Space to play

Getting better facilities for Hurlstone Park Wanderers FC.

Ewen Park is home to one of the largest community sporting clubs in Sydney – Hurlstone Park Wanderers FC (HPW)

After years of waiting, HPW members were getting anxious about promised improvements to facilities at the park.

Poor drainage, poor amenities and overuse of the existing grounds were major problems – in fact, 40% of matches at Ewen Park this year were cancelled due to the condition of the pitches.

HPW approached EMC to develop a community campaign to improve facilities at Ewen Park, and to create new ways of engaging the clubs 1,200 members.

The Space to Play campaign was launched at Ewen Park in June 2011, attracting the support of three former Socceroos and the NSW Football Association.

A campaign web site was set up to provide regular updates to members and supporters

An aggressive media strategy attracted attention for the campaign in local newspapers, metropolitan newspapers, radio and in the football industry press.

Social media was used to create a new forum for member communication, while clever use of twitter ensured the campaign attracted attention of football industry opinion leaders.

A community petition was launched and promoted through flyers and a ‘Day of Action’ at Ewen Park – where junior players were provided with Space to Play branded drink bottles.

Over 1,600 people signed the Space to Play petition during the course of the 6-week campaign, which was presented to the Deputy Mayor of Canterbury at the club’s medal presentation for U/6, U/7 and U/8 teams.

Canterbury Council responded to the campaign by announcing the construction of a new playing field at Ewen Park, with a new amenities block, and promising to investigate options for improved drainage.

EMC Campaigns