A-LEAGUE side Western United are set to make their return to Mars Stadium with a regular season match against newcomers Macarthur FC slated for Saturday, 20 February.<\/p>\n
It\u2019ll be the first time in just over a year top-level football has been played in Ballarat, and Western United CEO Chris Pehlivanis said the game will be a great opportunity to support the club and check out some top-level sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur club is a club for the west, and Ballarat; Western United is your club,\u201d he said. \u201cWe want everyone in the Ballarat region to jump onboard and come see us live.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reality is you\u2019re going to be able to witness some elite football and some of the best players in the country.<\/p>\n
Like almost everything else, the pandemic has had an impact on this season\u2019s A-League schedule.<\/p>\n
The comp started late and fixtures have been shuffled around, yet that challenge for the competition has also enabled the game at Mars to take place.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith COVID at the moment we\u2019re trying to play as many games in as many regions as we can,\u201d Pehlivanis said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe played in Ballarat in our first season, so we were eager to get back there as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Returning to the city and Mars also continues to drive the goal of Western United; to be a team that plays for everyone in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom day one we\u2019ve been a team for the west and Ballarat is a key focus for us in terms of growing our fanbase, and also giving us an opportunity to take professional sport to the region, which has a rich history of sport in Victoria and Australia,\u201d Pehlivanis said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want the region to embrace us and make sure that everyone that grows up, and lives, in Ballarat supports the green and black.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even though Western United currently sit third-last on the A-League table, the club has played out hard-fought and close games that have only slipped from their grasp at the death.<\/p>\n
By the time United run onto Mars the side will be coming off their first road trip of the season, including a two-game hitch in New South Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re seasoned to travelling, we enjoy traveling,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Western United v Macarthur FC is set for Saturday, 20 February at Mars Stadium with kick off at 5.05pm. Ticketing information is still to be confirmed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A-LEAGUE side Western United are set to make their return to Mars Stadium with a regular season match against newcomers Macarthur FC slated for Saturday, 20 February. It\u2019ll be the first time in just over a year top-level football has been played in Ballarat, and Western United CEO Chris Pehlivanis said the game will be […]<\/p>\n