Major sporting events return to Newcastle as local sides clash with A-League heavyweights

Image: Broadmeadow Magic FC Club Manager Andrew Bozinovski, Broadmeadow Magic FC player Jacob Dowse, City of Newcastle Manager Parks and Recreation Lynn Duffy, Newcastle Olympic FC player Rhys Cooper and Newcastle Olympic FC Vice President Jim Pappas

National sport will make its long-awaited return to Newcastle Wednesday evening, with a FFA Cup match between local side Broadmeadow Magic FC and the A-League's Western Sydney Wanderers to be played at No. 2 Sportsground.

The match is the first of two FFA Cup 'Round of 32' fixtures to be held at the City of Newcastle venue this week as Newcastle Olympic FC prepares to host Macarthur FC on Saturday evening.

It's been months since major sporting fixtures were held in Newcastle due to COVID-19, and City of Newcastle Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Bath said that he’s looking forward to seeing Newcastle back in the national spotlight.

"The recent lockdown has left our sporting facilities empty and resulted in the cancellation and postponement of sporting fixtures so it will be great to see our city broadcast across the country once again through the FFA Cup matches," Mr Bath said.

"City of Newcastle is committed to maintaining high quality sporting facilities and has invested $21.3 million into sporting facility improvements throughout the local government area during the past four years.

”We’re proud to support local football teams Broadmeadow Magic and Newcastle Olympic by providing No. 2 Sportsground as the venue for their FFA Cup matches against A-League heavyweights.

“Tickets are still available to those who’ve missed the atmosphere of attending live sport.”

Broadmeadow Magic FC President Tony Temelkovski said the team is looking forward to playing in front of a live crowd after an interrupted season.

"We’re extremely appreciative of City of Newcastle’s support to enable our club to host such a momentous match at a venue like No. 2 Sportsground,” said Mr Temelkovski.

“There's no better feeling than running out of the tunnel to be greeted by spectators cheering on in support, so to have the chance to do that in front of a home crowd all the more exciting. We hope to do Novocastrians proud as we face off against the A-League's Western Sydney Wanderers tomorrow.”

The FFA Cup is a national knockout tournament which saw over 700 clubs from around the country compete for a place in the Final Rounds. Broadmeadow Magic and Newcastle Olympic came out on top against their Northern NSW competition, before moving into the Round of 32 when A-League clubs join the contest.