Quake could close season

Mainland Football has signalled it may be impossible to complete some competitions this season in the wake of the devastating earthquake.

English Park – Mainland's headquarters – is closed and chief executive Mike Coggan said facilities there and at club and suburban grounds would be unlikely to be assessed before the end of the week.

"Given the earlier issues this season with bad weather and ground closures, this latest and more destructive force of nature will make it almost impossible to conclude many of the season fixtures.

"We sympathise with the large number of people that are affected, however the weekend's events have taken control out of our hands."

Coggan said priority would be given to completing the last few games in the Mainland premier league men's competition. Woolston Technical has already won the title, but the relegation place is yet to be decided. All other football competitions, including the traditional season-end English Cup men's and Reta Fitzpatrick Cup women's knockout tournaments were "in serious doubt".

Meanwhile, Canterbury United will play a curtain raiser at AMI Stadium to the Wellington Phoenix-Adelaide United A-League clash on December 5.

The Dragons will host ASB Premiership rivals Waikato FC at 2pm – three hours before the A-League kickoff. "We're delighted with that," Canterbury United chairman Craig Rhodes said. "It should lift our profile a bit. We believe it's the first time that a national league match has been held before an A-League game."

Canterbury will play their seven home matches at four different venues in the 2010-11 campaign.

Their first three matches at Linfield, in Kearneys Rd, Bromley, while a new, artificial turf is installed at English Park, their traditional home. English Park will be back in action from January and will be the venue for three games.

Canterbury is also taking their January 16 "home" game against Team Wellington to Trafalgar Park in Nelson.

Rhodes said Canterbury had chosen the Linfield Park rugby ground because it had "a more footy-like atmosphere".

"It has the best playing surface," he said. "It is enclosed with a closer environment for spectators, creating a more footy-like atmosphere."

He said the Linfield administration had "a football focus" with Coastal Spirit Football Club one of a number of sports under the Linfield Trust umbrella.

"QE II is too big a stadium with the ground a long way from the stands and the [QE II No2 pitch] on the back ground is unavailable.

"Rugby League Park could not originally support us through the entire campaign and its facilities and amenities are under doubt, particularly in light of the recent earthquakes," Rhodes said.

The premiership kicks off on October 16 with a split round but Canterbury United's season does not begin until November 7 when they visit Team Wellington.

Rhodes hopes New Zealand Football's sponsorship deal with ASB Bank will eventually "reduce costs by way of [lower] entry fees, over time" for clubs playing in the ASB Premiership national league.

"The ASB sponsorship is good for the game and will likely be a good vehicle to provide better exposure, with branches all throughout the country. It fits the nationwide sponsor profile New Zealand Football has been seeking."

- © Fairfax NZ News