Bob Hooton Cup – 2019 Lake Macquarie vs. Newcastle City

Pictured: Hayden Kavanagh and Nathan Wilmott with the Bob Hooton Cup

 

Written By Ryan Stanton

 

The HAVAL Black Diamond Plate kicks off this week with no better game than the clash between Newcastle City and Lake Macquarie for the Bob Hooton Cup.

Bob Hooton was an AFL stalwart who was admired and loved at both clubs. As a player Hooton won the 1995 premiership with Newcastle City. He went on to coach the Blues to their first BDAFL premiership in 2003. In that same year Bob was a BDAFL representative coach and won the BDAFL Coach of the Year Award.  When Lake Macquarie were faced with a rebuild Hooton took the reins as coach from 2009-2011 building the culture and wonderful team environment which still exists today.  In 2014, when the Dockers found themselves relegated mid-season and suddenly without a coach “Big” Bob Hooton was once again enlisted to the front line as coach. Only Bob knew what was needed and he quickly stabilised a difficult situation. Tragically he died of a heart attack before the season ended. He was age 51.

Newcastle City remembers Bob with their Players’ Player Award which carries his name. Each year Lake Macquarie and Newcastle City are proud to play for the Bob Hooton Cup. Although the match is played in good spirits each team fights tooth and nail to take home the trophy. To date this has gone Newcastle City’s way on each and every occasion.

Lake Macquarie will see this year as their best chance yet. Home ground advantage should never be underestimated and with the Dockers regrouping this year with only one men’s team they will have a very strong Plate line up. But Newcastle City were only a whisker away from winning all 3 grades on grand final day last year and there is no reason to expect anything from the Blues but the best.

Good luck to both the Dockers and Blues for this important encounter.

Be sure to get down to Tulkaba Park @ 2pm to watch what is always a very memorable match.