Pressure on fans to support match

 

Teo Pellizzeri

October 29 2009

Shepparton News

A W-League soccer match set to be played at Deakin Reserve on Saturday, November 7 must pull a crowd of about 1000 to be a success in the eyes of Goulburn North East Football Association president Frank Trimboli.

Trimboli said yesterday he was sympathetic to the cricket community's disappointment at not being able to use Deakin Reserve for an inter-association match against Kyabram on Sunday, November 22.

The soccer match between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC's women's teams has pushed cricket off Deakin Reserve until at least mid December, drawing the ire of the cricket community and putting pressure on the soccer fans to support the W-League game.

Trimboli said the predicament highlighted the need for a specialised soccer facility in Greater Shepparton that could host events too big for existing venues such as McEwen Reserve.

The W-League match _ the first ever played for competition points outside a major metropolitan city _ will be the third Melbourne Victory visit to Shepparton since July.

Cricket Shepparton representative team director Paul Trevaskis said on Tuesday he was disappointed Greater Shepparton City Council would not be able to prepare Deakin Reserve in time for a November 22 game.

Trevaskis said the council ``seemed a bit anti-cricket'' because the sport was ``not a big revenue earner for it''.

``I am sympathetic to cricket, why should cricket move aside for us?'' Trimboli said.

``Deakin is a band-aid solution as a host for this match. The more people we get there, the more it highlights the need for a separate soccer facility.

``Deakin has been cricket's ground, we need to progress towards developing something specific to our sport (soccer).''

Trimboli said the work of council to secure the W-League match had continued building Shepparton's good reputation as a soccer events host.

``I think Football Federation Australia and Football Federation Victoria have identified the potential we have here,'' Trimboli said.

``Anything between 500 and 1000 people will be a success, I think we'll get anywhere between 1000 and 1500.''

The Melbourne Victory verses Sydney FC game kicks off at 7 pm on the November 7 with tickets $5 at the gate.

Melbourne Victory's A-League team played in front of about 2000 fans at Deakin Reserve in a Saturday afternoon timeslot on July 4.