Northern NSW Football has conducted its draws for preliminary rounds two and three of the 2023 Australia Cup.
The draws were broadcast live on Monday afternoon, with 63 teams from across Community and HIT Northern League One football involved in the draw, representing all seven NNSWF Member Zones.
The competition has again been split between a Northern Zone and Southern Zone. The Northern Zone features 28 teams representing Football Far North Coast (three), North Coast Football (nine), Football Mid North Coast (six) and NNSWF – Northern Inland (10) member zones.
The Southern Zone is made up of 26 community clubs from Hunter Valley Football (five), Macquarie Football (seven) and Newcastle Football (14) member zones as well as nine HIT Northern League One clubs.
The HIT Northern League One clubs enter the competition in round three.
Northern Conference round two matches will be played on the weekend ending 19 February, with round three fixtures the following weekend. While Southern Conference round two matches will be played on the weekend ending 20 March, with round three fixtures the following weekend.
The 12 NPL Men’s NNSW clubs will enter the competition in round four. This will see a total of 75 NNSWF clubs enter the Australia Cup this season, the most since 2018.
There will be seven knockout rounds to decide the two NNSWF representatives that qualify for the national round of 32.
The two national round representatives will also play off in the NNSWF State Cup final to crown a NNSWF cup champion.
NNSWF General Manager Football Operations Liam Bentley said it was an exciting year for the competition.
“The Australia Cup is such an important part of the national football calendar so it’s wonderful that we’ve had such great commitment from clubs across northern NSW that want to be a part of it,” Bentley said.
“This year we are also bringing back the NNSWF State Cup. This will give our two clubs that will represent us in the national round of 32 the chance to play in a final with an opportunity to win a trophy.
“The main change to the 2023 tournament will see rounds six and seven played at club venues rather than the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility, with an open draw between the qualifying Northern Conference and Southern Conference teams to determine match locations.
“This decision was based on feedback from participating clubs, with the aim to see more matches at club venues.”
For the full list of preliminary rounds fixtures visit AustraliaCup.com.au.
Southern Zone
Round Two Fixtures
Newcastle Uni Men’s FC BYE
South Maitland FC BYE
Westlakes Wildcats FC BYE
Lambton Jaffas Junior SFC BYE
Newcastle Suns FC v Lake Macquarie FC
Merewether Advance SFC v Newcastle Croatia FC
Bolwarra Lorn JSC v Garden Suburb FC
Kurri Kurri FC v Dudley Redhead United Senior FC
Kotara South FC v North United Wolves FC
Stockton Sharks FC v Swansea FC
Nelson Bay FC v Minmi Wanderers FC
Mayfield United Senior FC v Greta Branxton FC
Warners Bay FC v Mayfield United Junior SC
Hamilton Azzurri FC v New Lambton Junior FC
Medowie FC v Barnsley United FC
Southern Zone
Round Three Fixtures
Merewether Advance SFC/Newcastle Croatia FC v Singleton Strikers FC
Thornton Redbacks FC v Kurri Kurri FC/Dudley Redhead United Senior FC
Belmont Swansea United FC v Mayfield United Senior FC/Greta Branxton FC
Kahibah FC v Hamilton Azzurri FC/New Lambton Junior FC
Warners Bay FC/Mayfield United Junior SC v Toronto Awaba FC
Wallsend FC v Bolwarra Lorn JSC/Garden Suburb FC
Stockton Sharks FC/Swansea FC v West Wallsend SFC
Cessnock City FC v Newcastle University Men’s FC
Newcastle Suns FC/Lake Macquarie FC v South Maitland FC
Lambton Jaffas Junior SFC v Medowie FC/Barnsley United FC
Westlakes Wildcats FC v South Cardiff FC
Nelson Bay FC/Minmi Wanderers FC v Kotara South FC/North United Wolves FC
Northern Zone
Round Two Fixtures
Armidale City Westside FC BYE
Kempsey Saints FC BYE
Tamworth FC BYE
Hillvue Rovers FC BYE
Demon Knights FC v Coffs Coast Tigers FC
East Armidale FC v Southern United FC
Alstonville FC v Urunga FC
Lismore Richmond Rovers FC v Camden Haven Redbacks FC
Bellingen FC v Oxley Vale Attunga FC
South Armidale United FC v Narrabri FC
Coffs City United FC v Bangalow SC
Inverell v Woolgoolga United FC
Lake Cathie FC v Sawtell & Districts FC
Port Macquarie United SC v Maclean FC
Westlawn Tigers FC v Northern Storm FC
Moore Creek FC v Port Saints FC
Northern Zone
Round Three Fixtures
East Armidale FC/Southern United FC v Moore Creek FC/Port Saints FC
South Armidale United FC/Narrabri FC v Westlawn Tigers FC/Northern Storm FC
Bellingen FC/Oxley Vale Attunga FC v Kempsey Saints FC
Tamworth FC v Alstonville FC/Urunga FC
Inverell/Woolgoolga United FC v Lake Cathie FC/Sawtell & Districts FC
Lismore Richmond Rovers FC/Camden Haven Redbacks FC v Port Macquarie United SC/Maclean FC
Armidale City Westside FC v Coffs City United FC/Bangalow SC
Demon Knights FC/Coffs Coast Tigers FC v Hillvue Rovers FC
