City of Albany council votes to support Perth Glory pre-season exhibition match in Centennial Park in October

The Perth Glory men’s team is coming to Albany with the city’s councillors committing money and time to bring the A-League team to Centennial Park for a pre-season game. At its June 25 meeting, the council voted to provide a financial and in-kind contribution for the Perth Glory men’s team to play a pre-season fixture at Centennial Park in September/October. Albany Junior Soccer Association president Sarah Cross was one of three residents who spoke passionately in favour of the event during question time, citing the sport’s high engagement rate in Albany and the difficulty young fans have in seeing live games. “A trip to Perth to watch soccer can be an expensive exercise when you factor in the time it takes to get there, the cost of a hotel, food and fuel to drive up and back,” she said. “Therefore, some children might never have the opportunity to watch elite athletes or their heroes play their favourite sport, nor the opportunity to be a part of a session where these athletes are training them, chatting to them, answering questions and making them feel that being an elite athlete and in their shoes in a few years is a real, tangible possibility for them. “Allowing our junior soccer players and all those that haven’t signed up yet to be inspired by watching elite athletes playing in this small corner of the world could have untold and immeasurable benefits. “You can’t be what you can’t see.” The event will begin on September 30 and include three days of training and open clinics with the Perth Glory players before the exhibition match against another A-League team. A city spokesperson said the event was part of a one-year agreement with Perth Glory, which — if successful — could see the city host further fixtures in 2025 and 2026. Some councillors disputed the cost of the event, which was not disclosed at the meeting, with deputy mayor Paul Terry saying he was “a bit surprised” by the “dollar ask” but allowing it would serve as a “great development opportunity” for young fans and set a good precedent for similar future events. Cr Thomas Brough was the sole nay-voter, claiming the bill was too high for ratepayers to foot, saying he saw it as a case of the “grassroots funding the top”.