Rave reviews for Council after opening of synthetic fields at Lionel Watts Reserve

Numerous sports-loving people on the Northern Beaches have spoken – and it is great news for Council.

Lionel Watts Reserve in Frenchs Forest, home of the Wakehurst Soccer Club and Forest Lions Junior AFL Club, was opened late last week following a $3.4 million upgrade which included two full size soccer fields, a small junior soccer pitch plus a senior AFL oval.

Parents, players and officials were all in unison, stating the sporting facility is ‘fantastic.’

Wakehurst president Greg Dick thanked Council for the significant community upgrade.

“We are now in a position to host games for many years all year round and not have to worry about the weather. “Some of our older players have said to me they can’t wait to have fixtures where the pitch won’t resemble a dust bowl.

“It really is fabulous – the locals now have a first class sporting facility to go with a great shopping facility as well as a terrific recreational facility - all at the one precinct.”

Seven-year-old soccer star Murphy described Lionel Watts as the ‘best field ever’ with teammate Sophie stating the surface ‘feels great and is really bouncy.’

Jason Cowling, a junior coach with the Forest Lions AFL under-11s, added the possibilities are ‘endless’ following the upgrade, and he now anticipates a surge in numbers from 2020 onwards.

“The finished product looks amazing,’’ he said. “We can’t thank Council enough, our future is looking very bright.”