Melbourne Victory have announced they will host last year’s Premier’s Plate winners Western Sydney Wanderers in a pre-season match in Tasmania.
Football fans across Tasmania are set to be treated to an exciting Hyundai A-League pre-season fixture, with Melbourne Victory scheduled to face 2012-13 A-League premiers Western Sydney Wanderers at the Kingston Twin Ovals on Sunday, 29 September.
Fans will be in for an action packed day as Victory will also play the senior Tasmanian side, featuring the stars of the Victory League as part of a huge double header.
The football feast will kick off with Tasmania vs Melbourne Victory at 12pm followed by the all A-League blockbuster from 2:30pm.
Melbourne Victory Managing Director Richard Wilson said the full squad would travel to Tasmania for the week and the fixtures would be an important part of the preparation for his side heading into an its 2013-14 campaign.
“I think it speaks volumes that we’ve chosen Tasmania as a testing ground for how we approach the upcoming season,” said Wilson.
“The Wanderers had a fantastic debut season on and off the pitch last year and we know it will be a huge match for both sides, so we are excited to be playing them in front of what we consider a home crowd.
“Playing the Tassie side as an opener will also give our coaches an opportunity to get a closer look at some of the players we’ve been keeping tabs on throughout the Victory League this year.”
Football Federation Tasmania CEO John Boulous said the games were a major coup for the State and for Kingston and that he hoped the community would come out in force to support the day.
“We’ve always said we’d love to have an A-League game in the south of the state to give back to football fans in the region and we think this day represents an opportunity to see the best that the A-League and Tasmania has to offer all at the one time,” said Boulous.
“This is Tasmania’s chance to let its feet do the talking and get out to support not just its own senior side but its adopted A-League team in Melbourne Victory.”
Boulous said there were big plans for the day including junior participation and the creation of an active supporters group for the Tasmanian team.
“We are expecting a lot of Victory and Wanderers fans to be making the trip down and we want to match their voice with one of our own,” said Boulous.
Boulous said more details of the day would be published closer to the date and tickets will go on sale Wednesday, 7 August.
Kingborough Council Acting Mayor Steve Wass is delighted to be supporting FFT in hosting the event.
“The state of the art Kingston Twin Ovals will provide a fitting surface for a showcase of high quality football,” said Acting Mayor Wass.
Melbourne Victory FC will also be launching an exciting ‘Young Guns- membership for children between the ages of 5 and 15. The membership will include a child entry ticket to the double header and other exclusive benefits including incentives for clubs who sign up the most members.
Tasmania will play host to a ‘Victory Week- as the A-League giants tour the state from September 25 – September 30.
Victory will conduct visits to local schools, facilitate junior clinics and assist local coach education as part of the week, as the club continues to strengthen its ties with Tasmania.
