The impending move to the Gipps St fields is very encouraging but surely what Tamworth needs is a multi-purpose stadium to be used by all the football codes to host events as well as their showpiece games.

Coffs Harbour’s international complex is a good example where the National Under 15 Football Championships were held last month, no doubt bringing visitors to the city from all over Australia.

At the recent NIPL grand final in Armidale, a prominent Armidale businessman stated he couldn’t believe Tamworth had nothing to compare to the brand-new Bellview Oval complex where the event was being played ... I said we did but we built it for our horses!

Imagine if Australia is successful in hosting The World Cup in 2018 or 2022. There will be 32 nations looking for a major regional centre to set up a base for the team to train at least a month out from the event – not only the squad but journalists and supporters as well.

Wouldn’t it be great to line up at Macca’s South beside the next Ronaldo or Wayne Rooney? Probably not, though: they’ll be in Coffs or, even worse, Armidale!

Hopefully, Tamworth Football Association and Tamworth Regional Council have something in the pipeline to benefit Tamworth sport and attract visitors to our city.

Brendan McGuire

Tamworth