It is a venue more familiar to the Pickers, Goannas and Bulldogs of Coalfields rugby league fame but early next year Maitland football fans will be within reach of some of the world’s best as they prepare for the Asian Cup in the Hunter Valley.
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Cessnock Sportsground will be used by reigning champions Japan as a training ground for the 2015 tournament ahead of their opening match against Palestine in Newcastle on January 12.
But it will not be the first time the round-ball code has been played at the Goannas home ground according to former Cessnock premiership winner and president Kane Bradley.
“Football has been here [Cessnock Sportsground] before,” Bradley said.
“Not a lot of people might remember but the Jets played Adelaide United in a trial game in 2010 after our season had finished and there would have been three or four thousand people there.”
Bradley said World Cup officials also did a fly-over of the venue in a helicopter during Australia’s bid to host either the 2018 or 2022 international tournament.
“They have looked at it before as part of the World Cup bid,” he said.
“It says a lot about the facility that we can get that sort of attention and an Asian Cup team yet it can’t get a look in for a City-Country rugby league game.”
Japan, who beat Australia in extra-time of the 2011 decider, will be based in the vineyard region from January 3 with World Cup star Keisuke Honda and European-based stars Yuto Nagatomo, Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki part of the squad.
“This is a massive boost for Cessnock, Newcastle and the whole Hunter Valley,” Michael Brown, CEO of the Asian Cup Local Organising Committee, said.
“To attract a team of Japan’s stature to the region speaks volumes for the Hunter, which has traditionally been one of the most passionate football areas in Australia.
“With less than three months to go until kick-off, this announcement takes the excitement and anticipation up another notch.
“The look and feel of the tournament is really starting to take shape.
“And of course in the back of everyone’s minds is the possibility that Japan and Australia could once again contest the final.”
Japanese training sessions at Cessnock Sportsground may be open to the public.
Mayor of Cessnock Cr Bob Pynsent said the Japanese team would be welcomed with open arms by the region.
“Our residents live for sport and are so excited to welcome the Japanese Team as visitors to our magnificent area,” he said.
“We know this is a brilliant opportunity and cannot wait to showcase our world-renowned Hunter Valley food, wine, recreation and relaxation and for the Japanese to experience the best of Australian hospitality in their time with us.”
Japan’s second and third round fixtures will be played in Brisbane on January 16 and Melbourne on January 20 against Iraq and Jordan respectively.
The 16-team competition kicks off January 9 with Australian playing Kuwait in Melbourne while the final is set down for Sydney on January 31.
In other football news, the Northern NSW National Premier League semi-finals will be cut back to four teams in 2015 and be played as a home-and-away series with overall winners from the tie progressing to the decider.
This goes away from the five-team system used in recent seasons and reverts to the model last used in 2011.
The Maitland Magpies played under the four-team format in First Division before claiming this year’s minor-major premiership double and gaining promotion to the top flight competition for next season.
