Lydon Oval

The ground at Gardner Street sits on earth that remembers the Dudley Colliery. When the mine closed, the land needed a new purpose, and by the mid-1960s Lydon Oval had taken its place. It is a small house for the local team, holding four hundred and fifty spectators.

The history here is quiet. Aerial photographs suggest the oval did not exist in 1954, yet by 1966 it was in use, with senior teams settling in for the 1965 season. The club moved from Reay Park because the old site lacked amenities. The name Lydon Oval honours a local figure, likely a benefactor, though the specific details of who that person was have faded from the public record.

The playing surface is not a star attraction; the focus has been on the buildings. In June 2024 a significant upgrade was completed, funded by the Australian Government through the Member for Shortland, Pat Conroy. This money went into the dressing sheds and seating rather than the turf itself.

The ground is active, hosting the senior side alongside community league teams that play on the nearby Liles Oval. It has also seen visitors from elsewhere, including Hunter Simba FC and Charlestown Junior FC during their qualifying rounds for the NNSW FFA Cup in 2015.