MVC v #WSW TH EDITION 27 APRIL 2019 98 VS ROUND 27 SEASON 2018/19 SEASON FAREWELL TO THEKING 02 REGULAR COLUMNS THIS THE LETTER 05 MATCH WARM UP 06 PLAYERS TO WATCH 13 Brought to you by Turner and Freeman TODAY’S MATCH 16 FEATURES THE WANDERER JUNIOR WANDERER ZONE 18 The views in this publication are not THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE KING 08 necessarily the views of the Western Sydney Tonight will mark the end of an era for the TAKE FIVE 25 Wanderers FC. Material in this publication Red & Black Brought to you by Turner and Freeman is copyrighted and may only be reproduced with written permission from the club. COUNTDOWN ON FOR LEEDS CLASH 14 IN THE COMMUNITY 27 There's less than 85 days to go until we open ADVERTISING Bankwest Stadium for football CORPORATE NEWS 29 For all advertising enquiries for The Wanderer or partnership with the WANDERERS LEGENDS TO OUR PARTNERS 31 club contact the Corporate Partnerships GUIDE W-LEAGUE 20 Team by sending an email to The Wanderers have named an all star [email protected] or coaching line-up for the upcoming visit corporate.wanderland.com.au Westfield W-League season PHOTOGRAPHY NPL ON TOP 22 All photography in The Wanderer is courtesy The Red & Black have held onto their spot at of Ali Erhan, Getty Images, Kellie Lemon and the top of the NPL 2 table Steve Christo. WITNESS HISTORY WANDERERS FC V LEEDS UNITED BANKWEST STADIUM SATURDAY 20 JULY 2019 Tickets on sale now through Ticketek bankweststadium.com.au AQUALAND AUSTRALIA HAS BEEN DELIVERING PROPERTY DIFFERENTLY SINCE 2014 Nestled in the heart of Norwest, plant the seeds for an incredible future. Now Selling. The Aster Collection, comprising 14 grand land lots from 705m2. Secure your place in this coveted new neighbourhood with our stage one limited release. Sales Suite open 7 days, 10am to 4pm. 64 Mackillop Drive, Baulkham Hills. bellevueresidences.com.au • 1800 958 074 Aqualand are proud to be Senior Partners of Western Sydney Wanderers 2018/2019. BIG Enough to Feed the Army L4 Glass Series D ISFIE CUS AT TO S M T » 4.0 Energy Star Rating S E R O 2018 S M » 710 and 650 Litres R EF RS » Glass Door Finish RIGERATO Mitsubishi Electric, proudly supporting The Western Sydney Wanderers FC. For more information on our products please visit www.mitsubishielectric.com.au Phone:1300 280 625 11022019_WSW Magazine Artwork_L4 Glass Series.indd 1 13/02/2019 12:18:15 PM 05 BIG Enough to Feed the Army L4 Glass Series D ISFIE CUS AT TO S M T » 4.0 Energy Star Rating S E R O 2018 S M » 710 and 650 Litres R EF RS » Glass Door Finish RIGERATO Good evening and welcome to tonight’s game against Melbourne Victory. They say all good things to come to an end and it is now time for me to hang up my Red & Black boots in preparation for the next generation of Wanderers. And what a journey it has been. Mitsubishi Electric, proudly supporting From scoring the club’s very first goal to going on that run in our first season to win the Premiers Plate, to winning the Wanderers Medal twice, the AFC Asian Champions League and appearing in those Grand Finals. I have shared in moments of great success The Western Sydney Wanderers FC. and moments of disappointment, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I am so grateful for the members and the fans support of me during my time at the club and I really hope I’ve done them justice and made the Western Sydney region proud. A dream of mine would be that one of my boys, seeing as I’ve had three of them, will end up putting on a Wanderers jersey. What a moment that #WSWvMVC would be. The club will forever be in my heart and I will support the Wanderers until I die. Thank you again for all your support and see you at one of our matches back at Wanderland! Foundation Player Mark Bridge, Foundation Member #2833 For more information on our products please visit www.mitsubishielectric.com.au Phone:1300 280 625 VISIT WANDERLAND.COM.AU WANDERLAND.COM.AU VISIT THE LETTER 11022019_WSW Magazine Artwork_L4 Glass Series.indd 1 13/02/2019 12:18:15 PM 06 MATCH 81st minute to snatch a battling three points that puts Marco Kurz's men on the cusp of a PREVIEW return to Coopers Stadium in the first week of the Finals Series. Opportunities were otherwise rare in a tight t's the final game of the Wanderers contest which leaves Victory resigned to a Hyundai A-League season as they host third-place finish behind Sydney FC. IMelbourne Victory for the final time at Victory have had the better run of results ANZ Stadium. against the Red & Black in previous meetings The Wanderers head into the match after a and there's no doubt that tonight's fixture will very disappointing result against the Central be a fiery one. Coast Mariners in Gosford last weekend. With pride on the line, the Wanderers will no Matt Simon scored twice to lead the doubt be looking to secure a win in their final Mariners to a rare 3-1 win over the Red match at ANZ Stadium before charging home & Black with the skipper netting from a back to Wanderland in season 2019/20. free-kick and a set-piece on either side of half-time before Kyle Rowles headed in his first Hyundai A-League goal, only to be sent off for a disgraceful tackle in the (Left to right) Tarek Elrich and 71st minute. Brendan Hamill wrap up their Mark Bridge also converted a spot kick in training session, Roly Bonevacia his 250th appearance in the competition passes the ball but Markus Babbel's men were unable to deny Alen Stajcic's side their third victory over the season. On the other side of the coin, Melbourne Victory will also be heading into the match after a 1-0 defeat in the Original Rivalry. Adelaide United boosted their bid for Elimination Final hosting rights as George Blackwood's towering late header sealed an attritional 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory on Friday night. Blackwood nodded in Isaias' cross in the 07 MATCH DAY BROUGHT TO YOU BY FIELD CATHERINE CANNULI REPORTER @CANNULI_13 fter 26 rounds of Hyundai A-League football, we're back at ANZ Stadium tonight for the Wanderers final match of the season. AI was recently out at the new Bankwest Stadium and all I can say is wow, I can't wait until we move in and make it our home. Looking back on the season, it has been a frustrating one for both our Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League teams with neither side reaching the heights ON THIS we were expecting of them. But many lessons have been learned and it has been a season of growth and COURTESY OF ANDREW HOWE development for both sides. DAY @ANDYHOWE_STATTO One thing which has been similar in both teams seasons is the blooding of the next generation of youngsters. The Wanderers next generation are filled with talent and determination and there's no doubt that you'll one day be seeing them walk out onto the pitch in the Red & Black hoops back at Wanderland. It's not long now until we're home at Bankwest Stadium, opening the stadium for football, so I'll see you all there on 20 July! The Socceroos defeated Uruguay 2-0 in Sydney before heading off to their first World Cup on this day in 1974. In the second of a two-match ‘friendly’ series against the South Americans, the match would be remembered not so much for the impressive victory over the two-time World Cup champions but instead for a violent incident that ended the playing career of Socceroo Ray Baartz. During a second-half melee, Uruguay’s Luis Garisto felled the Australian striker with a karate chop that ruptured an artery in Baartz's neck. Andrew Howe @AndyHowe_statto is Australia’s leading football statistician. He is co-author of the upcoming Encyclopedia of Matildas, now available for pre-order from fairplaypublishing.com.au. #WSWvMVC FOLLOW US @WSWANDERERSFC US @WSWANDERERSFC FOLLOW UP WARM 08 09 THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE KING TONIGHT WILL MARK THE END OF AN ERA FOR THE RED & BLACK STORY BY JESSICA CSASZAR @JESSICACSASZAR In a career that has seen him capture success at both Sydney FC and the Newcastle Jets before signing for the Wanderers in their inaugural season, Bridge has encapsulated the importance of hard work and determination. With 250 Hyundai A-League matches to his name, it's been a roller coaster of a ride for Bridge who has now etched his name not only in Wanderers but also Hyundai A-League history. Born in Blacktown and raised in St Clair, Bridge played his junior football with Parramatta Eagles before starting his professional career with Parramatta Power here has never been quite as much of a in the National Soccer League. Joining the decorated player for the Red & Black as Newcastle Jets in the inaugural Hyundai TMark Bridge. A-League season the attacker spent three Donned "The King" by Wanderers members and seasons in the Hunter, winning the club’s fans, Bridge has captured the hearts and minds Player of the Season award in 2006/07 before of what it means to be one of the Red & Black scoring the winner in the Grand Final the #WSWvMVC and represent the Western Sydney region.