30 JUL 1998 , Edition 2, Page 10.
Albany may host soccer showpiece
By: ANDERSON Ian
Albany’s North Harbour Stadium appeals as the likely venue for this year’s Chatham Cup soccer final — but the decision may be made after next month’s semifinals.
The stadium’s general manager Graeme Running said they and Soccer New Zealand (SNZ) were interested in hosting the knockout Cup final there and a date in late September or early October would suit.
But SNZ and stadium management may wait to see wheher Ngaruawahia or Dunedin Technical reach the final before setting a date.
Waikato’s Cup heroes Ngaruawahia United meet Technical away and Central United host fellow Auckland side Metro in the August 15-16 semifinal encounters.
“If Ngaruawahia got through, we’d want to host a final on a weekend when Waikato didn’t have a home NPC rugby match and get a whole bunch of Mooloo supporters making the trip up to support them,” Running said.
Meanwhile, the Ngaruawahia club want their Sunday semifinal match in Dunedin brought forward a day.
Club president Maxine Williams said Ngaruawahia would prefer the match to be played on August 15, because that would allow the team and 50 supporters, who have plans to travel to Dunedin, to celebrate after the game.
The club, which feared it could be priced out of the cup after being drawn away to Dunedin, has been rescued after a Waikato Times challenge to businesses to help with funds.
In the latest fundraising development, the Waikato District Council has matched the Times’ $1000 donation to Ngaruawahia.