Bears fans bonding for NRL start in 2013
It was a march through the streets of Sydney that proved the driving force behind South Sydney getting back into the NRL a decade ago, and now the Bears are hoping people power can boost their bid for readmission.
While the now Central Coast-based team's motives are far different from the Rabbitohs - who successfully fought their expulsion from the competition through the courts - the Bears hope Saturday's planned march through Gosford to Bluetongue Stadium will galvanise North Sydney followers and fans plumping for a new team in the region.
Between 500 and 1000 people are expected for the march, which will begin at Gosford Sailing Club at 4.30pm and will finish with a barbecue at Bluetongue Stadium prior to the Roosters and Newcastle NRL fixture.
Roosters star, and North Sydney junior Mitchell Pearce will mingle with fans, before a Bears supporters area is assembled to watch the match.
Central Coast CEO Greg Florimo said the march is not a protest to the NRL, but a chance for red and black fans to get together and feel inspired by the Bears' surge towards readmission to the league in 2013.
"We're not out to make a statement to the NRL, we've done plenty of that, they know what we're doing," Florimo said.
"We'll get to that point in maybe eight, 10, 12 months down the track when we're ready to go with the NRL and we want everyone to rally and come together and have a fan day with 10,000 people at Bluetongue Stadium. That will come, but this is just the first part of it.
"This is a chance for the fans to come together and understand that there is a whole group of supporters of the game on the coast that want to see this happen and this is a chance for them to be heard."
The Central Coast recently released a foundation jersey which has been selling quickly, and have overtaken the Roosters, Cowboys, Sharks, Panthers and Raiders for fans on networking site, Facebook.
