Some of Western Australia’s brightest and best football talent will land on the Goldfields this weekend to help launch the official opening of the multi-million dollar Ray Finlayson Sporting Complex in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
Club legend Bobby Despotovski will lead an all-star cast from Perth’s W-League and A-League teams.
The players include Kim and Sarah Carroll (no relation), former Goldfields resident Jamal Reiners and steely defender Alex Grant.
Kalgoorlie-Boulder is no stranger for Glory stars. Former players Scott Halpin and Matt Horsley have previously called the Goldfields capital home for several years.
Despotovski, who led Glory to last month’s W-League Grand Final, said he was looking forward to the trip with a view to spreading the gospel of the game.
“I love Kalgoorlie-Boulder, it’s a great place. I remember playing a pre-season match during the NSL (2001), where the team had a memorable win over Northern Spirit” he recalled.
“This trip is a great opportunity to get out and connect with our fans and build the profile of the club and the game. There are many players with a lot of potential in country WA and it’s a great opportunity to try to unearth some of that hidden talent” he said.
The Glory delegation will be involved in activities and coaching clinics over the weekend.
“We hope the Ray Finlayson Sporting Complex will pave the way for a whole range of new opportunities for Perth Glory FC” said Glory’s Community Development Officer and former player Michael Garcia.
“It’s a great asset for both the city and sports teams like ours and we hope to re-visit the region in the near future with a view to hosting more clinics and a pre-season match” he said.
Players and coaches will arrive on Saturday morning before participating in the Community Open Day between 12pm-4pm at the Ray Finlayson Sporting Complex.
On Sunday players and coaches, with the support of the Goldfields Soccer Association (GSA) will also host training and skills sessions at the complex between 11am and 2pm.
Players wishing to register their interest in the free sessions should contact the GSA on 0418 927 282 or inquiry@goldfieldssoccer.com
