Blacktown City launches into 2023 Season

By Bo B Turner

Blacktown city Fc commenced the Senior Men and Senior women 2023 season in sensational style. in what was dubbed a ‘new Era’ for Blacktown city, Mc Mark Beretta welcomed a group of some 200 players, coaches, supporters and sponsors to the Ballroom at Blacktown workers club. included in the list of speakers were new ‘Principal Partner’ of Blacktown city, walker corporation, new naming Rights partner of the home ground, landen Stadium, and new Stadium owner Momento Hospitality. commencing Blacktown’s 70th season, it was a fitting start to an historic year.

walker corporation cEo, David Grattan, talked about the proud history of walker in western Sydney and the company’s excitement at partnering one of Blacktown’s best sports entities. Marcello colosimo, cEo of Momento Hospitality, followed David to the stage and outlined their plans to not only assist is building Blacktown’s home ground but their after game home at the newly renovated lily’s function centre, now to be called ‘the Star Hotel and Events centre’. Rashed Panabig then took to the stage to announce his company, landen Property Group, would become naming Rights partner to Blacktown’s home ground – ‘landen Stadium’. the partnership with walker, Momento and landen will lay the foundation to build on a great opportunity for the city of Blacktown.

Blacktown city Executive chairman, Bob turner, and Head of Football, Mark crittenden, combined to then announce two new ‘life Members’ of Blacktown city Fc – Vince camera and ken Schembri. Vince camera, owner of lily Homes, basically saved the club back in 2010 when he took over the bankrupt stadium and licensed club. He systematically rebuilt both venues as well as kept Blacktown city Fc on the pitch. Shembri is regarded as one of the best football administrators in the country. He guided Blacktown through difficult times before taking his talents to Central coast Mariners.

Men’s Head of Football, Mark crittenden, announced the players one by one who all displayed the new playing strip for the team. women’s Head of Football, David o’keefe, followed ‘critto’ to the stage and unveiled his new look team that will take to the pitch in their second full season on March 12th.

the Senior Men opened their 2023 campaign four days after the season launch, hosting Manly in a 2022 Grand Final replay. in a sad start to the evening Blacktown city presented retiring star due to injuries, Mitch Mallia, with a memento of his career. it was an eventful occasion for Blacktown city Football club with Jack o’Brien scoring a superb goal to give Blacktown a 1-0 lead at half time. Blacktown ‘Gun’, Danny choi, missed a golden opportunity to put his side up 2-0, only to have Manly score thirty seconds later to tie the game. the Grand Final reply ended that way with both teams sharing a single point. the following week, Blacktown city stayed in Blacktown to play the west Sydney wanderers on their home ground. it was an intense and riveting game with Blacktown finding themselves down 2-0 at half-time. leading goal scorer, travis Major, had other ideas and despite his coach, Mark crittenden, being sent off in the second half with a red card, Major came through with two clutch goals to steer his side to a 3-2 win.

Round three of the nSw Premier league competition has Blacktown city back at landen Stadium to host newcomers to the competition, nwS Spirit Fc. Spirit had a win in their opening round over the Bulls and settled for a draw last week against St George. Both Blacktown and Spirit sit on four competition points entering round three. Game time is 5pm, this Sunday, February 19th, at landen Stadium – 5 Quinn ave, Seven Hills! See you there – “your town, your team”!

Go Blacktown city!