Kevin Bartlett Reserve - Built By Richmond ALEMANNIA

I've tended to stay away from the current issues involving Richmond SC and it's takeover by Fitzroy City for a number of reasons, most of which I previously detailed in this piece. Also mostly because I'm not in a position to get back involved in club football, so as such can only offer moral support to those willing to keep the club going.

Richmond Alemannia 50th Anniversary Booklet

I do believe it needs to be noted that the facilities at Kevin Bartlett Reserve, probably a million dollar asset for he council now, were built largely by the members of Richmond Alemannia SC in the 1980's. The initial set-up saw $60,00 provided by the State Government (not the Council) with the club providing the rest, as well as most of the labour.

Since then many of the improvements and upgrades (upstairs media/VIP area and lighting chiefly) were again funded mostly by the club.

The Council may not care for the history of the club, and may find this takeover a more convenient solution to to the issue of Fitzroy City needing better facilities, but it ought to make sure democratic processes have been followed. They should also be aware that over the course of Victorian football history clubs have only ever taken over others for two reasons - to gain a higher league place or to gain a better facility.

In the cases of struggling clubs being taken over by others, many have amounted to the "selling" of a ground or league position. The council, and Football Victoria, owe it to those who would like to see the club carry on independently to make sure that is not what is happening here.

Football Victoria, or Football Federation Victoria as it was then, has already been caught on the wrong side of history in previous disputes, most notably the 2009 Whittlesea Zebras debacle. Now we will once again get to see if they stand for rank and file grassroots members, or side with the "money men" as usual.