PORT Macquarie could host an FFA Cup match as early as next year.
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It has been almost 10 years since Port Macquarie hosted an A-League club when the Newcastle Jets hosted Melbourne Heart back in 2010.
But the fruits of Football Mid North Coast's blossoming relationship with the Jets are starting to show, although the fixture is not set in stone.
Jets chief executive Lawrie McKenna said the club wanted to know there is enough interest from the Hastings community before the club commits to the plan.
“We want to build the supporter base up there so we will have no hesitation bringing the match up there as long as the field is good,” McKinna said.
“We think it would be a great opportunity for the club to play an FFA Cup game up there.”
In previous seasons the Jets have hosted home FFA Cup fixtures at Broadmeadow’s Magic Park, but McKinna can see the similarities between that venue and Regional Stadium in Port Macquarie.
“We think it would be a great opportunity for the club to play an FFA Cup game up there.”
- Newcastle Jets chief executive Lawrie McKinna
“I came up there a few seasons ago to watch a pre-season match against the Victory (in 2008) so I know Regional has all the hills and a nice big grandstand and floodlights.
“It’s a realistic possibility.
“If we have an opportunity to go up there for a couple of nights we’re spreading the word and it’s great for the junior football players up there and it’s great for the game.
“We know we have a lot of fans who travel down for our home games.
“It’s about selling our brand. We’re their local team up there so we have to be seen. You can’t be the local team if you’re never seen.”
But for the possibility of an FFA Cup game to turn into a reality, the ball is firmly in the local community’s court.
It’s about selling our brand. We’re their local team up there so we have to be seen. You can’t be the local team if you’re never seen.
- Lawrie McKinna
The first step will be supporting a friendly match between the Jets and two Football Mid North Coast select sides on August 15.
“When we come up, should there be a couple of thousand people on a Tuesday night at the stadium we’ll look at that and see it as a great turnout,” he said.
“If we turn up and there is 150 people that turn up we’ll wonder if we want to bring another match there because the crowd haven’t supported the friendly.
“All you can do is support it.
“An FFA Cup game would potentially involve two A-League clubs and you’re going to want to get more than that.
“The FFA want to see big crowds at these games of two to four thousand people because it’s a great spectacle for television.”
