A $10,000 grant from the NSW Government's Office of Sport will help establish the new Western Premier League (WPL) soccer competition, a fresh addition to sport in the Central West.
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Member for Bathurst Paul Toole joined the Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee at Bathurst's Proctor Park on Friday, January 24 to announce the funding.
Mr Toole said the grant was a win for Central West footballers.
"The funding will help cover league registration and insurance costs, team registration fees and administrative costs," he said.
The new WPL will commence in early 2020 with teams fielded from across the Central West including Lithgow, Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo and a representative team from Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan.
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"The Western Premier League will provide a pathway for young footballers in the Central West to go on and reach the National Premier League and beyond," Mr Toole said.
Mr Lee said it was difficult for footballers in western NSW to progress to professional teams due to travelling distances, costs, lack of player development and the leap in playing quality.
"The establishment of the Western Premier League will reduce barriers and provide more opportunities to excel in football from regional communities," he said.
"The WPL will assist with overcrowding in local competitions and provide western NSW communities, struggling through drought conditions, an opportunity to come together and socialise in an active setting."
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