This weekend, Northern NSW Football (NNSWF) will showcase the Hunter Region’s iconic football history with the annual Heritage Cup kicking off.
Today, NNSWF officially launched the competition at Kurri Kurri JFC’s home ground, Biralee Oval, as they are entering the prestigious competition for the first time.
The Zone League 3 Kurri Kurri JFC captain Dale Lantry is looking forward to playing in the competition for the first time.
“We like coming up against the strong competition because, in the long run, we want to strive to progress up the ranks,” said Lantry.
NNSWF this year introduced the inaugural Heritage Plate where the two best performing community-based clubs will compete as the curtain-raiser for the Cup Final on 23 February.
Lantry is hoping the team can work their way through the competition and make history in being the first team to secure the inaugural Heritage Plate.
“We’re in a tough pool, but it’d be nice to take home the Heritage Plate and make a name for ourselves,” Lantry concluded.
Reigning champions Edgeworth FC will also be looking to make history in the tournament by claiming the cup two years in a row and Eagles star Ayden Brice is looking forward to the test ahead of their 2020 NPL Northern NSW campaign.
“We have a lot of good, young players coming through, so we can give them a chance and hopefully win some silverware before the season starts to give us a bit of confidence,” said Brice.
The Player of the Final of the Heritage Cup will be awarded the Col “Bunny” Curran Medal, which is currently held by Edgeworth FC ‘s Jose Atayde.
Curran is widely acknowledged as a legend of Australian Football and played his first senior football for Adamstown, before going onto make 35 appearances for Australia in 1970 including the 1974 FIFA World Cup campaign.
The first round of the Heritage Cup will kick off this Friday 7 February with three games kicking off between Edgeworth FC and Weston Bears FC, Adamstown Rosebud FC and Cessnock City FC, and New Lambton FC and Kurri Kurri JFC.
The Heritage Plate and Heritage Cup Final will be hosted at Johnston Park, West Wallsend on Sunday 23 February from 4.15 pm.
To see the full competition draw, please see below:
