The traditional full march past of junior players will return as the main feature of the official opening of the 2014 Football Bundaberg season on Saturday, March 15.

A scaled back version of the march past was used as a one-off last year due to the flood delaying the start of the junior season.

In a new format for the opening weekend this year, games will be played in all divisions, rather than having the juniors start a week after the seniors.

But for the Under 6, 7, 8 and some Under 9 Miniroos players, their games will be played in a carnival format immediately before the march past, starting at 2.30pm (Under 8 and 9) or 2.45pm (Under 6 and 7).

This will save their parents from having to come to Martens Oval for their child’s game on Saturday morning and then return later in the day for the march past.

Teams will play for 10 or 15 minutes against three separate opposing teams in games spread across nine fields, including multiple games being played at once on some of the full-size fields.

After the carnival games, players will make their way to field 2 at 4pm to assemble in readiness for the spectacular march past in club formations on field 1.

Police, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Jack Dempsey will officially open the season, while Football Bundaberg patron Mayor Mal Forman will announce the winning club in the march past.

Following the opening ceremony, last season’s division 1 league champions Moore Park will aim for a third straight Challenge Cup victory in their clash with last year’s grand final winners Across The Waves.