NEWCASTLE Jets CEO Lawrie McKinna has urged Wagga football fans to vote with their feet at next month's W-League trial with Sydney FC to prove there's an appetite for future fully-fledged games.
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Sydney FC and the Jets will play a W-League trial at Equex Centre on Sunday, November 3, with both clubs agreeing to alternate women's and men's practice games between Wagga and Dubbo each year.
About 3800 fans watched last month's A-League trial at Dubbo and McKinna said both club intend to send their strongest W-League teams to Wagga given it's their final trial before the season proper starts in mid-November.
McKinna said entering into the agreement to play in Wagga was a "no brainer" which took just a brief email exchange with Sydney FC counterpart Danny Townsend to rubber stamp.
"It was an email from Danny and I emailed him back, I said 'of course we would'," McKinna said.
"We had nearly 4000 people at Dubbo and that was in the middle of a dust storm.
"We'll take a full blown squad down there and so will Sydney, I think."
Football Wagga is using the trials as an audition to eventually stage a premiership A-League or W-League game in the city.
The NRL has already taken that step with grand finalists Canberra Raiders starting a two year agreement by playing Penrith at Equex Centre in May.
"We've been invited down before to Wagga and never been, but it (proper games) would depend on the facilities, and the crowd demonstrating they would support that," he said.
"It's something definitely that we'd like to do but it comes down to costs because it's not a regular ground for TV coverage. It's not out of the question.
"We've also spoken about potentially taking an FFA Cup game to the country, but that would come back to having the right quality of lights."
Sydney FC are the reigning W-League champions and are littered with Matildas talent including defender Alanna Kennedy, striker Caitlin Foord and midfielder Chloe Logarzo.
Townsend told The Daily Advertiser in July they're keen to make the partnership with Wagga a long term one.
"The value of it is building up a familiarity and association with the area and the people, hopefully over time we become more a part of the Wagga and Riverina area," he said.
"There's a lot of talent coming out of that part of NSW and as a leading club, we want to make sure we tap into the best talent and have an association with Football Wagga.
"If there's players that are shining with talent that are capable of playing at a professional level, they (Football Wagga) can let us know and we'll have a look at them and maybe give them an opportunity to join our academy."
Tickets can be purchased at Ticketebo and through Sydney FC and Football Wagga's web sites.
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