Chapman has fond memories of playing for the Bathurst Goldminers in front of a full grandstand, the atmosphere generated lifting those on court.

That is what he’d like to see again at the Bathurst Indoor Stadium as the Goldminers line up in both the men’s and women’s State League competitions.

It will be a step up from seasons 2017-18 when the Youth League men’s division two outfit was the only senior Goldminers team in action.

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“It’s going ahead, it’s going to happen. We want to do it professionally too and start getting the crowds back,” Chapman said.

“Back in the day you’d fill the grandstand and people loved it – we want to get back to that.

“We want to make it a spectacle, we want people to enjoy coming to watch.”

The Goldminers have not fielded a women’s State League side since 2017, but with former star Haylee Lepaio agreeing to captain-coach the team and her sister Hannah to line up as well, Chapman is excited.

“I would think with Haylee leading the women and her sister playing too, I think they have a lot of potential. Both Lepaio girls are great … I’ve got a lot of younger girls coming up too I think will really do well,” he said.

“That’s massive having the women back and they’ll be competitive. That’s not to say the men won’t, I’d like to think the men will hold their own, but I want to have realistic expectations.”

In terms of the men’s outfit, Chapman said they considered both youth and open teams. However, the older age group was where Bathurst had the greater depth of numbers.

It will be the first time in three seasons the Goldminers have had a State League men’s outfit, but those who play are set to see some familiar faces lining up against them.

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“We’ve looked at it and we put expressions of interest out for both, but the indication of numbers we got back, State League men is definitely the way to go. I think it will be a slightly better competition than the div two Youth Men’s anyway,” Chapman said.

“There will be some new rivalries, Orange are going to put in teams. I think it’s a healthy thing, I have no dramas with that, a healthy rivalry is good. We’ve got Dubbo and Lithgow too ... it’s going to be really good for this area.”

Chapman himself is undecided if he will play and while he has also considered coaching, no decision has yet be made on who will mentor the men.