The draw for the expanded Premiership was announced yesterday and the season will go longer.
The competition has expanded from eight to 10 teams and because of the need to work around All Whites commitments, the season is starting a couple of weeks earlier than in recent years.
Southern United will be playing home games at a park named after one of Otago’s favourite rugby sons — Peter Johnstone Park in Mosgiel.Southern United coach Paul O’Reilly said he was happy with the draw.
Ideally he would like to have had the opening game at home but it will be away to the new Hamilton Wanderers team at Labour Weekend.
The side’s first home game is the following week at Forsyth Barr Stadium, a derby game against Canterbury United.
O’Reilly named a squad of Otago-based players earlier this week and was still looking round for players.
"I think it is pretty well known that as a club we can not match the big budgets of the clubs in the North Island. So we are looking at other options and ways to do things," O’Reilly said.
He was talking to players from others part of New Zealand who might want to get involved with Southern United.
The side’s pre-season programme would include games between the club’s senior and youth teams and there would also be friendly matches against Tasman United and Canterbury United.
The United side is scheduled to play four games at Peter Johnstone Park during the season,O’Reilly said in discussions with the Dunedin City Council the option of playing at Peter Johnstone Park was floated.
Southern United was keen on the ground and although it had to be formally confirmed it was more than likely games would be played in Mosgiel.
The side would also play two games during the season in Invercargill — both tough games, against Auckland City and Team Wellington.
There had also been hopes to play in Queenstown but it was just not possible.
Teams would play 18 games a season, up from 14 last season because of the additional teams.
O’Reilly said he wanted his side to play attractive football and winning ugly was not what he was after.
He said the response from local players had been good and there was a lot of passion and belief.
Southern United draw
Oct 23: Hamilton, Hamilton
Oct 30: Canterbury, Forsyth Barr Stadium
Nov 6: Waitakere, Auckland
Nov 13: Auckland City, Invercargill
Nov 20: Eastern Suburbs, Auckland
Nov 27: Phoenix under-20, Peter Johnstone Park
Dec 4: Team Wellington, Wellington
Dec 11: Hawkes Bay, Peter Johnstone Park
Dec 18: Tasman, Peter Johnstone Park
Jan 8: Hamilton, Peter Johnstone Park
Jan 15: Canterbury, Christchurch
Jan 21: Waitakere, to be confirmed (home game)
Jan 29: Auckland City, Auckland
Feb 6: Phoenix under-20, Wellington
Feb 12: Eastern Suburbs, to be confirmed (home game)
Feb 19: Team Wellington, Invercargill
Feb 26: Hawkes Bay, Napier
Mar 19: Tasman, Nelson
