History will be made on Saturday when the first regional PS4 NPLWA game will be played in Geraldton where Sorrento will take on Perth Glory at Wonthella Oval in the inaugural NPLWA Regional Cup.
It’s a special weekend not just for the two sides involved, but for Western Australia as a whole, as Glory continues to extend the footballing community to every corner of the state.
Aside from the historic flavour to the match, there is also a significant on-pitch battle to be had with the teams needing points at either end of the table.
Glory coach John Gibson is expecting a strong performance from his side.
“We’ve seriously competed against every top-four side this year, so we’ve done really well,” he said.
“Like every week we will be aggressive, we will have a lot of fun, we will work our backsides off and will continue to develop.
“Obviously we’ve got to balance performance and results, which is a challenge for us but we will continue to do that and continue to move forward.”
Gibson said his side will come away from the match with more experience.
“A lot of the boys haven’t had to travel like this so it will be good just getting them used to that process, understanding how we do things and learning protocols and procedures as they potentially move into the NYL (National Youth League),” he said.
“Coming back really late on Sunday morning is a great experience for the boys as well. Obviously, they’ve got to look forward to the preparation in terms of sleep, hydration, nutrition, and other things.
“We’re looking forward to getting up there and obviously spreading the Glory brand and promoting football in the regions.”
The game will form part of the Geraldton Football Festival, with junior clinics and coaching and refereeing workshops also to be held.
“This is an event that we have been working towards now for a couple of years, and both Sorrento and Perth Glory have been fantastic in their willingness to embrace this initiative,” said Glory legend and Football West’s Head of Development.
“We hope that it’s something that becomes an annual event, be that in Geraldton or other parts of regional WA.
“The Geraldton football community have really embraced this idea, and the work the volunteers up there have put in has helped this idea come to fruition.
“With bouncy castles, an inflatable pitch and face painting, it will be a great experience for the whole family.”
The club cannot wait to get out to the Mid West and showcase the beautiful game to the towns 40,000 odd residences in what promises to be a fantastic day for all involved.
Match Details:
Saturday 1 July
Perth Glory vs Sorrento
Wonthella Oval, Geraldton
Kick Off 5:30pm
#CREATEDESTINY #GloryIsOurs
