By JOSE RAYMOND
A football field in central Singapore which has been a staple hunting ground for many social football sides looks sets to face an uncertain future.
Over the course of the week, several TMSG sources have informed us through interviews that St Wilfred football field in central Singapore at St George’s Road will need to be returned to the state by the end of 2024.
St Wilfred field is currently an ActiveSG field which is under the stewardship of government agency Sport Singapore.
The landlord is the Singapore Land Authority, another government agency.
A senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity to TMSG confirmed the venue will no longer be provided to clubs as a location for training.
The venue is currently utllised for Singapore Youth League matches, as well as the usual social football played by weekend warriors.
Centres of Excellence matches between clubs had also been played on the turf.
It is understood that Singapore Premier League side Balestier Khalsa also uses the field for training purposes.
Said a TMSG source, “It is a case of another one bites the dust.
“The bigger question is where are the alternatives.”
DEATH OF FOOTBALL FIELDS
The chatter about the possible impending closure of St Wilfred’s comes hot on heels of the closure of Turf City, which had the size of almost 200 football fields.
Turf City was officially closed on 31 December 2023, after a history that lasted slightly more than two decades.
The site will be used for future residential use.
It is not known what the St Wilfred field site will be used for but the urban Master Plan 2019 shows it as a location for sports and recreation.
An upgrade to the urban Master Plan 2025 is currently in the works.
“What is the long-term impact of the loss of playing spaces and what is the message the authorities are trying to send across to people who see team sports as an important aspect of wellness, and camaraderies?” asked a football official, who is also a business owner.
OPENING UP OF SCHOOLS WITH FIELDS
According to a Mothership story in February, the Singapore Land Authority noted that it has made 284 state fields available for community and recreational use in a 2007 media release.
According to SLA, this is equivalent to 780 football fields.
If we assume that each of the 350 schools in Singapore has a football field, and another 20 stadiums with football fields around the country, the total number of football fields in Singapore is approximately 1,150 (780 + 350 + 20), said Mothership in the story.
But here’s the problem.
The school principals have autonomy over the use of the fields, which is why a school like Spectra Secondary School does not allow the public the use of the field, as a resident complained to TMSG two months ago.
“Why is the taxpayer paying for the school to have floodlights for night play, but no one is allowed to use the field?” asked a senior football official who had youth footballers use the field for training previously.
SCHOOL FIELDS SHOULD BE PUBLIC SPACES
Given the city island’s land constraints, all resources which can be utilised by the public like school fields, or the multi-purpose halls, or the running track, should come under a new state department which can oversee the allocation, and costs for maintenance.
Not Sport Singapore, as they can’t seem to manage their own bookings such that there are double bookings.
See story below.
Or allow such resources to put onto an app where public can make bookings at any times provided they are available, make payment, and then let them play.
Think Parking.SG app.
Why are fields being left empty at so many schools during school hours, and after school hours when these can be used by sports enthusiasts, by People’s Association for community activities, and by other clubs and sports entities.
Singapore’s land constraints and demands for housing spaces only mean there needs to be a new thinking around the use of existing resources.
The country cannot claim t support sports and football, and aspire for World Cup qualification when all it does is continue to remove spaces for spontaneous and organised play by the community.
MAIN PHOTO: KOHUP
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