CANNAVARO WATCHES PERTH GLORY ‏

Fabio Cannavaro, one of the biggest names in world football will be in the stands watching tonight, when Perth Glory take on Al-Ahli from the United Arab Emirates.

Cannavaro is as close to football royalty as it gets, a world cup winning captain and the only defender to win the ballon d'Or, as European footballer of the year in 2006.

The star Italian is in Perth as an ambassador for Al-Ahli, having been forced to retire from the final year of his contract with the club because of injury.

"It should be a good game and one I’m looking forward to watching," Cannavaro said.

Even without Cannavaro, Al-Ahli still has a trio of big name players.

Striker Grafite was the top goal scorer in the German Bundesliga in 2008/09 while Brazilian Jaja Coelho and Chile international Luis Jimenez are top shelf players.

The international friendly will be another important game for Perth Glory in the build-up to this seasons Hyundai A-League which kicks-off in October.

Former Socceroo Chris Coyne returns from an Achilles injury having impressed at training but midfielder Liam Miller has been ruled out with a quad strain.

Having already played Scottish giants Celtic and South African sides Platinum Stars and AmaZulu this pre-season, tonight's game will give Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson another chance to see his exciting new team in action after two months of tough training.

Kick-off at nib Stadium tonight is 8pm.

General admission tickets are $10 and available from Gate 3.

Perth Glory would like to thank Football West and Allia venue management for staging tonight's game.

A photo of Fabio Cannavaro with the Perth Glory jersey is available upon request.

PERTH GLORY PRE-SEASON HEADS TO SOUTH AFRICA‏

Western Australian based Hyundai A-League team Perth Glory will head to South Africa this weekend for an important part of their pre-season program in the build-up to the 2011/12 Hyundai A-League season.

The 16 day camp will begin on Sunday, with a 30 man touring party to be based between elite sporting facilities in Rustenburg and Durban.

The squad will play three games against top flight South African sides Platinum Stars, Amazula FC and a third to be confirmed.

“The main objective for me is to try a few things, experiment with a few positions and personal,” Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson said.

Having prepared his squad for the recent friendly against Celtic FC, Ferguson says the squad have now entered the second phase of pre-season and the most crucial.

“This is when it really starts now.

“With all the new players we’ve recruited, we basically have a new team.

“We now have 12 weeks to get ready for the season, 12 weeks to work and get a team together,” Ferguson added.

Prominent South African focussed resources company Continental Coal Limited and natural resource focussed corporate advisory and capital raising firm Komodo Capital are the two major sponsors for the trip. 

Continental Coal Limited (ASX:CCC : US-OTCQX:CGFAY) is a South African thermal coal producer with a portfolio of producing and advanced coal projects located in South Africa’s major coal fields.

It currently has two operating mines, Vlakvarkfontein and Ferreira, producing 2Mtpa of thermal coal for the export and domestic markets. The company has also commenced, or soon will commence development of two further thermal coal mines in South Africa.

Komodo Capital offers capital raising and corporate advisory services to a range of companies, predominately in Africa and in A-League season 2010/11 was the shorts sponsor for Perth Glory.  

They also recognise the importance of, and are committed to, establishing and maintaining strong relationships with local communities in South Africa.

“South Africa has a strong football culture, enhanced by the recent World Cup, and with the large South African community in Western Australia we believe there are great synergies between Perth Glory and the wider South African football community,” Perth Glory CEO, Mr Paul Kelly, commented.

In addition to the significant playing and training commitments Perth Glory will be undertaking as part of its South African tour it will also be visiting a number of local communities and hosting football skills programs which support and develop opportunities and initiatives for South African youth. 

Continental Coal and Komodo Capital see the local community youth initiatives that Perth Glory will undertake as the key basis for their involvement and support of the tour.

It is expected that Perth Glory will host 3-4 coaching clinics at its training venues, with the participants made up of children from local schools, and will visit local communities at both locations.

During these community visits the players and coaching staff will conduct skills session and provide sports clothing and equipment.

“The sponsorship of the Perth Glory pre-season tour to South Africa, and the various community initiatives that will be undertaken during the tour, is an important part of our community development and social programs,” said Continental Coal Executive Director, Mr Jason Brewer.

“We see this trip as a way of bridging cultural divides and building strong and mutually rewarding relationships with the communities in which we operate and importantly contributing to them in a positive manner,” Mr Brewer added.

With the support of its co-major sponsors for the trip, Continental Coal Limited and Komodo Capital, Perth Glory has also had designed and will play in a special kit – which along with all training apparel taking to South Africa will be donated to local South African communities at the end of the visit.

“While this trip is about football, it is also about exposing our players to other cultures and customs and ensuring that we give something back to the communities in which we visit,” added Mr Ferguson.

Both sponsors see this trip as an opportunity for the Perth Glory and the South African football community to build closer ties, which it is hoped will lead to a regular sharing of resources and personnel over time.

CELTIC DOWN BRAVE GLORY

nib Stadium was transformed into a sea of purple and green on Saturday as a bumper crowd of over 15,000 turned out to watch Glory’s pre-season showdown with Scottish giants Celtic.

Goals from Gary Hooper and Charlie Mulgrew ultimately steered the visitors to a 2-0 victory, but the hosts more than played their part in a keenly-fought contest.

A stirring rendition of Celtic’s anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” saw both sets of supporters in full voice moments before the teams took to the field accompanied by a Scottish pipe band and the familiar sounds clearly helped the visitors feel at home.

Starting strongly they penned Glory inside their own half for much of the opening quarter, with Kris Commons making plenty of early inroads down the left flank.
Anthony Stokes twice threatened in the first ten minutes before Danny Vukovic was called into action, producing a stunning save to deny Mark Wilson’s powerful header from a quickly-taken Commons corner.

The green and white tide continued to flow forward, however and on 16 minutes they made the breakthrough. Glen Loovens’ long punt from the back caught the Glory back four a touch flat-footed and Gary Hooper showed the kind of accomplished finishing that earned him 22 goals in all competitions last season by calmly side-footing past the helpless Vukovic.

Rather than open the floodgates, however, the opening goal seemed to jar the hosts into life and with Liam Miller starting to impose himself against his former club, they began to ask questions of the Bhoys’ defence.

On 25 minutes Miller created what proved to be Glory’s best chance of the half, cleverly chipping a 25 metre free-kick over the wall and into the path of Shane Smeltz, but after successfully eluding his marker, the Kiwi striker miscued and the opportunity went begging.

Then shortly before the interval Miller again showed his class to bamboozle several Celtic defenders and get a shot away from just outside the box that looped narrowly over the crossbar and into the ranks of green and white-clad fans behind the goal.

Ian Ferguson opted against making a raft of changes at the break, only introducing Steven McGarry and Adam Taggart for Liam Miller and Shane Smeltz respectively and he saw his side carve out the first opportunity of the second period.
There seemed little danger when Adam Hughes picked up the ball some 30 metres out from goal, but the combative midfielder unleashed a thumping drive that had Celtic ‘keeper Lukasz Zaluska scrambling to his right to palm over the bar.

Celtic’s response to that early scare, however, was swift and clinical. Substitute Ki Sung Yung whipped in a pinpoint free-kick from wide out left and Charlie Mulgrew climbed highest to glance an unstoppable header past Vukovic and into the top corner of the net.

Frustrated by Celtic’s high defensive line, the home sides struggled to force their way back into the contest, although Taggart and fellow substitute Alex Caniglia worked tirelessly to keep their vastly more experienced opponents on their toes.
Taggart twice got the better of Kelvin Wilson in dangerous areas and got a shot away, but neither effort troubled Zaluska.

Caniglia then went close to bagging a dream goal on two occasions as Glory finished on the front foot. On 87 minutes, the youngster flashed a low drive narrowly wide after the Bhoys had failed to clear their lines and on the stroke of full-time he shrugged off the attentions of Loovens, but just failed to get a meaningful headed connection on an inch-perfect corner delivered from the right by Todd Howarth.
Taggart also went close to claiming a consolation goal deep into stoppage time, narrowly failing to convert a through ball from McGarry before referee Peter Green brought the curtain down on a clash from which Glory will have taken plenty of positives both on and off the field.

Perth Glory 0–2 Celtic (Half-time 0-1 )

Saturday 9th July 2011
nib Stadium
Attendance: 15,350
Referee: Peter Green

Perth Glory: 1. Danny VUKOVIC, 2. Josh MITCHELL, 3. Bas VAN DEN BRINK, 7. Jacob BURNS (25. Blamo QUAQUA 85’), 8. Adam HUGHES, 9. Shane SMELTZ (22. Adam TAGGART 46’), 10. Liam MILLER (14. Steven MCGARRY 46’), 12. Scott NEVILLE, 13. Travis DODD (15. Tommy AMPHLETT 83’), 17. Todd HOWARTH, 21. Mile STERJOVSKI (26. Alex CANIGLIA 53’).

Celtic: 24. Lukasz ZALUSKA, 12. Mark WILSON (11. Cha DU-RI 46’), 17. Kelvin WILSON, 22.Glen LOOVENS, 21.Charlie MULGREW, 8.Scott BROWN (2. Adam MATTHEWS 83’), 33.Bayram KAYAL (13. Shaun MALONEY 33’), 16. Joe LEDLEY, 15. Kris COMMONS (18. Ki SUNG YUNG 46’), 10. Anthony STOKES (27. Daryl MURPHY 72’), 88. Gary HOOPER (20. Paddy MCCOURT 64’).

Match report by GARETH MORGAN

DODD SCORES ON DEBUT

Prized recruit Travis Dodd has scored a stunning goal on his debut for Perth Glory this afternoon at Hay Park in Bunbury.

Dodd capped off a classy performance with his 54^th minute strike as Perth Glory defeated Football West First division side Bunbury Force 3-1 in a pre season practice match.

“We got what we wanted out of the game and that was obviously fitness in our first hit-out,” Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson said.

“I was happy with Bunbury, they gave us a very hard game which was good, so I was delighted with that.”

Adam Taggart and Tommy Amphlett also found the back of the net but it was Dodd’s second half bomb that thrilled the crowd of 1500.

With the game locked at 1-all, the former Socceroo unleashed a sweet shot, on his left foot from 25 yards that flew past the Force ‘keeper.

Dodd was also instrumental in the first half with his raids down the right side setting up numerous chances for Perth Glory.

Playing up front in the absence of Shane Smeltz, Taggart opened the scoring on 43 minutes when he neatly tucked away Dodd’s precise cross from close range.

Two minutes later, Taggart was unlucky not to have a second goal when he again got himself onto the end of a Dodd cross, only to see his header crash onto the cross bar.

In total, Ferguson made 8 changes in the second half, as the Glory coach got a glimpse of the future with a handful of teenagers from the National Training Centre getting a chance to impress.

Tommy Amphlett capped of the win for Perth in the 90^th minute when he coolly finished a through ball.

Adam Hughes also impressed on debut in the centre of midfield alongside Jacob Burns while new goal keeper Danny Vukovic was barely tested.

Perth Glory 3                (TAGGART 43’, DODD 54’ AMPHLETT 90’)

Bunbury Force 1          (Fontanille 48’)

Perth Glory line up: 1.Danny Vukovic (James Oakey 82’), 2.Josh Mitchell (Sam Mitchinson 72’), 7.Jacob Burns (c) (Reece Vittiglia 63’), 8.Adam Hughes (Brandon O’Neil 63’), 13 Travis Dodd (Amphlett 58’), 14.Steven McGarry, 17.Todd Howarth (Hanafi Ghazali 72’), 18.Josh Risdon, 21.Mile Sterjovski (Blamo Quaqua 63’), 22.Adam Taggart (Scott Neville 58’), 24.Charlie Comyn-platt.

PERTH GLORY MEDIA RELEASE

PERTH GLORY MEDIA UPDATE

Tuesday, 7 June 2011

DUTCH DEFENDER JOINS PERTH GLORY

Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson says he’s really pleased with his new look squad, following the addition of Dutch defender Bas van den Brink today.

Van den Brink joins Perth Glory until the end of the 2012/13 Hyundai A-League season having spent the last two years with Gold Coast United.

“I have been very impressed with the squad coach Ian Ferguson has assembled, van den Brink said.

“I’m delighted to be heading to Perth and helping the club achieve success this season.

Van den brink is the tenth new signing for Perth Glory this winter as Ferguson reshapes the squad.

“It’s great to have Bas on board,” the coach said.

“He’s another new face into the squad and a quality signing.”

Perth Glory now has 22 players on its roster for the upcoming season which begins at home to Adelaide United on October 9.

“Compared to last season I’m really pleased with the squad.

“I feel that we have more depth now,” Ferguson added.

Van den Brink is one of five foreign players at the cub along with Victor Sikora (Netherlands), Steven McGarry (Scotland), Liam Miller (Ireland) and Branko Jelic (Serbia

MASSIVE COUP FOR PERTH GLORY

Perth Glory is delighted to announce that Irish midfielder Liam Miller has joined the club for the next two Hyundai A-League seasons.

In a massive coup for Perth Glory, the former Manchester United and Celtic attacking midfielder will arrive in Perth, ahead of the Glory’s glamour friendly against Miller’s old club on July 9.

“I’m thrilled to be heading to Perth,” Miller said from Scotland.

“I have heard a lot of wonderful things about the City of Perth but football is the most important thing.

“Perth Glory is a proud club with a great history and I’m looking forward to the new challenge when I join Ian Ferguson and my new team mates.”

In a stellar career to date, Miller has played for two of the biggest clubs in the United Kingdom and also had stints with Leeds United and Sunderland. Miller joins Perth Glory after spending the last two seasons in the Scottish Premier League with Hibernian.

“I’m delighted to have Liam on board, “Perth Glory Coach Ian Ferguson said. “He is a quality player.

“Liam brings a lot of experience to the club and he’s played at a number of top clubs.

“It’s great to have a player of Liam’s calibre at Perth Glory.

“Liam is a midfielder who gets forward and he’ll help us become a more attacking team than last season,” Ferguson added.

Miller, 30, made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in 2004 against the Czech Republic and has played 21 games for The Boys in Green. Miller was also part of the Irish squad that won the UEFA U-17 Championship in 1998.

Miller is the ninth new player signed by Perth Glory for the 2011/12 season. He joins Danny Vukovic, Neil Young, Evan Berger, Dean Heffernan, Adam Hughes, Travis Dodd, Shane Smeltz and Jesse Makarounas as new faces for the coming season.

PERTH GLORY v CELTIC FC

nib Stadium

SATURDAY, JULY 9 2011

Kick-off 5pm

ROBBIE FOWLER UPDATE

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler today advised Perth Glory Chairman, Mr Tony Sage that he regrettably won’t be returning to Perth for the 2011/12 Hyundai A-League season due to family reasons.

Fowler said the decision not to play a second season in the West had been extremely tough to make.

“Firstly, I’d like to show my appreciation to the Chairman for his understanding.

“The Chairman has been exceptional since I signed for the club, and I thank him for the opportunity to play for Perth Glory.

“I have a wonderful and loving family to consider and with the children in school, it’s best to keep them settled.

“I also need to stay in the UK to complete my coaching badges.

“I thank everyone at Perth Glory and in Western Australia for making me feel so welcome and I wish Ian Ferguson and the players all the best for the coming season,” Fowler said.

With Fowler’s decision solely based around his family, the star striker also told Mr Sage that he currently was not in discussions with any other clubs.

Whilst devastated with the decision, Mr Sage said he respects Fowler for his professionalism.

“Robbie has put Perth Glory on the world map and while I would’ve loved to have him here for a second season, as a husband and father I understand that his family comes first.

“I also appreciate the fact that Robbie called me personally to tell me of his decision.

“Robbie will always be welcomed into the Perth Glory family and I can’t thank him enough for his contribution to the football club,” Sage said.

The club is now planning to have Fowler return to Perth for the international friendly against Celtic on July 9 as a special guest of Perth Glory.