St Kilda Football Club is set to start season 2011 in a brand new home, with the official opening of the Club’s new training base at Seaford’s Belvedere Oval, Frankston City.

Treasurer of Victoria, Kim Wells, joined Frankston City Mayor, Cr Kris Bolam JP, the AFL’s Gillon McLachlan and St Kilda President Greg Westaway today to take part in the official opening ceremony of the Linen House Centre; the Club’s new state-of-the-art facility.

“Today’s opening marks a new chapter in the Club’s history and the start of a new era of sport and recreation options for the greater Bayside community,” Mr Wells said.

“The Linen House Centre provides the Saints with a new indoor sports hall, gymnasium, meeting rooms, lecture theatre and a rehabilitation pool.

“As well as a facility for elite athletes, the indoor sports hall is open to local basketball and netball teams.

“Seeing AFL heroes like Nick Riewoldt and other sports stars in their own backyard is sure to inspire many locals to try their hand at all the sports on offer in the local community,” he said.

Mr Wells said groups that would benefit from the new facility included the Victorian Institute of Sport, Frankston District Junior Football League sides, local basketball and netball clubs, the under-18 TAC team and nearby schools.

“By investing in projects like these we’re creating top facilities where clubs, peak sporting bodies and local communities can work together to help increase participation in sport and recreation at all levels, from athletes to coaches,” he said.

The Victorian Government provided $3.45 million to help relocate the St Kilda Football Club from its previous training and administration facilities at Moorabbin. The Frankston City Council contributed $3 million contribution, the AFL $2.55 million and St Kilda Football Club $1.43 million.

St Kilda Football Club Chief Executive Officer, Michael Nettlefold said, “The Club is extremely excited to have now moved into our new home here at the Linen House Centre in Frankston City.

“Thanks to the outstanding contribution from the Victorian Government, the Frankston City Council and the AFL, we are now able to provide our players and staff with the best possible facilities to work towards ongoing success in 2011 and beyond."

Nettlefold continued, “While we have played in three Grand Finals in the past two years, we haven’t delivered a Premiership, and we hope that this new facility will provide us with the tools required to take another step forward in our Club’s history.”

Frankston City Council Mayor, Cr Kris Bolam JP, officially welcomed St Kilda Football Club to its new home in Frankston City.

“It is fantastic to officially have the Saints as ‘new residents’ of Frankston City. We have all worked hard together to make this move a success, and we are confident many local groups will benefit from the facilities available. The Saints new home is the heart of an exciting new sports and recreation precinct,” said Mayor Bolam.

AFL Chief Operating Officer Gillon McLachlan said the AFL wished to again thank the Victorian Government and Frankston City Council for its support of St Kilda and the development of its new facilities at Belvedere Oval.

"The AFL is delighted to partner with the Victorian Government, Frankston City Council and the Saints to develop this new facility at Seaford for community use for residents in the wider bay area," Mr McLachlan said.

"On behalf of the AFL, I wish to thank the Treasurer, Mr Wells, and Mayor Bolam, and we hope these facilities will be a fantastic addition for the Bayside community."