Meryl Swanson (Paterson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Next Wednesday night the mighty Maitland Magpies Football Club will host the Central Coast Mariners in FFA Cup round 32 at No. 1 Sportsground, Maitland. This is the game of the year for the club and, like so many other patrons, I am very excited to see the Pies fly against the A-League team. A crowd of at least 3,000 are expected to attend the ground, but the number of people watching will be vastly larger as it's broadcast across Foxtel.

The Maitland Magpies are a great local team, with young talented players like Zach Thomas, who has had an outstanding year; Jimmy Thompson; Tommy Duggan; and Nick Cowburn. Former Australian international and Newcastle Jets captain Matt Thompson is looking forward to the challenge, but no more than former Central Coast Mariner and current Maitland goalkeeper Matthew Trott. I encourage all the Maitland community to get down and support the Magpies. Parliament is sitting that week, so I won't be able to be there in person. But I'll be here watching on Foxtel and be there in spirit with you, guys. Congratulations to Maitland FC President Ray Watkins and coach Mick Bolch for getting the team prepared. You have done an outstanding job, and it is a big deal for Maitland and our area. For a club like the Maitland Magpies, the opportunity to host the Mariners is well earned. Good luck to the team. Get out there and give it your all—and, as we say, fly, Pies, fly!