For the first time in more than 30 years, soccer will be played at Bendigo's premier sporting arena the Queen Elizabeth Oval.
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Bendigo Amateur Soccer League traditional rivals Eaglehawk and Spring Gully will clash at the QEO on Saturday, July 6 next year.
The night game will mark the start of NAIDOC Week celebrations in Bendigo.
"FC Eaglehawk has played a NAIDOC Week game at Truscott Reserve the past two years and we approached the council to see if we could get the game played at the QEO,'' Eaglehawk president Ben Pengelly said.
"Margaret O'Rourke, Andrea Metcalf and Matt Emond have been tremendous in their support and it's great to see this game played at the QEO. It opens up the NAIDOC Week celebrations...we want this to become a big community event and it puts Bendigo soccer on centre stage."
The last time soccer was played on the QEO was a Trans-Tasman Cup clash between the Socceroos and New Zealand on October 16, 1988.
Australia won the game 2-0 via an own goal and a 68th minute strike by Warren Spink. A crowd of more than 3000 people watched a Socceroos team which featured current coach Graham Arnold and his predecessor Ange Postecoglou.
"It will be a big thrill for the clubs involved and the players involved to have a game at the QEO,'' Pengelly said.
"Spring Gully have been fantastic in supporting the game and we've already had interest from other clubs for future years.
"This game has the potential to build into something really special for soccer and the community in Bendigo."
Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative deputy chief executive Baydon Widdicombe welcomed the opportunity for the NAIDOC Week game to be played at the QEO.
"We have a great relationship with Eaglehawk and we've assisted with the NAIDOC Week game the past couple of years,'' Widdicombe said.
"We always recognise our culture in NAIDOC Week, but it's also important to recognise sporting talent as well. We're very excited to be a part of this game."
The BASL match at the QEO corresponds with the BFNL’s general bye.
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