FOOTBALL Wagga is readying to dump its spiritual home in the city to play the first grade soccer grand final at a rugby league venue.
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In a shock late-season move, Football Wagga is negotiating to shift the grand final on September 14 from Gissing Oval to Equex Centre.
Gissing Oval is regarded as the top soccer venue in Wagga, while Equex Centre is the best rugby league facility in the Riverina.
Football Wagga senior vice-president Ian Hardinge yesterday confirmed the body was close to finalising the dramatic shift, which will increase the value of Equex Centre as a “multi-purpose” site.
Hardinge said Wagga City Council was backing the plan and rugby league administrators were also supportive.
“It’s not locked in (yet), but we are very much in discussions with council, and Group Nine Rugby League,” Hardinge said yesterday.
“They (Group Nine) have been more than accommodating and hopefully we can make an announcement in the next couple of weeks.
“We are certainly looking at it (moving).”
The grand final bombshell comes a year after Football Wagga took the radical step of playing its soccer showpiece at redeveloped Robertson Oval.
As much as the Robertson Oval flirtation is now in the past, Football Wagga’s experiment with Equex Centre is set to have long-term implications.
Hardinge yesterday made it clear Football Wagga was aware of the “advantages” of employing Equex Centre as a multi-purpose venue, particularly when seeking funding grants.
The push for Equex Centre to be used by a variety of sports will gain even greater momentum when rugby union administrators apply to play a Super Rugby trial at the ground.
The Daily Advertiser understands the Canberra-based Brumbies are locked in for a game as early as next year, with Equex Centre the preferred site.
Wagga City Council is already backing Equex Centre to the hilt as the venue for City-Country Origin blockbuster in May.
Football Wagga, meantime, intends to support the nomination of Sally Shipard for the Wagga Sporting Hall of Fame.
Hardinge yesterday described the prospect of Shipard gaining a place of honour as a “fantastic idea”.
Although born in Tumut, Shipard is regarded as a fabulous Wagga soccer product.
Recently retired, Shipard gave soccer its greatest lift in the region in the past 15 years by playing 78 games for Australia.
Hardinge said Football Wagga would support Shipard’s inclusion in the Hall of Fame.
“I think so,” Hardinge said.
“We’ll definitely get on board.”
Shipard, who will be in Wagga next month for the launch of the book, The Beautiful Game, outlining the history of soccer in the city, is also the inspiration for the Shipard Cup, a girl’s soccer competition among Wagga schools.