By PAUL MILLAR
VICTORIAN soccer’s longest running cup competition will take on a new look at the end of this month with ambitious local side, Lara, joining the region’s elite clubs in the series.
The cup competition, which has been running annually since 1981, will also have a new major sponsor with Diversitat combining with the City of Greater Geelong to back the series.
Local soccer powerhouse North Geelong will host this year’s pre-season competition at its Elcho Park base, with the organising committee believing it was an ideal opportunity to freshen up the series by including near neighbour, Lara.
Lara coach Dale Harris said it had been a surprise to be invited as a guest club into the competition.
“It’s a real honour to get the chance to play against the best sides in Geelong, hopefully we can put on a good show,” the former Geelong Rangers coach said.
“It will be a tough test for our players, we are not expecting miracles but it will let the side realise where we need to be,” Harris said.
“We will be fighting tooth and nail in every game, but this is our first time in the cup and we are up against some of the biggest clubs in Geelong, who are all in higher leagues than us.”
North Geelong will open the cup on its home patch with a tough match against Corio on 31 January.
Long-time rivals Geelong and Geelong Rangers will start their tournament on 2 February with Bell Park to give Lara its first taste of cup competition in the second match of the twilight competition.
