FOOTBALL
Some of the best up-and-coming footballers in the country will take on the Mudgee Wolves in an exhibition match as part of the club's huge football gala weekend at Glen Willow.
The Australasian Soccer Academy led by head coach Tony Basha will be here to hold coaching clinics and play a match against a Wolves invitational team on March 10.
It will be the first time the academy will be playing in Mudgee and in coincides with the first soccer match to be played on the new number one field at Glen Willow.
The gala weekend also includes junior coaching clinics on Saturday afternoon, registrations for the upcoming football season, and under 11s and under 12s boys matches between Western NSW and Eastern Suburbs.
The brain child behind the weekend, Graham Boyd, said it was about promoting football in the region.
"I think it is a great way to kick off the season," Boyd said.
"Tony Basha is a good friend of mine and he wanted to come up here.
"Last year he held coaching clinics but this year is the first time with games.
"We want to try and make it an annual event."
Although the academy is made up mostly of 15 and 16-year-olds, Basha said the quality of football would be second to none.
"The players we have, in my opinion, play more attractive football than A-League," Basha said.
"We will be putting on a show for the Mudgee people."
The academy plays in the Sydney Premier League competition under the name Rydalmere FC.
Basha, who played in the Premier League for Parramatta Melita, said some of his players have a bright football career ahead of them.
"One player in the academy is a 15-year-old and he has been contracted to Manchester City in their youth team," he said.
"Another will be playing in Asia next year and I've got a 16-year-old who will be going back to play for Sheffield Wednesday [in the English League One competition]."
Basha said he and his team were looking forward to coming up to Mudgee.
"The boys are pumped.
"We want to start building a relationship between the two clubs.
"Country kids don't get the same opportunity as city kids and it is not fair. There are some talented country players out there."
Boyd said there would free entry on both days but a bucket would be going around to raise money for Can Assist.
The junior coaching clinic will be at 2pm on March 10 with the game at 7pm.
Sunday's matches (March 11) get underway at 12pm.