The schedule begins on September 25 as the AllStars make the trip to Porritt Stadium to face Dave Edmondson’s Waikato FC ASB Premiership side.
A week later, they will clash with Waitakere United over the weekend of October 1-2 and complete their series with a clash against reigning O-League champions Auckland City on October 8.
Auckland Football Federation CEO David Parker says the fourth edition of the Lotto NRFL AllStars will be the latest version of a concept which has proved a valuable addition to the football calendar for all involved. The squad’s players will be plucked from the three NRFL divisions, which are the premier competitions for football in the upper North Island.
“The AllStars squad was put together to help showcase the talent in the Lotto NRFL competition and the 2011 series will give another set of players the chance to impress,” Parker says.
“The concept has some history behind it now and, with a host of players breaking into the ASB Premiership through the AllStars squad over the last three years, it is certainly helping us deliver on the Lotto NRFL’s stated aim – promoting players towards the next step in the pathway.
“The ASB Premiership franchises have been big supporters of this series and we’ve reached a point where they are now actively looking to the Lotto NRFL AllStars to help fill their pre-season schedules.”
In addition to the three matches against the northernmost ASB Premiership franchises, Parker is hoping to include a clash with a touring Fijian club side, possibly Rewa, to add some international spice to the series.
“In the first two years of the AllStars programme we have hosted and travelled to meet a Football Brisbane Premier League representative side. While Brisbane weren’t available for this season, in Rewa we’re hoping to secure another quality international opponent.”
If confirmed, the AllStars will face their Fijian opposition on September 16 at Bill McKinlay Park.
The Lotto NRFL AllStars squad will be made up of the as-yet-unannounced winners of the player of the month awards determined by opposition coach voting during the course of the season. The remainder of the squad will be selected by the appointed coaches of the side.
The match officials involved in the series will also be the winners of the official of the month awards during the season.
Lotto NRFL AllStars matches 2011
vs Waikato FC
Sunday 25 September
Porritt Stadium, Hamilton, 1pm
vs Waitakere Utd
Sat 1/Sun 2 October
Date/Venue/Kick-off TBC
vs Auckland City
Saturday 8 October
Venue/Kick-off TBC
Story courtesy of Auckland Football Federation.
For more on Auckland football go to www.aucklandfootball.org.nz

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