The Davidson Raiders football team has a place to call home this fall, as the field behind Davidson School has been refurbished through months of hard work under the summer sun.

Jason Low, principal of Davidson school and Raiders head coach, said the field is “ready to go” thanks to the hard work put in by community members to help raise the $19,000 needed to buy the 75,000 square feet of turf before getting their hands dirty putting it in.

“We probably had about five good days where we had shipments of turf come in and we just got little crews of community members and football families together and laid it down,” said Low. “I think we had 118 pallets in total, so it was a fair bit. It’s a regular high school size, but we (put down) a little bit extra. The turf itself is 60 feet by 120 feet.”

The Kinsmen donated the majority of the money needed, with additional contributions received from other community groups and individuals as well. In addition to the hefty price tag for the earth, a $6,000 sprinkler system was installed, which was paid for by the Sun West School Division.

Low said thanks also need to be given to Glen and Kirby Manz for their work in “ripping up and levelling” the field and to Howie Elder who did some crowning and levelling with his grader.  Associate coach Leigh Tennent also pulled his weight by putting in countless hours helping install the sprinkler system and bringing the field back to its former glory.

“It was a football field before, but it was in disrepair,” said Low. “It hasn’t been used in so long that it was really clumpy and ruddy and gopher-ridden. It was just really difficult to do anything on.”

To read more please see the August 13 print edition of The Davidson Leader.