Perth Glory is delighted to confirm that the club’s A-League Men’s team is set to play pre-season friendlies against Newcastle Jets at Hay Park in Bunbury on Sunday 29 September (kick-off at 3pm) and Centennial Oval (Retravision Stadium) in Albany on Wednesday 2 October 2024 (kick-off at 4pm).
The fixtures will cap off a program of football events in each of the south-west locations which will include a children’s holiday clinic run by Glory’s Community Department, opportunities for the local football community to attend open training sessions and meet the Glory and Jets players, media and tourism engagements, plus a civic reception.
Glory’s Women’s team played games in Bunbury in 2017 and 2019, with the Men’s team then following suit by taking on Melbourne Victory at Hay Park in 2023, but this year will mark the first time that Albany has played host to either of the club’s senior sides.
Glory CEO Anthony Radich is excited at the prospect of engaging closely with the communities in both locations.
“We saw last year just how much passion for football and for Perth Glory there is in Bunbury,” he said.
“We’re thrilled to be both returning there and visiting Albany with our ALM squad for the first time.
“This trip provides us with a unique opportunity to expand our brand presence and raise our profile in regional WA and simultaneously help to strengthen the football community in both cities and the surrounding areas.
“On the pitch, meanwhile, taking on Newcastle Jets will provide exactly the kind of invaluable pre-season conditioning our new-look squad needs as they ramp up their preparations for the upcoming Isuzu UTE A-League campaign which gets underway next month.
“This exciting, two-game series and associated program of events would not have been possible without the fantastic support provided by the City of Bunbury, the City of Albany and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and we would like to thank them sincerely for all their assistance, along with the local football communities and Newcastle Jets.
“We look forward to welcoming our Members and fans from across WA to what will be a fantastic week of football in the south-west.”
Those sentiments were echoed by City of Bunbury Mayor, Jaysen Miguel, who said he was excited to welcome Perth Glory back to the city.
“We’re thrilled Perth Glory has chosen to host a pre-season game in Bunbury again, proving our incredible sporting facilities and passionate community are big attractions,” he said.
“Once again, while we’ll be lucky enough to see some Perth Glory stars on the pitch, it’s great to see the club putting on a number of other events including a holiday clinic and I encourage our community to take advantage and get involved.
“A big thank you to the club and players for heading back to Bunbury and providing this unique opportunity for our community; we can’t wait to welcome Perth Glory back.”
City of Albany Mayor Greg Stocks is similarly enthused by Glory’s visit.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Perth Glory to Albany to take on the Newcastle Jets at our very own Centennial Oval next month,” he said.
“This event is a fantastic chance for regional soccer fans and our young and aspiring athletes to meet their soccer stars and watch them play elite-level football up close.
“By supporting Perth Glory to visit Albany we hope it will inspire our next generation of athletes and we encourage everyone to come along to this exciting sporting event.”
Newcastle Jets CEO Shane Mattiske, meanwhile, said it was a fantastic opportunity for the club’s A-League Men’s squad to be travelling to Western Australia as the team head into the business end of pre-season.
“The coaching staff and team are really looking forward to spending some quality time together in Western Australia,” he said.
“It’s a great opportunity to bring the players and staff together in an environment away from home and gain some invaluable matches against Perth Glory as part of our preparation for the new season.
“Albany and Bunbury are great destinations and we’re looking forward to testing our squad there.
“Western Australia is a great sporting state and this will be a great football event for all sports fans and particularly football fans, to see two quality A-League sides showcase their squads.
“This will be a great taste of what is shaping up to be a really exciting A-League season and we’re grateful for the opportunity presented to us by Perth Glory.
“We look forward to visiting Western Australia and enjoying what the region has to offer.”
Tickets for both games are now on sale HERE and further holiday clinic and open training session information will be made available shortly.
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