National Premier League double header dates locked in for mid-August as part of the Great Southern’s regional festival of football

Albany will definitely host two marquee National Premier League soccer fixtures, after a new date was confirmed for the Great Southern’s regional festival of football. Albany was due to host arguably its biggest soccer week in history in early May before COVID-19 forced the week-long festival to be postponed. Football West announced last week that both the men’s and women’s NPL games would be played on Saturday, August 15, at Centennial Stadium. Perth Glory’s national youth league team will do battle with Sorrento FC in the men’s fixture as part of round eight of the 2020 NPL WA competition. The NPL WA women is a new competition and will be played in a regional area for the first time. Albany will host the round seven game between Hyundai NTC Women, which will include several young Matildas players, and Perth Soccer Club. The two premier fixtures will be surrounded by a week-long festival of football. Different activates will be conducted throughout the week, including regional coaching workshops in Katanning, Mt Barker and Denmark, a MiniRoos certificate coaching course, a referee level 4 course and a club development workshop. Final details on time and venues for these activities is still to be confirmed. There will also be an open training session involving all four teams on Friday night. Football West acting chief operating officer Jamie Harnwell said they were extremely appreciative of the work of the volunteers to help run this event. “Football West were extremely keen to make sure the regional festival of football went ahead in 2020,” he said. “The clubs involved are extremely excited to be a part of this and are looking forward to demonstrating their quality in front of an appreciative audience. “The change in date has allowed us to include the Hyundai NTC women’s team. “With the recent announcement regarding the 2023 World Cup it is a great opportunity for the Great Southern to watch some potential stars of the future. “It will be a great event across the week with come-and-try days, coaching and referee courses as well as the big games themselves.” City of Albany chief executive Andrew Sharpe said it was great to have the festival of football confirmed. “Football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the Great Southern, so we are really excited to welcome Football West to Albany in August,” he said. “We are fortunate to be in a situation where this opportunity can proceed with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.”