Pre-season F3 Derby scheduled for Tamworth

The Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners will renew their rivalry before the 2013/14 A-League season kicks off, with a friendly being scheduled in Tamworth.

The Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners will renew their rivalry before the 2013/14 A-League season kicks off, with a friendly being scheduled in Tamworth.

The match at Scully Park on Sunday, September 29th will likely be the sides' final pre-season fixture before their opening round A-League clashes against Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers respectively.

Jets head coach Gary van Egmond said he is looking forward to taking an F3 Derby clash to Australia-s Country Music Capital.

“It-s starting to become a bit of an annual fixture for us and we-re looking forward to heading back up there again this pre-season,” van Egmond said.

“The people of Tamworth are very accommodating and we were very well looked after during our last visit.

““It-s great for the people of Tamworth to be able to see an F3 Derby match, especially with the Mariners being the defending Champions.

“Last year we played the defending Champions Brisbane up there and this year it is the Mariners, so it-s great for football fans up that way to be able see such high-quality matches.”

Van Egmond said the match will be a crucial part of the Jets- build-up to the start of the 2013/14 A-League season.

“It-s our last hit-out before the season starts, so it is going to be an important part of our preparation,” he said.

“Central Coast are obviously the reigning Champions, so it-s going to be a very high level of competition and a good test to see where we-re at.”

Newcastle Jets v Central Coast Mariners Sunday, September 29 Scully Park, Tamworth

Courtesy of Newcastle Jets