Football West plans for Albany NPL games later this year

Football West is still hopeful of holding two National Premier League fixtures in Albany this year but not on the original May 2 date.

Plans are being explored to hold the men’s NPL fixture and a match of the NPL WA women’s competition later in the year with COVID-19 preventing the marquee double-header from proceeding next month.

The Albany Advertiser revealed in March that the two premier fixtures will be run during a week-long Festival of Football.

Perth Glory will do battle with Sorrento FC in the men’s fixture and Albany will host Northern Redbacks Women’s Soccer Club and Murdoch University Melville Football Club in the women’s game. This will be the first time the NPLW has been taken to a regional area.

Both games were set to be played at Albany’s premier facility, Centennial Stadium.

Football West acting chief operating officer Jamie Harnwell said they were confident of holding the NPL games later this year in the region. “The regional Festival of Football has been postponed and we are looking to reschedule later in the year once we are through these difficult times,” he said.

“We are working with the City of Albany, DLGSC and the local associations to work through potential solutions.”

Harnwell said they were not working towards any specific timeslot.

“No (date) in particular,” he said.

“We are looking at later in the year to try and have some certainty that any Government restrictions on travel and gatherings will have been relaxed, and also when the facility is available.”