Playing at home has a brand new meaning for the North Battleford John Paul II Crusaders football team from now on.
Instead of renting out Beaver Lions Stadium for home games, now the Crusaders can just step out the back door of their school to see their home field.
JPII principal Carlo Hansen says players and coaches alike are excited to start the season.
“I think they’re all excited just to play an actual home game, at home,” he said with a laugh.
Hansen says the field has been in the works for a number of years, and the Crusaders will no longer have to play out of Beaver Lions Stadium.
“It’s been a couple of years we’ve been working towards getting it ready to be useable as an actual field,” he said. “The goalposts were added this spring. Someone is building us some stands right now so that will be nice to get those in there as well. We also have our industrial arts students building a storage shed for us to put equipment in as well.”
Hansen says the biggest challenge in getting the field ready has been the grass.
“I think just getting the grass up to a quality that you can play on,” he said. “This year it’s been looking good, we were able to get the irrigation system all changed over and improved so they’ve been able to water it all summer. That’s made a huge difference so the grass is looking pretty good.”
Being able to play games right at the school will help them save money as well.
“There was cost involved in renting out Beaver Lions Stadium, as well as bussing to get over there,” Hansen said. “It will save us a few hundred dollars every game.”
Hansen adds the construction of the new field wouldn’t be possible without all the volunteer help they’ve received.
“Have to say thanks to everyone who have donated their time, money and talents towards getting this done,” he said. “It’s been mostly volunteers, even the clubhouse was put together by volunteers.”
The Crusaders will get their first chance to play on the new field Thursday when they welcome the Warman Wildcats at 4:30.
