Rookie soccer side to contest third grade grand final

Gunnedah’s only senior soccer side will in its maiden year contest the Tamworth third grade grand final tomorrow night.

The Gunnedah outfit has been playing in the weekly, 12-team Friday evening competition under goalkeeper and coach, Richard Grant.

“We finished second on the ladder … only had two defeats all year,” Grant said.

The side narrowly lost its major semi-final 3-2 to Farrer in extra time.

Gunnedah backed up to win 1-0 against Quirindi in the grand final play-off – a victory that was a little more sweeter after losing 3-2 to the same side in the final round of the regular season.

With a re-match looming in the grand final against Farrer, Grant knows his side faces a big task ahead but said the players are every bit up to the test.

“Everyone is fit and keen to go … we’re more than capable,” he said.

The Gunnedah side is a mix of many rising young stars such as Hayden Sawyer, Mitch Mannion and Reuben Bekker, blended with old hands such as Dale Roberts.

Grant actually coached Dale with Gunnedah United in the 2002 Northern Inland Premier League.

“We have a real mixture of players,” he said.