Football: Under-20 World Cup organisers tick off set of goals

Fifa under-20 World Cup sales director and former All White Noel Barkley looks to put the ball past tournament mascot Wooliam yesterday at the new goals installed at Logan Park. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Fifa under-20 World Cup sales director and former All White Noel Barkley looks to put the ball past tournament mascot Wooliam yesterday at the new goals installed at Logan Park. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
They cost considerably more than a couple of jerseys laid down on the ground.

The Fifa Under-20 World Cup is just over a month away and things are starting to take shape.

The latest piece of the puzzle to arrive is what many see as the most important parts on a football field - the goals.

They are not just a few posts, banged in with some nails - they are special goals, fit for a tournament of this standing.

Dunedin venue manager Mike McGarry said the posts were top of the line and were the same used in the World Cup in Brazil last year and in the English Premiership.

The goals were built in England and have separate posts to hold up the nets so the ball could not roll back into play when it went into the goal. The posts on the goal line are secured by concrete.

The posts will be given to the Dunedin football community at the end of the tournament.

Goal-line technology will not be used in the tournament.

A set of two goals cost about $5000 and there are five of them in Dunedin.

Four will be used in training at Logan Park and at Memorial Park in Mosgiel and one for the games at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

The first games will be played at the stadium on May 31.

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