When the winner of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand is announced on August 20, the Central Coast will have played its part – with the German and English teams based in the region for their pre-match training.
The German team has already arrived and commenced training, with the English Lionesses set to arrive next week.
There was great excitement across the football community when news trickled through late last year that the Central Coast had been successful in enticing an international football side to choose the area for its team base camp.
The official announcement was bigger than the region could have hoped, with both Germany and England – the combatants in the final of the most recent Women’s European Championships – choosing to base themselves at the Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex at Tuggerah and Gosford’s Industree Group Stadium respectively.
It was a huge vote of confidence in the Central Coast and its sporting facilities and heralded what has been a tremendous period of success for the sport locally.
Since the announcement that the world’s number two and four ranked sides were coming, Industree Group Stadium has hosted the Matildas twice against Thailand and Czechia and featured a record sold-out crowd at a semi-final victory for the Mariners -who went on to be crowned champions of the Men’s A-League competition.
It has also been confirmed that from next season there will be a Central Coast Mariners women’s team flying the flag in the W-League competition.
With the World Cup now underway, the German and English teams will be able to train, prepare and recover at the Coast’s world class facilities.
Council’s Director Community and Recreation Services Melanie Smith said pitches at both venues are ”looking sensational”.
“We’ve had beautiful winter sunshine, and we’re perfectly located for easy access to match-day venues,” she said.
“Our staff have worked extremely hard to prepare a high-quality pitch and all reports we’ve received during the review process and from behind the scenes has been absolutely fantastic.
“I am sure that the two teams will be very pleased with their decision to base themselves here in this beautiful part of the world, and I look forward to seeing how they perform during the tournament as well as the opportunity to show off what makes the Central Coast a very special part of the world.”
Council Administrator Rik Hart said it was heartening to see how the Coast has embraced the opportunity to support the two international teams.
“The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 is a huge sporting event that will leave a legacy for the sport in this country,” Hart said.
Hart officially welcomed the German team when he popped in to an open training session on July 16.
Germany will have exclusive access to the Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex while the England Lionesses will be based at Central Coast Stadium until August 21.
Source:
Central Coast Council