Hot on the heels of Matildas fever, Forbes will play host to an A League women’s football pre-season opener this week-end between the Western Sydney Warriors and Canberra United.
Western Sydney Wanderers will take on Canberra United at Forbes’ Botanical Gardens on Saturday 23rd September, in a day set to be filled with soccer action and talent.
Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM welcomed the fixture to Forbes. “The popularity and strength of females in sport is growing dramatically at the moment, thanks to the amazing talents of teams like the Matildas who made Australian soccer history recently as the first female team to advance through to the semi finals,” Mayor Miller said.
“We have such a wealth of sporting talent in our region in our females as well as males and by bringing fixtures such as this pre-season game to places like Forbes only makes pathways appear more accessible and achievable for young fans.”
Forbes soccer player Josie McKenzie and Indiana Kennedy (Parkes) have both been selected in the U14s girls NSW Country squad competing in the Australian Championships in Wollongong next month. This squad will be training in Forbes on Saturday 23rd September, a great opportunity to see what it takes to become a national championship player.
Aspiring soccer players will have the opportunity to train with the Western Sydney Wanderers in a two-hour community clinic starting at 8.30am on Saturday.
Spectators will then see the FNSW Country Girls U14s and 16s National Championship squads train between 10am – 1pm, while from 10.45am matches will be played between Lachlan representative U10s, 12s and 14s squads and teams from Dubbo, Canberra and Griffith.
Warm up for the main game will begin at 2pm, with Mayor Miller officially welcoming visitors and kicking the ball signalling the start of the match at 3pm, with Member for Orange Phil Donato making the presentations at the game’s conclusion.
A pre-match training and media session will be held Friday afternoon at Botanical Gardens from 3pm – 5.30pm.
Forbes and District Soccer spokesman Doug McKenzie said that the game was originally set down to take place last year, however was postponed by the devastating floods of 2022.
Forbes as a destination came about after Head of Women’s Football with the Wanderers Tom Sermanni fell in love with the town and facilities whilst here for a coaching clinic programme earlier last year.
“The team is really looking forward to making the trip interstate to Forbes for the Challenge Cup having been forced to postpone the meeting heading into last season,” said Njegosh Popovich, Canberra United Head Coach.
Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite: Forbes Challenge Cup – Western Sydney Wanderers Women v Canberra Utd Women. Tickets are available from $6.61 for General Admission (children) and $11.90 for General Admission (adults), with a family pass of two adults and four children costing $27.78. Tickets purchased last year will be honoured, as will the free tickets also supplied last year to all Forbes school children.
For more information head to Forbes and District Soccer Association Facebook page.