By ANTHONY STEVENS | Photo Credit: Contributed Photo
HONAKER, Va. – Changes are underway at Fuller Field at EMATS Stadium. A crew has been working hard to install new turf, making the field safer and more visually appealing for its frequent use.
“We are blessed with one of the nicest football stadiums in Southwest Virginia,” said Honaker principal Dave Bostic. “Nineteen years ago, through the generosity of Mr. Jon Bowerbank and EMATS, the original turf was installed at Fuller Field @ EMATS Stadium. Thousands of student athletes and community youth have greatly benefited from this facility. This past spring the field was found to be in need of replacement. Thanks to Dr. Kim Hooker, Tim Lovelace, and the Russell County School Board, new turf was installed this summer. This will allow our students and community to benefit from this field for many years to come.”
There were often complaints when Honaker hosted playoff games in the early 2000s at Fuller Field, which had often wet, muddy, rocky conditions. All that changed with the installation of turf in 2007.
“We were fortunate years ago; Mr. Bowerbank gave us the opportunity to get a high-quality field,” Honaker football coach Aaron Lowe stated. “It all started with Mr. Bowerbank. We were fortunate to go 19 years without major improvements, with a beautiful field the Honaker community relied on for years.”
The old turf was likely used longer than it should have been. But the new turf will be finished this week, just in time for the 2026 football season.
”We changed the color scheme a little,” Lowe noted. “It kind of brought new life to it. We went with black end zones and coaching boxes; the orange really pops. It’s a great look. The design looked good, but the pictures didn’t actually do it justice.”
The press box was installed in 2021, and Bowerbank contributed new Play Clocks in 2024. EMATS Stadium remains top-notch.
“The new turf is beautiful. We’re very fortunate,” added Lowe. “I’m very thankful to Mrs. Hooker, Mr. Bostic, and the school board members for giving us this opportunity. The kids are excited. The guys putting it in have worked hard to meet our timetable. The whole town and community are excited. There are a lot of people who benefit from this field, including Little League football, soccer, cheerleaders, and band. We’re proud to have something like this.”