Mallala To Host Inaugural Football Festival as Six Clubs Chase the Gracewood Cup

Six clubs from three leagues will compete for the Gracewood Cup at the inaugural Wel.Co Football Festival at Mallala Oval on March 28.
Pic – Six clubs from three leagues will compete for the Gracewood Cup at the inaugural Wel.Co Football Festival at Mallala Oval
Melissa Smith

Footy Teams From Three Country Leagues Set To Clash At Mallala Oval

Six clubs, one oval and a whole lot of pre-season bragging rights will be on the line when the inaugural Wel.Co Football Festival lands at Mallala Oval.

Kicking off on Saturday, March 28, Kapunda, Hamley Bridge, Mallala, Min Man, Angle Vale and North Clare will roll into Mallala for a day of footy, community spirit and a crack at the inaugural Gracewood Cup.

Pre-Season Form on Show at Mallala

Footy gets underway from 10am, with each club playing two matches across the day as teams test combinations and fitness ahead of the season.

Games will run in 25-minute halves with no time on to keep things rolling, before the inaugural Gracewood Cup is handed to the winning club.

Cash Up for Grabs at Gracewood Cup

Major sponsor Wel.Co, the developer behind the Gracewood residential estate currently being built in Mallala, has backed the event as part of its support for local sport and community initiatives.

Wel.Co has also put forward a $25,000 prize pool for the competition, with teams earning $1,500 per game and bonus prize money for wins.

More Than Just a Day of Footy

While footy will be the star of the show, organisers are also planning a community market to help turn the day into a full oval-side event.

Entry is a gold coin donation, with proceeds supporting a number of local Lions Clubs.

Mallala Football Club president Brenton Bell said more than 20 stalls had already been locked in for the day.

“We’ve got a great mix of stalls coming along and there’s no charge for stall holders,” he said.

“The idea is to create a really good community day. People can watch the footy, wander through the market and enjoy the day at the oval.”

Stall holders are still encouraged to register their interest by Friday March 13, with no fee to hold a stall at the event.

Organisers hope the Wel.Co Football Festival will grow into a regular pre-season fixture, with the potential to include a netball competition and rotate through different country towns in the future.

So whether you’re keen to check out the early-season form or simply enjoy a day at the oval, Mallala looks set for a big afternoon of country footy.

WEL.CO FOOTBALL FESTIVAL
WHEN: Saturday March 28,2026
WHERE:
Mallala Oval
ENTRY: Gold Coin Donation

MATCH FIXTURE:
Round 1
10:00am – Hamley Bridge v Kapunda
11:05am – Mallala v Min Man
12:10pm – Angle Vale v North Clare

Round 2
1:15pm – Mallala v Kapunda
2:20pm – Hamley Bridge v North Clare
3:25pm – Angle Vale v Min Man

Presentation – 4:30pm

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