The fixtures for the 2018 National Premier League (NPL) season have been released, and JUFC begin the campaign with three away fixtures.
While not ideal, it does mean that there will be a midseason run of three successive games at home when the schedule is reversed.
First up for Nick Jennings’ side is a road trip to Armadale, and the boys will be looking to improve on the 2-1 defeat suffered at Alfred Skeet Reserve last August.
“Obviously it’s a tough start with our first three games away from home,” says JUFC NPL Coordinator Rudy Proctor.
“Armadale away on a Saturday night at 7pm should be a good atmosphere and it is a game we will be looking to pick up something from.
“If we are to avoid being one of the three teams relegated this year, we will need to take points from those five or six teams that finished in the bottom half of the table last season.”
JUFC then head to Frank Drago Reserve and Ashfield Arena for games against Bayswater City and Perth Glory respectively.
“Bayswater in Round 2 is a game we will look forward to,” says Proctor.
“Last season we gave them a good contest at their place and we will have no fear going there with a young, fearless squad this year, though anything we pick up there will be a bonus in reality.”
The first game of the year at Percy Doyle Reserve comes in Round 4 when Subiaco AFC will be the visitors.
“In rounds 3 and 4 we will be looking to pick up maximum points from Perth Glory Youth and Subiaco, so really we want to have six or seven points on the board early,” says Proctor.
“We started with a bang in 2017 and we will be looking to repeat that good early season form.
“Our squad this year is really young and hungry; they cannot wait for the season to start so they can test themselves at this level.”
There are two Joondalup Derbies on the calendar, in April and July, and both games are sure to attract big crowds like those we saw in 2017.
Of the 26 games, 22 are scheduled to place on a Saturday (11 5pm or later kick offs), while there are two Friday night games on the cards, as well as one Sunday and one Wednesday game.
JUFC will end the season with a home contest against Perth SC on Saturday, August 25.
To view all of the NPL fixtures, including those for the 20s and 18s, click here.
JUFC NPL First Team fixtures 2018
