Everyone's excited - except Nick
THERE is no sense at all in calling for a boycott of the biggest show in town.
The Daily Telegraph sports columnist Nick Walshaw won't be at Friday week's NRL blockbuster between fierce rivals
Manly Sea Eagles and
Wests Tigers at Gosford's Bluetongue Stadium because of the general perception that the Central Coast won't be included in any near future NRL competition.
But Gosford and its residents need this match for a multitude of reasons.
I went to school in Gosford way back and know the area well. I remember the Pacific Highway ran through the centre of town and my parents' fish and chip shop opposite the railway station, like the rest of the businesses in Mann St, was thriving.
Not so any more. Gosford township after dark is lifeless compared to the thriving town it once was.
The place needs a lift and 20,000 football fans can provide some much-needed atmosphere and, more importantly, dollars into the local community. The cash-strapped Central Coast Leagues Club opposite the ground will be packed from mid-afternoon, during and after the game. It will take on one night what it normally takes in two weeks.
The motels and the numerous takeaway food outlets and restaurants will do a roaring trade, as will the hotels. People will make a long weekend of it.
I know I will as I head for the beautiful Star of The Sea resort at nearby Terrigal.
Try telling more than 70 starry-eyed youngsters under 10 years of age that they can't go to the big game and have their long-awaited opportunity to strut their stuff on the field of dreams at halftime.
The youngsters from St Edwards Bears, Entrance Tigers, Umina Bunnies and Northern Lakes Warriors are counting the days until they can strap on the boots and play in front of the biggest crowd of their short lives.
They'll attempt to emulate the
Benji Marshall step or the
Kieran Foran show and go.
They will marvel at the up-close-and-personal look at the superstar Kiwis in the No.6 jerseys having a personal duel.
There are many thousands of Tigers and Sea Eagles fans on the Central Coast who travel to Campbelltown, Leichhardt or Brookvale several times every winter to cheer on their favourite team.
For them, this is a real home match on a superb ground, well run by a team of talented and professional local women employed by the Coast's biggest sports fan, John Singleton. The ground and the people of the district deserve elite sport. They get a taste with the well organised and well coached Central Coast Mariners but even their coach Graham Arnold would admit the Central Coast people love their rugby league.
And they will come in numbers on Friday week. The boycott called for by Nick Walshaw will fall on deaf ears, in general seating and corporate areas.
The 34 corporate suites are sold, many to local companies. Ticket sales are well in advance of last year's match, which attracted more than 19,000 fans.
Advertising for the match has just started in earnest and Channel 9 will telecast the game to a massive audience.
