With round one Knock-out matches and trial games now out of the way, the real start to the season begins with one of the biggest weeks in Tigers history.
On 17 and 18 April round one of Season 2021 competition commences for all teams from U5 to All Age.
But before that, we have a smorgasbord of school holiday football entertainment in the Tigers Den.
Kicking off proceedings this week our Premier League Reserve Grade side are being let out of their cage when they debut in the oldest football competition in Australia, the Cottam Cup. The Reserves have made an unbeaten start to their competition this season and will be looking to extend that form when they host Maroubra FC in the opening match of the 2021 Cottam Cup on Tuesday night at Bill Anderson Reserve.
Coach Danny Berti has waited a long time to enter his team in one of the many prominent tournaments and is looking forward to the encounter with the beachside club.
“Cottam Cup and the history that surrounds it is what our team want to play for. Once the team was invited and accepted to play in the Cup, they have been excited and look forward to representing the club in Australia’s oldest knock-out competition,” said Berti.
On Wednesday we return to Bill Anderson Reserve with the First Graders contesting a record equalling fourth round of the FFA Cup.
Standing in the way of a berth in the round of 32 is fellow local club Liverpool Olympic, who like the Tigers, progressed via penalties in their last start.
Coach Jarrod Carluccio is excited but cautious of the challenge ahead.
“It’s a massive honour to not only carry our team but also the club and badge. The FFA Cup is a prestigious tournament in Australia and it’s great for Association Clubs to be able to put themselves on the map,” Carluccio said.
“Playing Olympic is a team we know well, so it gives it a little bit of a different feeling because it’s a team we have battled with in our local competition, but on a positive, at least we know that a team from Southern Districts is going through to Round 5 of the FFA Cup. We are confident it will be us,” Carluccio added.
Then on Saturday and Sunday, the rest of the club venture out across the many Southern Districts fields for their first round outings in this season’s competition.
Draws for match oppositions, venues and times are now available in icompman.
Club President Ross Maiorana is optimistic of another good season and wants every Tiger in the Den this Tuesday and Wednesday night.
“I don’t recall the club being involved in two major back-to-back Cup matches like we have this week. To have both at home, in the school holidays, it is an opportunity not to be missed. I hope to see all of our club members, families and friends at these matches, and I’m sure the teams will put on some high quality football for you,” Maiorana said.
“On the weekend, it’s the start of competition for most teams, and like every year, I am confident of another good showing. Good luck to all,” he added.
Cottam Cup – Opening Match
8:00pm kick-off
Bill Anderson Reserve
V Maroubra United FC
FFA Cup – Round 4
7:30pm kick-off
Bill Anderson Reserve
V Liverpool Olympic
Pick a match, or even both, and help ROAR the Tigers on!
