Its appearance and name may have changed regularly over the years, but that sacred site on Pier Street has always been Glory’s home.
Perth Oval, Members Equity Stadium, ME Bank Stadium, nib Stadium and now HBF Park, has been a rare rock-solid constant amidst an ever-changing football landscape.
So we felt it was high time to dedicate a Retro Corner to the bricks and mortar that have borne witness to so many highs and lows over the years.
The date we’ve picked as our jumping-off point is Saturday 7 February 2004 when Glory hosted old foes Wollongong Wolves on what was the official opening day of the rectangular Members Equity Stadium.
The matchday programme notes featured a message from then-State Premier Geoff Gallop who was very much on the money when he predicted that “the ground will be central to the sporting and cultural lives of Western Australians for many years to come”.
Mayor of the Town of Vincent Nick Catania, meanwhile, also penned a column in which he described the refurbished venue as “a world-class facility” and did his utmost to keep his constituents onside by pointing out that it was secured “with no financial impost on the ratepayers.”
On the field, Glory came into the clash with the Wolves sitting five points clear of Parramatta Power at the top of the NSL ladder and boasting a 100% record of eight wins from eight home games that season.
Here’s how Mich D’Avray’s men lined up for the 7pm kick off:
The visitors that evening included some familiar names in their ranks, including Stuart Young and Adam Hughes, but they were to prove no match for the in-form hosts who secured yet another regulation home win courtesy of goals either side of the break from legendary strike duo Bobby Despotovski and Damian Mori.
Two months almost to the day later, Nik Mrdja’s golden goal would earn Glory a Grand Final victory in the rain at Parramatta, but that is a story for another time.
What we’d love you to share this week is your stadium memories, not just from this game or this season, but throughout the years.
So please join the conversation on Facebook HERE or Twitter HERE and let us know why HBF Park is such a home, sweet home.
#OneGlory
