Perth Glory’s Men’s and Women’s captains for the 2023/24 A-Leagues season were confirmed during Wednesday’s Season Launch event held at Fraser’s Restaurant in King’s Park.
Mark Beevers and Adam Taggart will become Glory Men’s first ever co-captains, while Natasha Rigby will lead the Women’s team for a fifth season.
Adam Taggart’s interview is available HERE
Mark Beevers’ interview is available HERE
Tash Rigby’s interview is available HERE
Englishman Beevers was a cornerstone of Glory’s defence in what was his first season in purple last year, while Taggart returned for a third spell with his hometown club in January and both are excited at what lies ahead.
“The captaincy is definitely something that means a lot,” said Taggart.
“I supported the club from the start when I went to the games with my dad.
“So it’s been a long journey with the club… and I’m really proud to represent this place and I’m really proud of the way that I feel the club is going with the new gaffer and new owners coming in.
“For me, it feels like a good time to step into the role and contribute to the way the club is going.
“Without having been captain at any of my other clubs, it’s a good opportunity to learn from Beeves and improve in the leadership role.
“I’ve probably always been someone who’s tried to lead by example and allow my football to do most of the talking, so it’ll be an interesting one, but a positive one and something that I’m really looking forward to.”
“I think it’s healthy for the team to have two different kinds of leaders,” said Beevers.
“Taggs is a Perth boy and I think it’s good for fans looking in to have a Perth player as captain.
“I like to think that in terms of myself, I bring a bit of experience of the captaincy side of things from when I was playing back home in England.
“I’ve been involved with co-captaincies before and who wears the armband is irrelevant in my opinion.
“I feel as though we should 11 leaders on the pitch.”
Rigby, meanwhile, is in line to make her 100th ALW appearance for the club this season and is confident that Glory have what it takes to make a major impact in the competition.
“It’s such an honour to be able to captain this team again,” she said.
“We have an amazing group of players and staff and [Head Coach] Alex [Epakis] has been incredible, so we’re looking to continue the charge.
“We’ve had a lot of new players that have come in that have brought a whole new level of intensity and drive to the team, so we really feel that this is our season.
“We’ve been building over the last few years towards something special and it feels like it’s all coming together at the right time.”
Reaction to the captaincy announcements from ALM Head Coach Alen Stajcic is available HERE and from ALW Head Coach, Alex Epakis, HERE.
Glory’s ALW season is set to get underway on Saturday when Western United will provide the opposition at Macedonia Park.
Kick-off is at 7pm and tickets are available HERE.
Glory Men will then begin their 2023/24 campaign as part of an ALM/ALW double-header against Newcastle Jets at HBF Park on Sunday 22 October.
The ALW game will get underway at 2pm, followed by the ALM clash at 4.45pm.
Tickets are available HERE.
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