Juande on the ball for Perth watched by Cesc Fabregas
Photo: Chris Wilson / Prost Amerika
Chelsea make friends in Perth whose own future looks potentially ‘glorious’
by Paul McNeela, Perth WA
Perth’s soccer public is beginning to get back to normal after all the excitement.
The state of the art new $1.6 billion Optus Stadium, which opened this year, attracted 55,522 to Perth Glory v. Chelsea, its first soccer game. Thus far this attendance has only been surpassed by two Australian Rules Football (AFL) games, the local derby between the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers and a top of the table clash involving the Eagles but it smashed the WA record for a football match which was 43,242 achieved by Perth Glory v. Wollongong Wolves in 2000.
On the night Chelsea were treated to a very moving spectacle. At all official events in Australia it is traditional to perform a “Welcome to Country”. This normally comprises a short speech by an Aboriginal elder from the Traditional Owners of the land the venue occupies. The Whadjuk people, being the original inhabitants of the Burswood Peninsula, delivered the colourful Welcome to Country incorporating speech, dance in traditional ceremonial dress and music featuring a didgeridoo. Both sets of players and supporters appreciated this enjoyable and moving spectacle.
The passion of supporters before the game was plain for all to see.
Vincent and Genine and their teenage sons Trey and Chayce were relishing the chance to see their heroes in the flesh for the first time. Vincent’s other love affair (with Chelsea) started when he still lived in his native South Africa. 19 years after migrating to WA the whole family are Chelsea daft, but they also shout for their local team. Chayce thinks it’s great for soccer in Perth to host clubs of the stature of Chelsea and hopes to see Barcelona and Real Madrid down Indian Ocean way now that we’ve got a world class stadium as a lure.
Matt 2nd from left and Brian 2nd from right have been Perth Glory fans since 1996 when it all began
Photo: Chris Wilson / Prost Amerika
We also caught up with Brian and his fellow Glory fans just before the game. Brian is a big fan of his team playing world class opposition. Brian’s mate Matt came over from Tasmania for the game, a journey of 1870 miles. But Glory fans think nothing of a 4-hour flight to follow their team, the ‘derby’ with Adelaide in the State of South Australia being a mere 1326 miles away. All of the Glory fans pictured above have been fans since Day One in 1996.
But Chelsea didn’t just create a stir in Perth on match day. 6,000 turned up to watch them train at the iconic WACA cricket ground on Saturday, however it was a very private event where Chelsea won the hearts of many West Australians.
When 4-year-old Chelsea fan Hudson McCarthy heard his heroes were visiting his hometown he sent the club a video inviting them round his house for a barbecue. The youngster couldn’t believe his eyes when, the day before the match, he opened his door to Brazilian defender David Luiz, his Welsh international defensive partner Ethan Ampadu and French midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko. Hudson quickly recovered as his dad chucked some snags (Strine for sausages) on the barbie as he learned some new moves and goal celebrations in his back garden. Ampadu kept his promise and Hudson walked out on the pitch with him at the game.
Ethan Ampadu kept his promise to young Australian Hudson MacArthy
Photo: Chris Wilson / Prost Amerika
So Chelsea have come and gone and Perth hopes they won’t have to wait another 44 years for their next visit. With Optus Stadium now in town I somehow think that unlikely. There are already rumours of Manchester United playing here next year. Any why wouldn’t they. OK it’s a 16 hour flight from Europe, but from Perth airport to the stadium is a 15 minute ride and Chelsea stayed in luxury hotel Crown Towers, a 10 minute walk to the stadium.
The Stadium itself, lauded by many as now the best in Australia, has a capacity of 65,000 for rectangular sports. Boasting 2 x 340m2 superscreens, 1000 televisions and a seating bowl style maximising view and atmosphere for the fans, and a spectacular light show and sound system this venue is truly world class.
Except for the disabled, cars and taxis are banned from the stadium on match days. The footbridge from the city, 600 bike racks and the new train station take the strain of transporting the fans and congestion is avoided.
New Perth Glory boss Tony Popovic has been given the budget to make significant new signings which make them contenders for the A-League this season. New recruits Ferreira, Santalab, Juande, Davidson, Spiranovic, Franjic and Mrcela bring talent and experience and if they can combine with current stars Kilkenny, Harold, Keogh and Castro, Glory is in with a chance.
With the Sydney and Melbourne teams also strengthening their squads in the pre-season the A-League is shaping up as a mouth-watering prospect this season. It may even be a Glorious one.
The good news is you can follow it all on Prost as we begin our first ever year covering the A-League.
