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Christies Beach | |
 | |
| Full name | John Bice Memorial Oval |
|---|---|
| Location | Christie Avenue, Christies Beach, South Australia |
| Owner | City of Onkaparinga |
| Operator | Christies Beach Sports and Social Club |
| Record attendance | 9,724 (South Adelaide vNorwood, 3 August 1991) |
| Field size | Football: 166m x 132m Cricket: 135m x 129m |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1965 |
| Opened | 27 March 1966 |
| Construction cost | $2,000 |
| Tenants | |
| Christies Beach Football Club (SFL) (1966–present)Southern District Cricket Club (SACA) (1982–present) | |
TheJohn Bice Memorial Oval is a public park in the Australian state ofSouth Australia located within the suburb ofChristies Beach and which is used by theChristies Beach Football Club andSouthern District Cricket Club as their home ground.
In 1956 theDistrict Council of Noarlunga and, through successful lobbying by theHon. John Bice, theSouth Australian Government purchased some land to be set aside as a playing area for the residents ofChristies Beach.[1]
In 1963 theChristies Beach Football Club took lease of the area and using volunteer labour and community funds, converted the area from a limestone paddock into a turfed oval with mounds and clubrooms.
TheSouth Adelaide Football Club played twoSANFL league games at the venue in 1992 and 1993, with the first game, against theGlenelg Football Club attracting crowd of over 8,000. The success of these games convinced South Adelaide to relocate to the newNoarlunga Oval in 1995 after playing their home games at theAdelaide Oval (ironically located north of theAdelaide City Centre and theRiver Torrens) since 1904, as well as relocating their administration offices and clubrooms fromSt Marys to the oval.
Bice Oval has hosted threeSouthern Football League Division 1 Grand Finals (1975, 1985 & 2000), 20 Division 2 Grand Finals (1979, 1981–84, 1987–2001) and numerous finals.
35°08′28″S138°28′55″E / 35.141°S 138.482°E /-35.141; 138.482
