{{Short description|Sports venue in Braybrook, Victoria}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}} {{Infobox stadium | name = Skinner Reserve | nickname = | logo_image = | image = Skinner Reserve 2026 20.jpg | caption = Skinner Reserve in 2026 | address = Churchill Ave | city = Braybrook, Victoria | coordinates = {{Coord|37|47|14|S|144|51|19|E|display=it}} | broke_ground = {{Start date and age|1965}} | opened = {{Start date and age|23 April 1966}} | closed = | demolished = | renovated = | owner = City of Maribyrnong | operator = | construction_cost = {{AUD|3 million}} (2021–23 redevelopment) | seating_capacity = 5,000<ref name="austadiums">{{cite web |title=Skinner Reserve |url=https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/skinner-reserve |publisher=Austadiums |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116213053/https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/skinner-reserve |archive-date=16 January 2025}}</ref> | record_attendance = 8,000 (Footscray Legends vs Collingwood Legends, 22 October 1989) | dimensions = {{nowrap|{{cvt|175 × 155|m}}}} | architect = | former_names = | tenants = Sunshine Football Club (1966–1989)<br/>Sunshine George Cross FC (1989–1991) }} '''Skinner Reserve''' is an Australian rules football, cricket and soccer venue located in the Melbourne suburb of Braybrook.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eddie |first1=Rachel |title='A huge opportunity': Western Bulldogs find second home at Skinner Reserve |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/a-huge-opportunity-western-bulldogs-find-second-home-at-skinner-reserve-20210420-p57kof.html |publisher=The Age |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524012622/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/a-huge-opportunity-western-bulldogs-find-second-home-at-skinner-reserve-20210420-p57kof.html |archive-date=24 May 2024 |date=21 April 2021}}</ref> It is most notable as the former home ground of the Sunshine Football Club in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).<ref name="vfa">{{cite web |title=Skinner Reserve |url=https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Grounds/Skinner_Reserve.php |publisher=The VFA Project |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250926181042/https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Grounds/Skinner_Reserve.php |archive-date=26 September 2025}}</ref>
==History== ===Background and development=== Prior to Skinner Reserve being developed as a football ground, the primary sports venue in the City of Sunshine was Selwyn Park in Albion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Selwyn Park |url=https://www.sunshinehistoricalsociety.org.au/selwyn-park-albion |publisher=Sunshine Historical Society |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251217115853/https://www.sunshinehistoricalsociety.org.au/selwyn-park-albion |archive-date=17 December 2025}}</ref> In 1964, the local council agreed to lease Selwyn Park to George Cross FC, which was playing in Victoria's top-level soccer league at the time.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=https://essendonroyals.com.au/history/ |publisher=Essendon Royals SC |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251214231406/https://essendonroyals.com.au/history/ |archive-date=14 December 2025}}</ref> However, the Sunshine Football Club (SFC), as well as local baseball and sub-district cricket clubs, still had three years to run on their lease at the venue.
To secure agreement from the SFC to end the lease, the Sunshine City Council committed to developing a new VFA-standard venue at Skinner Reserve.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|title=Sunshine likely to move in 1966|date=7 July 1964|page=10}}</ref> The venue was built during the 1965 season, with the football club signing a seven-year lease that begun in 1966.<ref name="footscray">{{cite news|newspaper=The Sun News-Pictorial|date=28 September 1965|title=Oval for Sunshine|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC}}</ref>
Before construction was finished, the Footscray Football Club – which was competing in the Victorian Football League (VFL) – made an application to the council to permanently move its playing and administrative base from Western Oval to the new venue and develop it into a VFL-standard ground.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gigacz |first1=Andrew |title=A grandstand finish at VU Whitten Oval |url=https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/1065022/a-grandstand-finish-at-vu-whitten-oval |publisher=Western Bulldogs |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318091324/https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/1065022/a-grandstand-finish-at-vu-whitten-oval |archive-date=18 March 2023 |date=23 February 2022}}</ref> At the time, fellow VFL clubs {{AFL Stk}} and {{AFL NM}} had recently moved their bases to VFA venues (Moorabbin Oval and Coburg City Oval respectively).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nice |first1=Chris |title=On This Day: St Kilda's record-breaking Moorabbin debut |url=https://www.saints.com.au/news/29054/on-this-day-st-kildas-record-breaking-moorabbin-debut |publisher=St Kilda Football Club |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260103002500/https://www.saints.com.au/news/29054/on-this-day-st-kildas-record-breaking-moorabbin-debut |archive-date=3 January 2026 |date=17 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Arden Street History |url=https://www.nmfc.com.au/news/284597/arden-street-history |publisher=North Melbourne Football Club |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250117040201/https://www.nmfc.com.au/news/284597/arden-street-history |archive-date=17 January 2025 |date=1 December 2019}}</ref> The council ultimately honoured its existing agreement with the Sunshine Football Club and rejected Footscray's application.<ref name="footscray"/>
The ground was named after Henry Robert Skinner, who served as the mayor of Sunshine for one term in 1952.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shire Presidents, Mayors and their Reserves and Parks |url=https://www.sunshinehistoricalsociety.org.au/presidents-mayors-and-their-reserves |publisher=Sunshine Historical Society |access-date=15 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260210170349/https://www.sunshinehistoricalsociety.org.au/presidents-mayors-and-their-reserves |archive-date=10 February 2026}}</ref>
===VFA=== Sunshine played its first VFA match at Skinner Reserve on 23 April 1966, losing to {{VFA Pra}} by four points.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sunshine v Prahran |url=https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1966-D2-R02-G05.php |publisher=The VFA Project |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260312024855/https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1966-D2-R02-G05.php |archive-date=12 March 2026 |date=23 April 1966}}</ref> The venue had a very wide playing surface, high grassed embankments for spectators, and a grandstand – narrow, but quite tall by suburban standards – named the '''J. A. Chigwidden Stand''', after long-serving club secretary Jack Chigwidden.<ref name="pressure">{{cite web |last1=Ruotsalainen |first1=Meike |title=Skinner Reserve, Braybrook (Sunshine VFA), Victoria |url=https://scoreboardpressure.com/2014/03/07/skinner-reserve-braybrook-sunshine-vfa-victoria/ |publisher=Scoreboard pressure |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260305154753/https://scoreboardpressure.com/2014/03/07/skinner-reserve-braybrook-sunshine-vfa-victoria/ |archive-date=5 March 2026 |date=7 March 2014}}</ref>
In addition to Sunshine's home matches, Skinner Reserve hosted VFA seconds/reserves finals matches, including several grand finals.<ref name="tell">{{cite web |title=Tell your story about Braybrook's iconic Skinner Pavilion and J. A. Chigwidden Grandstand |url=https://cityofmari.wordpress.com/2015/08/25/tell-your-story-about-braybrooks-iconic-skinner-pavilion-and-j-a-chigwidden-grandstand/ |publisher=Maribyrnong News |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260312020937/https://cityofmari.wordpress.com/2015/08/25/tell-your-story-about-braybrooks-iconic-skinner-pavilion-and-j-a-chigwidden-grandstand/ |archive-date=12 March 2026 |date=25 August 2015}}</ref> VFL clubs often pre-season matches at the ground because it was not used for cricket during much of its history, rendering it available during summer.<ref name="tell"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Cherny |first1=Daniel |title=AFL practice matches: 10 of the best pre-season oddities |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/afl-practice-matches-10-of-the-best-preseason-oddities-20150221-13l1f9.html |publisher=Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260312101427/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/afl-practice-matches-10-of-the-best-preseason-oddities-20150221-13l1f9.html |archive-date=12 March 2026 |date=22 February 2015}}</ref>
Floodlights were installed at the ground in 1987 to enable matches to be played at night, although the only such VFA premiership match to be scheduled was cancelled due to the forfeiture of Sunshine's opponent, {{VFA Cau}}, for unrelated reasons.
Sunshine competed in Division 2 for most of its time in the VFA.<ref name="vfa"/> Because of this, crowd numbers at Skinner Reserve were lower than other clubs and often did not exceed 1,000.<ref name="vfa"/><ref name="pressure"/> The venue had a capacity of around 15,000 people at the time, although it was never recorded reaching that number.<ref name="austadiums"/><ref name="pressure"/>
The VFA dissolved Division 2 at the end of the 1988 season. Sunshine was part of the single-division competition in 1989, but it was uncompetitive against the VFA's strongest sides and withdrew from the competition on 8 June 1989. Its final match at Skinner Reserve was a 146-point loss to {{VFL SV}} in round 7, although {{VFL Cob}} played {{VFL PM}} at the venue in round 18 after wet weather turned Coburg City Oval into a mudheap.<ref>{{cite web |title=VFA |url=https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=53k1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=D5cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1528%2C292735 |publisher=The Age |access-date=7 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250407035504/https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=53k1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=D5cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1528%2C292735 |archive-date=7 April 2025 |page=32 |date=22 May 1989}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Coburg v Port Melbourne |url=https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1989-R18-G05.php |publisher=The VFA Project |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250409121833/https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Games/VFA1989-R18-G05.php |archive-date=9 April 2025 |date=13 August 1989}}</ref>
===Post-VFA=== thumb|230px|The J. A. Chigwidden Stand pictured in March 2014, prior to its demolishment On 22 October 1989, a fundraising match was held between former Footscray and {{AFL Col}} players at Skinner Reserve, which drew a large crowd of 8,000 people as part of a campaign to stop a proposed merger between Footscray and {{AFL Fit}}.<ref name="tell"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Maskell |first1=Vin |title=Skinner Reserve, Victoria, 1989 |url=https://scoreboardpressure.com/2020/07/19/skinner-reserve-victoria-1989/ |publisher=Scoreboard pressure |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223091858/https://scoreboardpressure.com/2020/07/19/skinner-reserve-victoria-1989/ |archive-date=23 February 2026 |date=19 July 2020}}</ref>
George Cross FC (known as Sunshine George Cross FC by this point) played National Soccer League (NSL) matches at Skinner Reserve, beginning in November 1989.<ref>{{cite web |title=Melbourne NSL grounds |url=https://www.austadiums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=37829 |publisher=Austadiums |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409174556/http://austadiums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=37829 |archive-date=9 April 2012 |date=31 January 2006}}</ref> A crowd of 6,100 people watched the club's first match at the ground, which saw George Cross defeat South Melbourne FC 2–0.<ref>{{cite web |title=1989–90 National Soccer League Results |url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/8990/198990NSLResults.html |publisher=OzFootball |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250410145011/http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/8990/198990NSLResults.html |archive-date=10 April 2025 |date=29 December 2023}}</ref> During the 1990–91 season, two matches at Skinner Reserve saw crowds of 4,000 people.<ref>{{cite web |title=1990–91 National Soccer League Results |url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/9091/199091NSLResults.html |publisher=OzFootball |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211102957/http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/9091/199091NSLResults.html |archive-date=11 December 2024 |date=29 December 2023}}</ref> After George Cross returned to the Victoria Premier League in 1992, the club moved to Chaplin Reserve in Sunshine.<ref>{{cite web |title=1992 Victorian Men's Premier League Results |url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/States/VIC/1992PLR.html |publisher=OzFootball |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601113806/http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/States/VIC/1992PLR.html |archive-date=1 June 2024 |date=6 March 2023}}</ref>
The Chigwidden Stand was demolished in late 2015.<ref name="tell"/> Its function as a pavilion was taken over by the Braybrook Community Hub, which is located in the wider Braybrook Park area.<ref name="tell"/>
In February 2016, the ground's cricket pitch was dug up and vandalised overnight between the first and second day of a Victorian Turf Cricket Association (VTCA) match between Kingsville Baptist and Sunshine Heights.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gleeson |first1=Michael |title=Cricket pitch vandalised, ruining Kingsville Baptist Cricket Club's finals hopes |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/cricket-pitch-vandalised-ruining-kingsville-baptist-cricket-clubs-finals-hopes-20160229-gn68nh.html |publisher=Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402213944/http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/cricket-pitch-vandalised-ruining-kingsville-baptist-cricket-clubs-finals-hopes-20160229-gn68nh.html |archive-date=2 April 2016 |date=29 February 2016}}</ref> The damage rendered the wicket unplayable and the match was declared abandoned, meaning Kingsville missed out on qualification for the finals.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vandals pitch up midway through match to ruin team’s finals hopes |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/feb/29/vandals-pitch-up-midway-through-match-to-ruin-teams-finals-hopes |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205150322/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/feb/29/vandals-pitch-up-midway-through-match-to-ruin-teams-finals-hopes |archive-date=5 December 2022 |date=29 February 2016}}</ref>
Redevelopment of Skinner Reserve began in October 2021, which was co-funded by the Western Bulldogs and the Maribyrnong City Council.<ref>{{cite web |title=Skinner Reserve works underway |url=https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/1024884/skinner-reserve-works-underway |publisher=Western Bulldogs |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250718010352/https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/1024884/skinner-reserve-works-underway |archive-date=18 July 2025 |date=12 October 2021}}</ref> The Bulldogs used the ground for training in 2022 while Whitten Oval was undergoing renovation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gabelich |first1=Josh |title=Short-term pain, long-term gain: Dogs' HQ to be transformed |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/864461/short-term-pain-long-term-gain-western-bulldogs-hq-to-be-transformed |publisher=AFL.com.au |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250919141846/https://www.afl.com.au/news/864461/short-term-pain-long-term-gain-western-bulldogs-hq-to-be-transformed |archive-date=19 September 2025 |date=8 November 2022}}</ref> The redevelopment was completed in February 2023, providing the venue with new floodlights and a running track around the perimeter of the oval.<ref>{{cite web |title=Redeveloped Skinner Reserve opens |url=https://www.austadiums.com/news/1348/redeveloped-skinner-reserve-opens |publisher=Austadiums |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308073130/https://www.austadiums.com/news/1348/redeveloped-skinner-reserve-opens |archive-date=8 March 2024 |date=15 February 2023}}</ref> Maribyrnong Greens SC, which moved to Skinner Reserve in the 2000s, criticised the Bulldogs after it was forced to change its training schedule.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sambul |first1=Najma |title=Local soccer club fears for its future after Western Bulldogs move in |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/local-soccer-club-fears-for-its-future-after-western-bulldogs-move-in-20230427-p5d3oe.html |publisher=The Age |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419034418/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/local-soccer-club-fears-for-its-future-after-western-bulldogs-move-in-20230427-p5d3oe.html |archive-date=19 April 2024 |date=2 May 2023}}</ref>
The Western Football Netball League (WFNL) hosted the Thirds grand final – along with Division 1 men's, senior women's and under-18s finals matches – at Skinner Reserve in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=2024 senior finals series venues locked in |url=https://wfnl.com.au/2024-senior-finals-venues-locked-in/ |publisher=Western Football Netball League |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250411151714/https://wfnl.com.au/2024-senior-finals-venues-locked-in/ |archive-date=11 April 2025 |date=13 August 2024}}</ref> Several WFNL home-and-away matches have also been held at the venue since the redevelopment was completed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Devils beat previously undefeated Falcons |url=https://wfnl.com.au/devils-beat-previously-undefeated-falcons/ |publisher=Western Football Netball League |access-date=12 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260312102803/https://wfnl.com.au/devils-beat-previously-undefeated-falcons/ |archive-date=12 March 2026 |date=30 June 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{VFL venues}}
Category:Australian rules football grounds Category:Sports venues in Melbourne Category:Sport in the City of Maribyrnong Category:Buildings and structures in the City of Maribyrnong