PANORAMA FC president Beau Yates loves a good soccer rivalry - that's why he and his club are willing to do whatever it takes to see the Western Premier League go ahead this season.
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April was set to see the WPL revived after an eight-year hiatus, with Yates' Bathurst-based Panorama FC one of the clubs who had signed up.
Orange outfits Barnstoneworth United and Orange Waratahs, Dubbo based sides the Bulls, Macquarie United, South Dubbo Wanderers and Orana Spurs plus Lithgow Workmen's Club and Parkes Cobras are the others who had joined the competition.
The coronavirus pandemic has seen all grassroots football competitions, including the WPL, suspended until at least May 31.
But Yates hopes play will return soon after and see a new sporting code develop a rivalry within the Central West.
"The hope is that the season kicks off soon and we can go a bit longer if we have to," he said.
"In terms of Panorama and Lithgow's rivalry, it's fairly healthy and I hope the same thing will develop between the clubs from Orange and Dubbo as well and even the Parkes boys seem pretty up for it.
"I think the rivalries will flow on as we get going with the premier league, it's going to be fantastic."
Panorama was founded in 2012 and has grown to become one of the biggest clubs in Bathurst District Football.
This season the club made its debut in the knockout FFA Cup competition and while falling to Central Coast outfit Southern & Ettalong, Panorama is keen to have a much greater impact in the WPL.
Yates has previous experience in the regional league - he once played for Bathurst '75 - but most Panorama talents will be making their debut in the league.
"Brent Osborne, myself and a couple of other boys pretty much worked all summer to make it happen. We were all pretty excited and I think there was a great buzz around football," Yates said.
"Everyone was really looking forward to it, we have a lot of guys who are really keen to get back to that level of football, including myself. So, yeah, it's a bit disappointing really that we are stuck in this limbo.
"It's going to be great once we get going, hopefully the back end of this year. I mean if it's got to be next year, it's still going to be awesome for football in Bathurst and the other towns as well, I think it's going to revive it."
Though a number of sporting competitions - including those run by Bathurst District Football - are facing the prospect of a shortened season if they resume in 2020, Yates feels the WPL can be structured as initially intended.
"The premier league is only going to be 14 rounds anyway, so I think it's pretty doable. I think we can still do it if we kick off in June," he said.
"Personally I'm not too fussed about buying into cricket time ... for us as a club we'd be happy to play into October-November in worst case. But I do think we could still run in the normal time frame.
"I'm still going to be keen as mustard to make it happen, it's going to be eight weeks until we kick a ball a training, but if they give us the all clear we will be happy to get going for sure.
"Panorama is very keen to get going."
