EIGHTY-FOURTH EDITION | SEASON 2017/18 | ROUND 27 VS ADELAIDE UNITED Proudly brought to you by CONTENTS THIS MATCH WE'VE PACKED THIS ISSUE OF THE WANDERER WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR TONIGHT'S MATCH FEATURES EIGHTY-FOURTH EDITION | SEASON 2017/18 | ROUND 27 VS ADELAIDE UNITED Proudly brought to you by THE WANDERER ALL TO COMMUNITY YEAR WANDERERS The views in this publication are PLAY FOR 8 IN REVIEW 14 SMASH not necessarily the views of the It’s final day drama as the It’s been another massive MOUNTIES 20 NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers sit on the cusp of year in the community for the The Red & Black's good Wanderers FC. Material in this finals football . Western Sydney Wanderers form in NPL2 continues. publication is copyrighted and may with it all kicking off before the only be reproduced with the written season even started. permission from the Club. ADVERTISING REGULAR COLUMNS For all advertising enquiries for The Wanderer or partnership with the OPEN LETTER 5 TODAY’S MATCH 16 IN THE COMMUNITY 27 club please contact the Corporate Partnerships Team by sending an email WARM UP 6 JUNIOR WANDERER ZONE 18 CORPORATE NEWS 28 to [email protected] FIVE THINGS 11 FOX FOOTBALL FIX 22 OUR PARTNERS 29 PHOTOGRAPHY All photography in The Wanderer is PLAYERS TO WATCH TAKE FIVE courtesy of Ali Erhan, Getty Images Brought to you by Turner and Freeman 13 Brought to you by Turner and Freeman 25 and Steve Christo. WANT TO SECURE YOUR SEAT AT WESTERN SYDNEY STADIUM? BEING A SEASON 2018/19 MEMBER IS THE BEST WAY YOU CAN LOCK IN YOUR SEAT FOR THE NEW WANDERLAND! MEMBERSHIP WANDERLAND.COM.AU RENEWALS OPENING FRIDAY 1 JUNE MEMBERSHIP PARTNER MOVED HOUSE? CHANGED YOUR PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL? DON’T MISS OUT! UPDATE YOUR DETAILS BY EMAILING [email protected] 2 THE WANDERER ROUND 27 Refrigeration MR-CX402 Cheering with the Red and Black Army » Fruit and Vegetable Drawer » Sliding Chilled Case » Freezer Drawer » Automatic Ice Maker » 2-Way Flexi Glass Shelf » 3.5 Star Energy Rating Mitsubishi Electric, proudly supporting The Western Sydney Wanderers FC. Onyx Black Glossy Red For more information on our products Phone:1300 280 625 please visit www.mitsubishielectric.com.au OPEN LETTER Refrigeration MR-CX402 FROM THE MEMBER MEMBER NICOLE REFLECTS ON HER WANDERERS EXPERIENCE SO FAR together with friends to watch the game and support the team we love. The best thing about coming to a Wanderers game is the authentic sense of community you get as soon as you walk HAT A SEASON it has been. into the stadium. There may have been People from all different cultures and some highs and some lows, suburbs come together to support one Wbut I wouldn’t have had it any other way thing in common – the Red & Black. supporting the Red & Black. The people in the rows in front and To this day, I still remember my very around you quickly become your friends first Wanderers game. and you sometimes see them more times It all started when my husband went in the year than your own family. to the Sydney Derby at Parramatta We’ve experienced a real roller- Stadium back in 2014 after he was coaster with them and tonight’s match is Cheering with the Red and Black Army invited by his best friend and when he another stop on the ride. came home he would not stop talking The boys will be needing our support about the experience. tonight to get across the line against The players, the people and the colour Adelaide United and secure a place in in the stands. the top six. » Fruit and Vegetable Drawer » Sliding Chilled Case » Freezer Drawer So next game I went with him to see All their hard work comes down to what the fuss was about and I haven’t this and if it’s anything like last week’s » Automatic Ice Maker » 2-Way Flexi Glass Shelf » 3.5 Star Energy Rating looked back since. performance we’re in for one hell of a ride. The Wanderers quickly became a Come on you Wanderers! huge and very important part of our lives. Every weekend was dedicated to either a Nicola Nanninga home match or an away trip where we got Wanderers Member #224,881 Mitsubishi Electric, proudly supporting We help your business to understand The Western Sydney Wanderers FC. and take control of your energy needs. Onyx Black Glossy Red energyaction.com.au | 1300 553 551 For more information on our products Phone:1300 280 625 please visit www.mitsubishielectric.com.au VISIT WANDERLAND.COM.AU 5 WARM UP MATCH PREVIEW Celebrating our members Appreciations Match with a selection chosen by you! MINERVA DEFTONES WOW KWAME WELCOME TO OUR WANDERLAND EXIT ROW HALLELUJAH THE RUBENS PAINT THE TOWN RED HE WESTERN SYDNEY Wanderers stand that a win tonight will guarantee the Red THUNDAMENTALS on the brink of finals football but & Black a spot in the final series. Tthey’ll need a result against the traveling Adelaide entered the round in fifth position on JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH Adelaide United here at ANZ Stadium the ladder, three points ahead of the Wanderers, DEPECHE MODE on what is the final day of the Hyundai having already secured finals football despite a FIRE A-League 2017/18 regular season. 3-0 loss to Sydney FC last Sunday. KASABIAN The Wanderers side entered Round The Wanderers will be hoping to ride STRONGER 27 in sixth spot, a point ahead of both their momentum after last week’s 3-0 win KANYE WEST Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory, knowing over Brisbane Roar here at ANZ Stadium. STRANGE DISEASES GANG OF YOUTHS SURFIN’ MEMBERS APPRECIATION MATCH KID CUDI, PHARRELL WILLIAMS E’RE CELEBRATING OUR Members WOULDN’T YOU KNOW tonight, as it’s our Members ROYAL HEADACHE WAppreciation Round! By simply scanning You can listen to our Members into today’s match you have already gone Playlist here spoti.fi/2uVufAO into the running to win up to $4,000 worth of prizes and experiences from some of our great partners. Make sure you keep an eye out on the big screen and listen to our grounds announcers in case your name is called out! Make sure you also visit the Members Bar tonight to win even more prizes and enjoy 5% off your food and beverages. The Members Bar is located on Level 2 in the South Western Terrace near Aisle 135. 6 THE WANDERER ROUND 27 WARM UP The Red & Black were impressive going forward against the Roar, with Oriol Riera becoming the Wanderers’ top scorer in a single season with his 17th and 18th goals of the campaign. Returning here to ANZ Stadium to cap off the regular season, the Wanderers should be confident of putting one over an Adelaide side who may be tempted to rest players. Wanderers boss Josep Gombau will nonetheless be wary of the challenge posted by Marco Kurz’s outfit, who have had more to celebrate in the three meetings between the two sides this season. They first met in October in a Westfield FFA Cup Semi Final in Campbelltown, where the Reds prevailed with a 2-1 victory. Adelaide backed that up with a 2-0 win at Coopers Stadium in Round 8 of the Hyundai A-League before the two sides shared the points in a 1-1 draw at ANZ Stadium in Round 15. Adelaide also hold a slight advantage in the head to head history between the two sides, registering six wins to the Wanderers five in their 18 league meetings. ON THIS DAY COURTESY OF ANDREW HOWE @ANDYHOWE_STATTO ormer Socceroo and current SBS Fchief football analyst Craig Foster was born on this day in 1969. He played 29 times with the senior national team from 1996 to 2000. He was an AIS graduate, and played for Australian clubs Sunshine, Sydney Croatia, Adelaide City, Marconi and Northern Spirit; for Portsmouth and Crystal Palace in Andrew’s upcoming Encyclopedia of Socceroos is now England; and for clubs in Malaysia and available for order from fairplaypublishing.com.au Hong Kong. for release in May Hydraulic Distributors HD will get your business pumping For custom design, engineering, system installation, sales & repairs • Power Packs • Pumps • Motors • Valves • Cylinders • Hose & Fittings • Oil • Filters • Gauges • PTO’s • Hoists CALL US 02 4721 5544 www.hydraulicdistributors.com.au 27 Altair Place, Penrith T: 02 4721 5544 An Australian Owned Company SEASON 2017/18 CORPORATE PARTNER FOLLOW US @WSWANDERERSFC 7 FEATURE ALL TO PLAY FOR IT’S FINAL DAY DRAMA AS THE WANDERERS SIT ON THE CUSP OF FINALS FOOTBALL It’s a game where emotions A win today against can turn in an instant, where Adelaide United and Josep things can be decided by the Gombau’s men will have finest of margins, the smallest locked up sixth place after of moments. what’s been a roller-coaster And this evening at season to say the least. ANZ Stadium, we’re set Though anything but a win to sample a taste of the and the Red & Black may be N FOOTBALL, THERE’S theatre that makes football staring down the barrel of always a fine line between the greatest game of all as missing out on the finals for making the grade and the Wanderers fight for only the second time in their Ifalling short. finals football. short but illustrious history. 8 THE WANDERER ROUND 27 FEATURE WATCH WSWTV 9 FEATURE It’s a precarious scenario and one that will no doubt have the Wanderers faithful on the edge of their seats for the whole 90 minutes.