The Maitland Magpies have drawn A-League team Central Coast Mariners in the FFA Cup round of 32.
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As part of hosting an A-League club, the Magpies and Mariners game will be telecast on Fox Sports.
The Magpies are hoping to hold the game at the Maitland Sportsground, however have signalled they will need financial support from Maitland City Council with mobile lighting towers need to be brought in to ensure lighting reaches a required 500 lux level for a telecast game.
The cup ties are scheduled to be held from Tuesday, July 23, through to Wednesday, August 7. Games will be held on Tuesday or Wednesday night during the week period.
Magpies coach Mick Bolch said it was tremendous news for the Magpies and he was hopeful that the council would support the club in holding the game at the Maitland Sportsground.
Fellow Northern NSW NPL team Edgeworth Eagles are heading to the top of Australia after being drawn to play state league team Darwin Olympic.
The Newcastle Jets are also on the road taking on their 2017-18 grand final opponent Melbourne Victory.
Fox Sports commentator Robbie Slater said it was a great time for Maitland and other NPL teams to face A-League opponents as the A-League teams were still in their preseason.
Speaking ahead of tonight's FFA Cup draw, Maitland FC president Ray Watkins said the Magpies would not be able to host an A-League team at Cooks Square Park
Watkins said the playing surface at Cooks Square Park, thanks to Maitland City Council and the state government, was now one of the best in the Northern NSW NPL competition and more than up to hosting a game.
However, facilities such as the change rooms, toilets for a large crowd and lighting were not up to scratch at the Magpies' traditional home, especially for an A-League team.
Magpies and Maitland City Council representatives met with Football Federation Australia officials last week about what would be needed to host a FFA Cup tie fixture and the possibility of a Newcastle Jets home game at the Maitland Sportsground.
While the Sportsground fits the bill as far as facilities for fans and a visiting team, its lighting would need to be upgraded to at least 200 lux for a fixture against another state league team, or to 500 lux for a night fixture against a visiting A-League team, a game which would be telecast live across the nation.
"Our preference is for the game to be played in Maitland, but we we are concerned about the cost of hiring the ground and paying for additional lighting if it was at the Maitland Sportsground," Watkins said.
"We would love to play the game at the No.1 Sportsground - it's a fantastic facility.
"However, its floodlighting standards do not meet the requirements of Foxtel broadcasting.
"It would cost as much as $16,000 to bring in mobile lighting towers to bring it up to the broadcast requirements. And while we want to promote the city in the best possible light, we cannot expose the club to the possibility of a financial loss."