No Pre-Season game for Canberra?
Well we've had enough football in this town to last a decade!
Realistically it looks like Sydney FC, whose home games Canberra have hosted in previous years, are looking to increase their supporter base in Western Sydney. Sydney are pushing their players out to support local Sydney clubs in an effort to increase crowds, and this appears to be backed up by a pre-season games in Campbelltown and Wollongong.
That makes sense to me, but disappointing Canberra miss out. Still pre-season is nothing compared to the real deal. We need our own team, simple as that!
FOOTBALL SPREADS ITS REACH
Football Federation Australia (FFA) today made clear its intention to reach as many fans as possible with the release of its 2008 Pre-Season Cup draw.
Bunbury (WA), Caloundra (QLD), Cessnock (NSW), Mandurah (WA) and Mt Gambier (SA) and will all host matches for the first time, while Launceston (TAS), Campbelltown (NSW), Port Macquarie (NSW) and Wollongong (NSW) will again welcome Hyundai A-League clubs for the annual Pre-Season Cup.
The format of the 2008 Pre-Season Cup involves two groups of four teams (Group A: Adelaide United, Melbourne Victory, Perth Glory, Newcastle Jets; Group B: Sydney FC, Queensland Roar, Wellington Phoenix, Central Coast Mariners) with each team to play the other teams in their group once.
The top teams from each group after the three rounds will play-off for in the final on Wednesday 6 August with the winner presented the 2008 Pre-Season Cup.
The first round of the 2008 Pre-Season Cup will see Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United meet in what is turning out to be their traditional match at Aurora Stadium in Launceston, Tasmania, with Sydney FC hosting Queensland Roar at Campbelltown Sport Stadium in Sydney’s South West. Perth Glory and the Newcastle Jets will meet in Mandurah and the Central Coast will travel to New Zealand to face the Wellington Phoenix at Westpac Stadium.
The Hyundai A-League 2008-09 Season will commence on Friday 15 August 2008
6 comments:
Well this is really a kick in the knickers...
I thought the Mariners were trying to establish a hold in the Canberra market - what happened with that??
Mariners are to play Belconnen and maybe the AIS.
But suppose they wouldn't gain many, if any, travelling fans from Canberra.
Makes sense to play games closer to home...to me anyway.
I'm sure they will be down here and play Belco...
midweek
at night
in June
when its -2 and windy
again
I didn't think Sydney were making a serious play for Canberra anyway. Obviously they're trying to build support in Western Sydney before a new club comes in, which is the smarter move.
Mariners will play at Cessnock (make sense) and then at Bluetounge (very close to home) which seems like a lost opportunity to take their games out anywhere.
Its just a shame for Canberra to miss out (still)...
Funny Wednesday night is the expected night for the Belco game.
Mariners hoping to go to Orange, not Cessnock.
Canberra Stadium is booked for a game, but Wellington aren't coming, The Mariners aren't coming and neither are Sydney. I spoke to them all.
I have to really ask what has happened to the much trumpeted Central Coast Mariners and Canberra connection.
Since all the fanfare last year from Capital Football it seems to have come to nothing.
always a waste of time in my book!
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