Clare and the North Eastern Football League may be in the running to host the state’s biggest country football championships in 2011.
The SA Country Football Championships have alternated venues between Berri and Port Pirie in recent years, with Port Pirie to host the 2009 championships on July 4-5 and Berri signed up for the 2010 event.
However the SA Community Football Board has told NEFL president and the Regional Football Council’s Central Zone director Graeme Wandel that it could be looking for a new venue in 2011 and Clare may be ideally placed to take up the challenge.
“We are committed to Port Pirie for 2009 and will review the venue after these championships for 2010 and 2011,” South Australian Community Football Board secretary Glenn Rosser said.
“It won’t be my decision it will be the Community Football Board’s decision. There are several locations in the Central Zone that may be suitable, it hasn’t been progressed as of yet, but we may consider Clare if we are looking for a change of venue from Port Pirie.”
The championships would be expected to attract at least 350 players and supporters to the region, plus family members and supporters.
Six zones contest the championships - Eyre Peninsula, Northern (includes Northern Areas), Central (includes North Eastern, Adelaide Plains and Yorke Peninsula), Eastern (Riverland and Broken Hill), South East and Southern.
“Clare, of course, is ideally located for such a championship and now, with the good condition of Clare Oval and associated facilities, it could be used,” Mr Wandel said.
“It’s an event that all the North Eastern clubs would need to support plus we would need community support.”
Mr Wandel said apart from the prestige of hosting a premier state football event, the event would reward NEFL for its strong contribution to the country championships over the past five years and would bring significant economic benefits for the region.
“It’s probably a terrific idea, the Australian Squash Championships are held here and it all works pretty well,” Central Zone coach Nick Ashby said.
Mr Ashby said Clare had the appropriate facilities to hold the carnival and was central to most areas of the state.
“We have a good oval, sporting complex and we could use the complex for end of carnival functions.
“But accommodating buses, and the amount of cars could be a problem, I mean even now with local games it’s a bit squashy at the Clare Town Oval but I think it has a lot of potential, its most central for everyone,” Nick said.
Min/Man A grader Ryan McDermid, who has played at four country carnivals, said he thought the idea was great and the high volume of people it would bring to the townwould be beneficial.
“It’s a great idea, there’s no reason why we can’t hold it in Clare, we deserve to have a good crack at it,” he said.
The final decision on whether NEFL will bid will be up to the clubs.
“We’re just sounding it out, its not a definite, it’s got to go to the North Eastern clubs to decide whether they want to support it,” Mr Wandel said.
“It could be too big for us, it may not be viable, but let’s have a look at it,” he said.
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