MrCelery
Well-Known Member
October date set for Sydney's first A-League derby
Tom Smithies The Daily Telegraph June 06, 2012 12:00AM
October 20 is set to be a red-letter day for the A-League in Sydney, with the first cross-city derby slated for round 3 of the new season.
A provisional season draw for 2012-13 was distributed to the A-League clubs late on Monday night, and reveals that the competittion will open with a Melbourne derby on Friday October 5 - a guaranteed crowd puller to maximise focus on the opening round.
The new West Sydney team's first competitive fixture will follow the next day when they host the Central Coast Mariners in an NSW derby that seems certain to be played at Parramatta Stadium.
Soccer chiefs had initially planned to open the new club's first campaign with a derby against Sydney FC, but a noticeable theme of the community forums was a desire to give the club a chance to find its legs before a fixture that has the potential to pull a substantial crowd.
Instead it's believed that Sydney FC will travel to Wellington in round one, and the derby will wait for a fortnight later, with the Sydney clubs effectively alternating home fixtures each weekend.
The Mariners' second fixture will be against Perth at home, followed by a trip to Newcastle for the F3 derby in Round 3. The Jets open their season at home to Adelaide, followed by the short trip to Sydney in round 2.
Two other highlights of the opening rounds are a grand final rematch in round one with Brisbane travelling to Perth and Ange Postecoglou getting reunited with his championship-winning Roar side in the second round when his new club Melbourne Victory head to Suncorp Stadium.
Club officials have the opportunity to request amendments to the draw before its formal release on June 18.
Football Federation last night declined to comment on the detail of the draw, though there was confirmation that the new West Sydney team would not begin the season with a derby against Sydney FC.
"We gave the A-League clubs a draft version of the draw only this week, so it's too early to suggest the proposals are finalised," said FFA Head of Corporate Affairs, Kyle Patterson.
"We have worked hard to maximise the fans interest in the opening rounds, but currently the draft draw doesn't have the new Sydney derby on the opening night, purely because there are several other marquee games that could open the season in style. It's a nice problem to have."
Tom Smithies The Daily Telegraph June 06, 2012 12:00AM
October 20 is set to be a red-letter day for the A-League in Sydney, with the first cross-city derby slated for round 3 of the new season.
A provisional season draw for 2012-13 was distributed to the A-League clubs late on Monday night, and reveals that the competittion will open with a Melbourne derby on Friday October 5 - a guaranteed crowd puller to maximise focus on the opening round.
The new West Sydney team's first competitive fixture will follow the next day when they host the Central Coast Mariners in an NSW derby that seems certain to be played at Parramatta Stadium.
Soccer chiefs had initially planned to open the new club's first campaign with a derby against Sydney FC, but a noticeable theme of the community forums was a desire to give the club a chance to find its legs before a fixture that has the potential to pull a substantial crowd.
Instead it's believed that Sydney FC will travel to Wellington in round one, and the derby will wait for a fortnight later, with the Sydney clubs effectively alternating home fixtures each weekend.
The Mariners' second fixture will be against Perth at home, followed by a trip to Newcastle for the F3 derby in Round 3. The Jets open their season at home to Adelaide, followed by the short trip to Sydney in round 2.
Two other highlights of the opening rounds are a grand final rematch in round one with Brisbane travelling to Perth and Ange Postecoglou getting reunited with his championship-winning Roar side in the second round when his new club Melbourne Victory head to Suncorp Stadium.
Club officials have the opportunity to request amendments to the draw before its formal release on June 18.
Football Federation last night declined to comment on the detail of the draw, though there was confirmation that the new West Sydney team would not begin the season with a derby against Sydney FC.
"We gave the A-League clubs a draft version of the draw only this week, so it's too early to suggest the proposals are finalised," said FFA Head of Corporate Affairs, Kyle Patterson.
"We have worked hard to maximise the fans interest in the opening rounds, but currently the draft draw doesn't have the new Sydney derby on the opening night, purely because there are several other marquee games that could open the season in style. It's a nice problem to have."
