Narrandera Sportsground
 Narrandera Sportsground in 2007 | |
 Interactive map of Narrandera Sportsground | |
| Address | 2–32 Victoria Ave Narrandera, New South Wales |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°44′48″S 146°33′47″E / 34.74680°S 146.56310°E |
| Owner | Narrandera Shire Council[1] |
| Capacity | 14,000 (300 seated)[3][4] |
Record attendance | 14,000 (Wagga Kangaroos vs Tumbarumba, late 1962)[5] |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1880s |
| Architect | Bill Talbot[2] |
| Tenants | |
| Narrandera Imperials Football Club (1913–) Narrandera Lizards (1921–) | |
Narrandera Sportsground (sometimes stylised as Narrandera Sports Ground) is an Australian rules football, rugby league and cricket venue located in the New South Wales town of Narrandera.[3] It is the home of the Narrandera Imperials Football Club in the Riverina Football Netball League (RFNL) and the Narrandera Lizards in the Group 20 Rugby League competition.[4][6]
It has long been regarded as one of the top sporting venues in the Riverina region, with the Narrandera Shire Council saying it is "often referred to as the best ground after the MCG".[1] The Narrandera Argus wrote in 1952 that "no other ground" could accommodate a large crowd as "comfortably" as it could, while in 2017, readers of The Daily Advertiser voted the venue as the region's "best sports ground for big matches".[7][8]
History
[edit]Narrandera Sportsground was designed by Bill Talbot, a local engineer and planner.[9] The first recorded Australian rules football match at the venue took place in 1882.[4] In 1913, the Narrandera Imperials Football Club – which had been formed three years prior – moved to the venue, winning the South West District Football League (SWDFL) premiership the same year.[10][11]
The grandstand at Narrandera Sportsground was named after Lance Paterson, who played for the Narrandera Imperials in the 1930s and served the club in several off-field roles over a period of 70 years.[9]
In 1962, Narrandera Sportsground's record attendance was set when 14,000 people watched the Group 20 Rugby League grand final between the Wagga Kangaroos and Tumbarumba.[4] Two years later, a crowd of 10,000 people attended the 1963–64 VCFL Country Championship final between the SWDFL and the Hampden Football League.[4][12]
For the 1986 Country Day, the Sydney Swans played North Melbourne in a Victorian Football League (now AFL) pre-season match at Narrandera Sportsground.[13] Although the start of the match was delayed by 90 minutes because of a flight schedule change in Sydney, the Swans won the match by 83 points in front of a crowd of 9,000 people.[14]
Since 2000, four Australian Football League (AFL) pre-season matches have been played at Narrandera Sportsground.[3] The highest crowd for these matches was during in 2007, when 10,979 people watched Sydney defeat Collingwood.[15]
On 4 July 2026, Narrandera Sportsground will host its first Victorian Football League (VFL) match, when Greater Western Sydney plays Coburg.[16]
Records
[edit]Attendance
[edit]| # | Crowd | Game | Date | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14,000 | Wagga Kangaroos vs Tumbarumba (1962 Group 20 Rugby League grand final) | Late 1962 | [4] |
| 2 | 10,979 | Sydney vs Collingwood (2007 NAB Challenge) | 9 March 2007 | [3] |
| 3 | 10,000 | South West District vs Hampden (1963–64 VCFL Country Championship final) | 11 July 1964 | [12] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Sporting facilities". Narrandera Shire Council. Archived from the original on 29 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ^ "SUDDEN DEATH OF MR. W. R. TALBOT". Narandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser. 23 May 1950. p. 2. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
It was Mr. Talbot who designed the sportsground and his work in that connection has been commended in all parts of Australia. Few people who have seen the sportsground have left unimpressed with the excellence of this work.
- ^ a b c d "Narrandera Sportsground". Austadiums. Archived from the original on 28 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f Gillett, Rod (10 March 2010). "Narrandera Sportsground: A Mecca in a heathen state". The Footy Almanac. Archived from the original on 13 September 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ^ "League is king sport at Wagga". The Rugby League News. November 1962. p. 11. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
At Narrandera a crowd estimated at 14,000 paid a record £2,022 to see Wagga Kangaroos win their first Group 20 premiership when they beat Tumbarumba 14-7.
- ^ "Narrandera Imperial". Swans on Screen. Archived from the original on 29 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ^ "SWDFL PREMIERSHIP WIN FOR GRIFFITH". Narandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser. 18 August 1952. p. 2. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ^ Malone, Matt (22 February 2017). "Narrandera Sportsground a big winner in poll of Riverina's best sports grounds". The Daily Advertiser. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ^ a b Clark, Peter (26 June 2024). "Revelling in the Riverina: Episode 10 – On the banks of the 'Bidgee". The Footy Almanac. Archived from the original on 24 July 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ^ "Narrandera Football Club (NSW)". Footypedia. Archived from the original on 3 June 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ^ "Narrandera IFC". GWS GIANTS. 29 April 2013. Archived from the original on 29 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ^ a b "1964". Swans on Screen. Archived from the original on 29 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ^ "A history lesson in Narrandera". AFL.com.au. 9 March 2010. Archived from the original on 29 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ^ "Kangaroos turn back the clock in Narrandera". AFL Riverina. 15 March 2010. Archived from the original on 29 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ^ Cowley, Michael (10 March 2007). "Pubs shut as the Swans get serious". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 29 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ^ "2026 Smithy's VFL and VFLW fixtures update". AFL.com.au. 29 May 2026. Archived from the original on 29 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.