Central Coast Mariners to play FFA Cup match at Mudgee

The Mariners will take on Blacktown City FC at Glen Willow in a do-or-die FFA Cup match on November 13.

It will mark the first time since 2014 the Mariners have played at Mudgee - they played Newcastle Jets in a trial on the occasion - while the two clubs also played a pre-season match at Orange the following year.

Those matches were about preparing for the new campaign and while the meeting with Blacktown is about getting minutes in the legs, the Mariners are also determined to keep their cup dream alive.

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The two clubs have also developed a rivalry in recent times and that makes it a must-see game, according to Mariners CEO Shaun Mielekamp.

"It's a competitive match so it's a do or die knockout," he said.

"The last time we played Blacktown in the FFA Cup they were victorious so there's going to be quite a bit of fire on the field.

"Quite a lot of our ex-players are playing for Blacktown and there's a good rivalry between both teams. It will be a highly entertaining match.

"Thousands of football fans will be travelling to the region for this game so the locals can expect something very special."

While the November 13 derby will be Blacktown's home game, Mielekamp hoped the partnership between the Mariners and Mid-Western Regional Council and country fans in general would continue after the game.

"We wanted to use the opportunity to give back to football, that's what the FFA Cup is really about, connecting all levels of football," he said.

"For us to move a match out to Mudgee and have a really good competition game is something that's really exciting.

"We're going to be working closely with the Mudgee Gulgong Wolves FC so they can generate some revenue for their club, it's a great way for us to give back to the local community that's there.

"It's a fantastic pitch that's held A-League matches before, it's definitely an opportunity for us to have a long term partnership with Mudgee Council to make sure this isn't a one off.

"By having a great turn out, it gives us all the more reason to make sure that we're very motivated to keep coming."

Tickets for the round 32 FFA Cup match, that will kick-off at 5pm, have gone on sale and can be purchased here.

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