They will host Wellington Phoenix at the iconic venue in December.
The North Sydney Oval will stage its first ever A-League match later this year when Central Coast Mariners host Wellington Phoenix.
Australian football hasn’t been played at the iconic ground since Northern Spirit used it has their home venue during the days of National Soccer League, but is set to return after the Mariners saw an opportunity to bring the game back to Sydney’s northern suburbs and create history.
The club also aim to use the one-time relocation to expand their already healthy fan-base in the area with majority owner Mr Michael Charlesworth hoping the Round 6 tussle with Phoenix on December 19 will see the Oval full to the brim with new Mariners supporters.
“Football is the participation sport of choice in Sydney’s northern suburbs with tens of thousands of active male and female players,” Charlesworth told Sportal.
“We want to connect emotionally with football fans who are not already aligned with the Mariners to build on the fantastic supporter base that is already alive in the area.
“Historically we have worked closely with Football Associations north of the Harbour Bridge and we will be re-energising these relationships over the coming months as we bid to engage North Shore locals with our Club prior to, during and following the game against the Phoenix.”
“With 20 per cent of our Members living in the Sydney’s northern suburbs we already regard the region as an extension of Mariner territory.”
Charlesworth was one of the Mariners’ officials that joined representatives from North Sydney Council, Northern Suburbs Football Association and Football Federation Australia at the Oval on Tuesday to announce the match.
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