From a google search to leading famous club in shot at history

Chris Hurley had to google Weston when Steve Piggott first rang the defender a decade ago and asked if he'd be interested in a change.

Hurley was 20, lived in Gosford and had come through the Mariners youth system.

"I had no idea where Weston was let alone what it was like," Hurley said. "I had to Google it. Piggo had coached me at the Mariners in 16s or something. I'd had enough of the Sydney comp and thought a change would be good."

On Sunday, Hurley will lead the Bears against arch rivals Maitland in the Northern NSW NPL grand final at Darling Street Oval.

"I feel like a local now," the 29-year-old said. "I know how to get to Weston, I know my way around, I know all the people and their first names."

Hurley also knows how much a championship would mean not only to the football club but the community as a whole.

Weston, one of the oldest clubs in Australia, was last crowned champions in 1995 and hasn't played in a decider since 2014, when the Bears went down to Lambton Jaffas 2-0.

"There is a deep history at the club," Hurley said. "There are lots of people who have served the club for 40 and 50 years.

"They have seen some success in the '80s and '90s, and then there was obviously quite a large dry smell.

"It would be massive to win for those people.

"The way they took me in at a young age and made me feel at home so quickly. It is at the point where I owe them one."

Incredibly, Hurley, who works as a project manager, commuted from Gosford to Weston for training and games for eight years, before moving to Macquarie Hills.

"It was about 70 minutes each way," he said. "Once I got in the car, I was on autopilot.

"There were a few boys who lived in Morisset and we car pooled for a while.

"I moved up here to Newcastle in April last year. Taking 30 minutes to get to training compared to 70 is a nice change."

Hurley is among a core of long-term players including Cooper Buswell, Connor Evans and Chris Hatfield.

"I feel for Cooper Buswell," Hurley said. "He has been at the club nine or so years and unfortunately suffered a serious knee injury this year. It is a shame to see him not be a part of what he deserved."

Evans played in the 2014 grand final loss to Jaffas before spending several years playing in Sydney.

Assistant coach Nathan Morris was captain of the 2014 side.

"You could see what it meant to Nath and a few others when we won the major semi-final and booked a spot in the grand final," Hurley said.

"There was definitely some joy and a buzz in the change rooms."

Weston and Maitland have met four times this season with the ledger at two-all.

Weston recorded a 2-1 win away in round two. Maitland made amends with a 1-0 win at Weston in round 13.

The Magpies won the State Cup 1-0 after both clubs progressed to the main draw of the Australia Cup.

Weston replied by winning a tense and at times fiery qualifying final in Maitland 5-4 on penalties after neither side scored in 120 minutes.

"There'll be plenty of passion out there," Hurley said. "There is every time there's a Maitland Weston game. Everyone always finds another gear.

"It's different playing a neutral ground. I'm sure it'll be packed on game day. I know there is a bus or two coming down from Weston."

Meanwhile, Peter McGuinness has confirmed his departure from Edgeworth after five seasons at the helm.