Bill McKinlay has hosted seven international friendlies and the 1983 Chatham Cup Final Replay.[3]
History
In 1902, Bill McKinlay Park was opened under the control of the Mt Wellington Domain Board. Ireland Road Domain used to host sports days, rodeos and carnivals on their grounds. In 1954 the board made the decision to give exclusive access of the ground to Mount Wellington AFC, meaning Mt Wellington RFC no longer had use of the ground. Between 1961 and 1968, changing rooms, an upstairs lounge and the clubrooms were completed.[4]
In 1976, Bill and Joe McKinlay passed away suddenly. Mount Wellington AFC asked the Mt Wellington Borough Council to change the name of the ground to its current name, Bill McKinlay Park, in Bill's honour. In 2006, Mt Wellington Stadium Charitable Trust was formed to assess the option of developing Bill McKinlay Park into a multi-use, all-weather stadium. In 2010, a NZD$500,000 facility partnership grant was approved, allowing the Mt Wellington Stadium Charitable Trust to construct an artificial turf. The turf was completed in 2011, installed by Tiger Turf and tested to a FIFA 2* standard.[5]
