Essendon Royals learn NPL3 Fixture fate
UPDATE 14-3-22: The below has been updated to reflect recent changes to the fixture. Our Round 1 clash with North Sunshine Eagles will now take place on 18 March at Larissa Reserve at 3pm. Our first home game of the season is now on Saturday 8 April at Cross Keys Reserve, kick-off at 3pm.
Essendon Royals make a long-awaited return to state-wide competition in 2023, having achieved promotion from State League 1 North-West to the NPL3 competition.
No longer in a regional competition, the Royals will travel to every corner of Victoria to make an impact in new surroundings. With the league fixture officially being released, the Royals can look forward to some exciting new opponents in 2023 and face familiar ones.
It’s a tough start on the road, with the Royals facing three consecutive away games to start the season due to the lack of a suitable year-round football facility in Moonee Valley City Council.
The Royals kick off their league campaign with a trip to Larissa Reserve, where they will take on something of a familiar foe in North Sunshine Eagles. The Eagles and Royals were familiar foes in State League 1 before the Eagles’ promotion in 2019.
They then travel to take on Nunawading City FC, a club, the Royals, have played 12 times prior in league competition with an overall record of six wins, one draw and five losses.
In Round Three, the Royals take on another former State League 1 foe in Geelong SC, heading to Stead Park.
The Royals are finally at home at Cross Keys Reserve as we take on Melbourne Victory for the first time in an official competition. The A-League giants are the only remaining A-League academy in the NPL3 competition, following the promotions of Western United and Melbourne City to NPL2 last season.
The game will be played on Saturday, 8 April, in front of what should be a bumper crowd at Cross Keys Reserve.
The first five rounds of competition are capped off with yet another road trip as the boys travel down the Goulburn Valley Highway to Shepparton, where the Goulburn Valley Suns await.
The Royals have only played the Suns once in official competition, losing 3-2 in a thriller back in 2015.
Other fixtures’ highlights include first-ever competitive games against Boroondara Eagles FC and Ballarat City FC.
The Royals make up for their run of away games to start the season with four-straight home-games between rounds 11 and 14, where they will welcome fellow State League 1 promoted side Caroline Springs George Cross, North Sunshine Eagles, Nunawading City and Geelong SC to Cross Keys Reserve.
The Royals home games will be played on Friday nights and kick-off at 8.15 pm, except home games against regional outfits.
Home games against GV Suns, Ballarat City and Geelong are all played on Saturday nights at 7pm.
Check out our 2023 League Fixture poster below and start marking out the dates of our home games at Cross Keys!
The Royals will begin announcing our Senior Men’s squad, including some exciting new additions, over the coming weeks.
