Young Lions versus Sydney FC, it's possible.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Lions first grade side has entered this year's FFA Cup and will host Bankstown Sports Strikers in the coming weeks.
The knockout competition's rounds two and three were drawn on Thursday at Football NSW headquarters in Sydney, which will feature 121 grass roots clubs along with clubs from NPL (National Premier Leagues NSW) 3 and 4.
Young coach Mark Mellish is hugely excited.
"It's going to be really cool," he said.
"We had spoken about it before but there's the possibility you may have to travel a long distance. All the boys said they want to have a crack so we entered hoping we'd get a home game and we were lucky enough to have our name drawn out of the hat first," he said.
Mellish believes the Lions are one of only a few sides from across the Riverina and Western regions to enter this year's FFA Cup, and the only club from Football Wagga.
The national competition is open to all associate clubs but compulsory for NPL teams, he said.
Each state and territory are allocated a certain number slots for the round of 32, where 10 Hyundai A-League sides will join 21 clubs who have progressed.
Wollongong Wolves, NPL Champions of Australia in 2019, received automatic entry, while 10th and 11th finishers in the A-League will play a qualifier.
Young will have to win six in a row and defeat some of the best clubs in the state to get a chance to meet an A-League club.
"We don't expect going terribly far. [Playing an A-League side] that's a long way down the track," Mellish said.
"For us it's going to be a lot of fun and it's a bit of a trial before the new season. It also shows that we're a club which is run professionally and we take ourselves seriously."
He said he doesn't know much about Bankstown Sports Strikers.
"I know they have a few more likes than us on Facebook," he laughed. "That's about it.
"Realistically it's a bit of a trial. We're going to try to get a lot of support. It'd be really good to get a strong crowd."
The game is likely to be played on March 14 at Hall Bros Oval, however hasn't been confirmed.
READ ALSO: Miracle puppy saved by local vet surgeon
