.
"It was going to cost around $80,000, we just didn't think it would make much sense," he said.
With an estimated cost of around $750,000 for the build, Strong said more than $125,000 has already been raised.
Strong, who has more than 100 caps for the Athletic 1st team and 1000-plus for the "Cosmos", said the club had a strong desire to continue leaving a legacy for the next generation.
The new clubrooms will be built to the left of the grandstand at Wembley Park, overlooking the No 1 pitch. Photo / Bevan Conley
Czerwonka said one of the key benefits to building a new facility was being able to build it overlooking the No 1 pitch at Wembley Park.
"If you travel around all the big clubs, that's the biggest point of difference. The clubrooms are on the main pitch. It's a big identity to clubs."
Currently playing in the Lotto Central Federation League, Whanganui Athletic are looking to return to their "glory days" in the 1990s when they won the premier lower North Island football competition.
"That's been one of the main contributing factors turning that conversation over beers into an actual conversation with some weight behind. We have a group of youngsters that the old boys look at and respect and want to do something really special because they see all the work they are putting into the club.
"Something like this would really give the club an opportunity to push forward."
Czerwonka was hoping to see another football club fill in the old clubrooms.
"We are willing to work with all of Whanganui stakeholders to achieve what is best. It would be cool to have another club based at Wembley Park."
Whanganui Athletic will be hosting more than 50 football teams for the Masters Games this weekend, presenting a huge fundraising opportunity for the club.
"I've been playing at Wembley for 20-plus years and there are a lot of people around that have been playing far longer than me, but I can't remember anything new happening at Wembley. It will be nice to try to add some excitement and something different and a product that would make the experience more enjoyable," Czerwonka said.
