Big Three footy codes in push to win over Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour mayor Paul Amos wants to position the city as the regional sports capital of the nation. See the suitors who are already at the door.
Coffs Harbour
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The tug-o’-war by the three major football codes for the hearts, minds and dollars on the Coffs Coast is going into overdrive.
North Coast Football has long claimed that it (soccer to some) is the big dog of the district on the player registration front.
Its winter campaign is already well underway - despite the recent wet weather - largely on the back of the men’s regional Coastal Premier League which features a swag of local clubs in Coffs United, Coffs Coast, Sawtell, Boambee, Northern Storm and new entry Bellingen FC.
The challenge of heavy pitches has been lessened with football making full use of the multimillion-dollar new synthetic fields at the Coffs Coast Sport and Leisure Park precinct.
Rugby league - historically the main men’s winter code - is also looking to strike a blow in the local market with the announcement that Coffs will host an NRL fixture this season between the Cronulla Sharks and the Gold Coast Titans.
Normally having Sharks invested in your coastline would be a point of concern, but Cronulla found a toehold when they took their match against the Titans to the Coffs International Stadium last year - and is looking to build on that.
“We were embraced by the local council, community and rugby league supporters of the region last season which made the decision to return an easy one,” Sharks Group CEO Dino Mezzatesta Group said.
“The Sharks are now invested in the Coffs coast area as it allows us to expand our brand.
“We are keen to grow what has become a solid supporter base and further develop our partnerships in community programs.”
The NRL fixture is set down for June 18, with tickets to go on sale from 9am on Friday.
Coffs Harbour mayor Paul Amos said the game was testament to a city bristling with ambition.
“We are thrilled yet again to host another Sharks home game at our brilliant C.ex Coffs International Stadium and further cement our position as the regional sporting capital of Australia,” Mr Amos said.
AFL has also announced big plans for the area.
Community Football manager Paul Taylor said rep teams have been named in the Under 13, 15, 17, and Youth Girls 17 age groups for the Northern NSW Championships in Coffs Harbour, on July 11-13.
“The combination of the partnership with the Sydney Swans Academy and the heavily disrupted representative seasons over the past two years appears to have made players keener than ever to be involved in the North Coast Force (rep) program,” Mr Taylor said.
He said he was particularly pleased to see North Coast Force will field its first ever Youth Girls 13 team at the Northern NSW Championships at Coffs.
“We were overwhelmed with the number of girls who trialled for the Under 13 team, despite the fact that our new club competition for Under 14 girls hasn’t started yet,” he said.