RHODES PARK.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 18277, 28 August 1931, Page 2

RHODES PARK.

MANY IMPROVEMENT'S. GROUND IN FINE ORDER, HELP FOR UNEMPLOYED. Much credit must be given to the Thames Rugby Union for its fine work in connection with the making of a Rugby ground out'of the rough at Rhodes Park. Few would have believed half a dozen years ago that the flat land with its covering of fescue could ever be brought up to the pitch of perfection that ft now has attained, and the stalwarts who originally saw the possibilities as well as those who have 'brought the plans to fruition are equally deserving of praise.

Week-end by week-end enthusiasts have given of their time and labour making each some little improvement to the ground and its environs, with the result that to-day Thames has a football ground second to none in the Province.

Far too long is the history of the various schemes that have been tried, the draining, the levelling and the clearing, but to-day the ground stands a tribute in itself to its conceivers and builders. The No. 1 pitch has been built up from a mud puddle to the fine sward of grass that it now shows. The pitch has been drained and grassed and it has been raised until even in the heaviest of rain very little water remains stationary and that disappears after a very short while. The No. 2 pitch has also received a great deal of attention and in the first place the fescue was removed and the grass now places this pitch on a level with No, 1.

On No. 3 pitch work is steadily proceeding and this has been denuded of fescue and is now ready for putting into grass. It also should in time reach the standard of the other playing grounds.

The latest move has been to commence work upon the old hockey pitch and this will in time be brought up to furnish a playing area for primary school football. A feature is the levelling of the in-goal area, a place which is more often than not neglected upon tho bulk of football pitches, and this part of ihe Nq. 1 ground is as level as a bowling green. Grass has been sown and should shortly be making its appearance. Perhaps the most pleasing feature of all is that the work has been done by local men and it has given a good deal of emloyment at a time when employment was badly needed.

Taken all in all Thames has no reason to be anything but proud of its football playing area,