FOOTBALL CRAZY KIDS enjoying a game at Farrer Park, which has been adopted by the Football Association of Singapore and will be used for the development of its grassroots programme. -- ST PHOTO: ALBERT SIM

The 25-year-old treasury executive is delighted that a field near his home in Hougang Avenue 7 has been made available without charge.

'I'm going to check it out,'' he said. 'This is fantastic news. Previously, it was so difficult to find a field to play football and without getting chased by the police for playing on state land.

'It was also expensive to book a field and, often, both teams would end up arguing over the booking fees.

'So it is great to hear that so many fields have been opened up for sports and recreation. And, the best thing is, they are free.''

The SLA said that since 2003 it has been opening up state land, after it was first mooted by Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, the Football Association of Singapore president.

From 153 fields identified four years ago, the number has risen to 284, a land area equivalent to 780 football fields.

Since February, the SLA has improved the condition of the 284 fields by turfing, levelling and compacting the soil.

Other sports, besides football, are also welcome to play on these fields. For example, the field near Merchant Loop at Robertson Quay is used by motorised-kite enthusiasts.

Senior citizens who enjoy gateball have been using a field at Henderson Road.

Assoc Prof Ho, himself a keen footballer, is glad to see his idea bear fruit.

He said: 'It makes sense to use the latent state land for recreational activities.

'I hope this will attract Singaporeans to get out there and enjoy not just football, but also other sports and recreational activities.

'The FAS, in partnership with the SLA, will adopt the Farrer Park field, which we will use for our grassroots programme.

'Companies are also welcome to adopt pitches near their premises to promote healthy pursuits.

'As partners, we will help alert the SLA on the maintenance of the fields.

'If the companies can afford it, they can even buy a roller to level the pitch. But the objective is not to be a drain on anybody's resources.''

Peh Hanying, a civil servant, said: 'Keeping the fields free is a great gesture on the SLA's part.

'It is good news for me as, previously, weekend footballers who entered state fields risked getting chased by the police.

'But who's going to paint the lines to convert the field into a football pitch?''

Jacen Tan, a 24-year-old video producer whose short film, Tak Giu, expressed a typical weekend warrior's frustration in finding an available field for football, agreed.

He said: 'It's great news for guys who are still looking for a pitch to play.

'But what about the lines and goal-posts? Without them, we'll have to use bags or shoes to mark out the goals. The game will not be as enjoyable.''

meng@sph.com.sg

Some of the sites opened by SLA

NORTH

17th Avenue Ponggol, Admiralty Link/Admiralty Lane, Admiralty Rd West, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, Compassvale Crescent (opposite Blk 290A), Fernvale Lane (next to Blk 403B), Lilac Drive, Sembawang Cres (opposite Blk 324), Sembawang Drive (beside Blk 484), Sembawang Dr/Admiralty Street, Sengkang East Ave (opposite Blk 102), Sengkang East Way (opposite Blk 325), Springleaf Rd, Upper Thomson Rd (beside Pierce Sec Sch), Whampoa East/Bendemeer Rd, Woodlands Avenue 6, Yishun Ave 1 (Miltonia Close), Yishun Ave 1/2, Yishun Ave 6 (Blk 419), Yishun Ave 6 (Blk 423), Yishun Ave 7 (opposite Blk 174 and opposite Blk 173) Yishun Ave 11 (Blk 433/ 440), Yishun Central (polyclinic), Yishun Ring Road/Avenue 9

SOUTH

Bidadari Christian Cemetery, Farrer Park, Margaret Drive (Blk 96), Ophir Rd/Beach Rd.

EAST

Bedok South Rd (Beside Blk 157), Mountbatten Rd, Pasir Ris Central (Blk 586), Paya Lebar Rd (next to MacPherson Sec Sch), Simei Rd (Next to Blk 155), Tanah Merah Kechil Link, Tanjong Rhu Rd (three sites), Tanjong Rhu View, Ubi Ave 1 (Beside Maha Bodhi Pri Sch)

WEST

Boon Lay Way/Jurong St 12, Hu Ching Rd/Yuan Ching Rd, Jalan Buroh (two sites), Jln Buroh/Buroh Lane, Jln Lempeng, Jln Seh Chuan, Jurong East St 21 (next to IMM), Jurong West St 75 (beside Westwood Sec Sch), Kian Teck Lane, Pioneer Rd North, Tuas South Ave 1, Tuas South Ave 3, Tuas South Ave 4/5, Yung An Rd (beside mosque)