2024 Women's State Cup Preview: Magpies eager to retain cup

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The NNSWF Women’s State Cup will return to Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility this weekend. The three-day competition gives NPL Women’s NNSW clubs, community football teams and a NNSWF Indigenous representative team the unique opportunity to go head-to-head.

This year’s event, the seventh in the competition’s history, will see 20 teams challenge for the title including all eight NPL Women’s NNSW clubs.

Maitland FC is eager to emulate its success from 2023, winning back the cup from reigning champions Charlestown Azzurri with a 2-0 victory in last year’s final.

Magpies coach Keelan Hamilton hoped his side would put its best foot forward in the competition but said there was no pressure on his side to go back-to-back

“We are definitely going into the competition to do the best we possibly can,” Hamilton said.

“I wouldn’t say our goal would be to win the competition but it would be to try and perform as best and consistently as we can. We are not going to put pressure on ourselves.

“If we end up in the top teams at the end of the weekend that would be nice for us. We have been there already and it would be good to be there again.

“We just want to go and be the best versions of ourselves.”

Away from results, Hamilton was looking forward to the opportunity for his whole squad to come together and for less experienced players to get some valuable minutes on the pitch.

“We will be there with a squad that has a mix of both youth and experience. But we will be there to give it our best shot,” Hamilton said.

“It is a tricky one to balance between getting some minutes into players after a stop-start season and then resting others. We will manage both sides of it and ensure that we do not overload players.

“It is a really good opportunity for our younger, less experienced players to be around the first grade match day set up. Even though we all train together, it will be hugely important for us to all come together.

“We are very lucky that our training and work ethic across the board has been outstanding across both grades and now some of these players will get to reap the rewards.”

Hamilton said his side were looking forward to the opportunity to test themselves against some different teams from across the region.

“The cup provides the opportunities for our playing group to play some different teams which is really nice as we are used to playing the same teams several times in a season,” Hamilton said.

“I think one of the really good aspects of the tournament is that it brings teams from different levels and parts of the region together.

“You never know who you could come up against. Last year Lake Cathie [FC] did really well.”

Maitland’s first test of the tournament will be against fellow NPLW NNSW team Adamstown Rosebud JFC. Hamilton said he expected a hard-fought battle.

“I think Adamstown has been improving throughout the competition. We have always enjoyed our clashes against them,” Hamilton said.

“They are playing some good football. We know with the shortened timeframe of matches that it can make it tricky to get over the line and we know that Adamstown will be right up for the fight.”

Adamstown coach Martin Slade was excited heading into the tournament and said his club wanted to go all the way this year.

“Ultimately our aim is not to lose to Maitland on Friday night. That is a priority for us,” Slade said.

"We are going out there to win the competition. We want to be the best team out there.

“Every player in our squad wants to play. The more time I can give them on the pitch the happier my players are.

“I want to advertise to everyone what we are doing as a football club. We aren’t going to win the league but for any club to win silverware is a massive achievement.

“The only thing we have to play for is the State Cup so we will put everything we can into it.

“It would be massive for us to win it and would be a good recognition of their performances.”

Slade recognised the importance of running a tournament that includes clubs from different areas and competitions across northern NSW.

“The clubs coming from different areas and competitions want to challenge themselves against the best in the region,” Slade said.

“I hope that all clubs participating have a good weekend and enjoy the opportunity to play against all different teams.

“I think the cup is great for the region and a celebration that everyone should be involved in. Everyone has the opportunity to win something.”

As well as the eight NPLW NNSW clubs in action, the competition will also feature community clubs Norths United, Raymond Terrace FC, Cooks Hill United, Lake Cathie FC, Tilligery United, Lochinvar Rovers, Old Bar Barbarians, Hamilton Azzurri, University of Newcastle FC, Kempsey Saints and Tenambit Sharks.

A NNSWF Indigenous Women’s representative team will also be compete in the competition for the third time. The squad consists of First Nations players and coaches from across northern NSW.

Matildas Alumni and A-League veteran Gema Simon will captain the squad which will also feature a number of players who participated in the 2024 NAIDOC Cup.