07/09/2026
PHEW. WHAT A WEEKEND. ⚽💚
The 2026 Hobart Cup is done.
324 teams. Around 4,000 players. 742 games. 45 playing fields across Greater Hobart. Three enormous days of junior and youth football.
From tiny 4v4 pitches to full-size 11v11 grounds, thousands of young footballers took over Hobart for one very big weekend.
And somehow, we got through it. 😂
There are so many people to thank.
First, our incredible Venue Managers. You became problem-solvers, traffic controllers, rule interpreters, result chasers, weather watchers and general miracle workers for three days.
⚽ Ned and Max – Cornelian Bay and Queens Walk
⚽ Rick and Sooz – D’Arcy Street
⚽ Darrin and Georgia – Soldiers Memorial and Domain West
⚽ Ken and Jack – Sandown
⚽ Ned and Max Friday night and Frances Saturday and Sunday – KGV
⚽ Jason and Lachie – Lower Queenborough
⚽ Greg and Lisa – Metro Football Club - Metro / North Chigwell
⚽ Misty and Mabel – Hutchins
⚽ Paul and the Olympia F.C. Warriors - Olympia team – Warrior Park
⚽ Tony – Wentworth Park Clarence Zebras FC
⚽ Andrew – West Hobart
⚽ Adam and Ella – New Town White Eagles Soccer Club Clare Street
Thank you. You were brilliant.
To our host clubs and schools, including Clarence Zebras, Olympia FC, New Town Eagles, Metro Football Club and The Hutchins School, thank you for opening your facilities, helping prepare grounds, running canteens and BBQs and welcoming thousands of Hobart Cup players and families.
A special thank you to Tom and the Hutchins team for once again being so generous with their support of the Cup.
To Frances and Emma, thank you for the enormous amount of work that went into this tournament long before anyone kicked a ball and for everything you did throughout the weekend. And thank you for being my safe space through all of it – the people I could vent to, laugh with, problem-solve with and lean on when things got a little crazy. I couldn’t have asked for better people beside me. ❤️
To Nikki, thank you for being absolutely invaluable. You worked so hard before the tournament getting things ready, making sure everything looked right and helping with all those details that make such a difference once the weekend starts. And then you were there capturing it all as well. Photographer extraordinaire.
And of course, there was the usual routine of the two of us bossing Ken around and making sure he did exactly what he was told. 😂❤️
To Ned, Max and all the lads who lifted, carried, marked, moved, delivered, repaired, set up and packed down what felt like half of Hobart, thank you. There is an extraordinary amount of work behind the scenes that most people never see.
And to Andrew and his incredible setup and pack-down crew – wow, thank you. The amount of lifting, moving, setting up and pulling down around this tournament is enormous. You just got in and got it done. Brilliant.
And Rick, thank you for being so generous with your time and care and for being such a wonderful friend. ❤️
To Clare, thank you for the wonderful work with the trophies, medals, participation balls and merchandise. There was a huge amount to organise, sort and distribute and it all helped make the weekend feel special for the players.
A huge thank you to our wonderful sponsors at Powell Motor Group. Their support was invaluable and their vehicles made sure we could get an extraordinary amount of equipment around our venues throughout the weekend. We simply could not run an event of this size without support like that.
To Josh at Eurotech Automotive, thank you for transporting our goals around Hobart and helping us get everything where it needed to be.
And to Stewart and his fellow guards from Hunt Security, who stood watch at Cornelian Bay and Queens Walk through the night to make sure our goals and equipment were still there when we arrived each morning, thank you. That was one less thing for us to worry about at 5am. 😂
To Shannon, Nathan and the entire City of Hobart Sportsgrounds team and to the Clarence sportsgrounds staff, thank you for the enormous amount of preparation and support that went into getting the grounds ready for us. Metro grounds too - thank you.
And... sorry about the fields. 😬
We know what 742 games and thousands upon thousands of football boots can do to grass, particularly after Saturday.
But the games had to be played. 😂⚽
A big thank you to Football Tasmania, who sanction the Hobart Cup and support us in providing this opportunity for young footballers. It was also fantastic to have members of their technical staff out at the Cup across the weekend, watching the games and keeping an eye on the many talented young players taking part. Thanks for dropping by Tony.
To St John Ambulance and everyone who provided first aid and medical support across the weekend, thank you for being there when we needed you and helping us keep player safety at the heart of the tournament.
To every coach, team manager and club organiser who somehow got hundreds of teams and thousands of children to the right ground, on the right field and at the right time, often several times in a day, thank you.
To every team that travelled to Hobart to be part of the Cup, thank you for making the journey. Whether you came from just up the road or from the other end of the state, you helped make the weekend what it was.
To our referees, assistant referees and volunteer Game Leaders, thank you. Junior and youth football simply does not happen without people prepared to pick up a whistle or a flag. Thanks Nathan and all the FT referees who helped over the weekend.
To the parents, grandparents and supporters, thank you for the early mornings, the driving, the wet clothes, the muddy boots, the lost drink bottles, the coffee runs and the endless encouragement.
To everyone who helped with results, transport, equipment, setup, pack down and all those little jobs nobody sees, thank you.
To the media who covered the Hobart Cup, thank you for helping showcase junior and youth football and the thousands of young players who took part.
And to everyone who simply saw something that needed doing and did it – carried something, drove something, fixed something, answered a question, filled a gap or helped a child – thank you. There are simply too many people to name, but the Hobart Cup does not happen without you.
And then there were the weather gods.
☀️ Friday, thank you.
☀️ Sunday, thank you.
🌧️ Saturday, next year maybe dial it back a notch. 😂
Although judging by the mud, wet socks, knee slides and enormous smiles, I’m not entirely sure the kids agreed.
And to the dozens of people who came up to me over the weekend simply to say thank you – thank you.
It didn’t seem to matter whether your child had won, lost, made a final or simply had a great time playing football. You just stopped me and said thank you.
That meant more than you probably realised.
When you spend months organising something this big, those little moments stay with you. So thank you for taking the time to say it. It meant a lot. ❤️
And to my incredible family. ❤️
You have been on this Hobart Cup journey with me for more than a decade.
You have lived through the planning, the late nights, the ridiculously early mornings, the phone calls, the weather watching, the crises, the packing, the unpacking and everything else that comes with this crazy weekend.
You are always there when I need you, usually before I even have to ask.
I couldn’t do this without you. I love you. ❤️
And most importantly, to the PLAYERS. ⚽
You are the reason the Hobart Cup exists.
Watching around 4,000 young people play football, compete, laugh, make friends, get soaked, score goals, save goals, win, lose and then come back ready for the next game made every ridiculous hour of organising worthwhile.
And we’re not finished yet!
We have lots and lots of photos still to come, along with more results, presentations, winners and plenty more wrapping up from what was a very big Hobart Cup.
There are also quite a few emails and messages waiting for me. I am working through them and will reply to everyone as quickly as I can.
But today I’m giving the body and the brain a little day off. 😂
Three days of Hobart Cup is wonderful.
It is also completely exhausting.
So if we’re a little quiet today, don’t worry. There is plenty more Hobart Cup still to come.
For now though...
PHEW. 💚⚽
Thank you, everyone. Thank you, Hobart.
SEE YOU IN 2027!
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