There are just 100 days to go until Western Sydney Wanderers return to Parramatta to play their first game at the new Bankwest Stadium, when they take on English club Leeds United.
In what will be the first football match at the impressive new venue, it could be a Premier League club that graces the pitch against the Wanderers, with Leeds currently on track for promotion to England’s top flight.
Wanderers midfielder Jordan O’Doherty and Leeds United great Michael Bridges got their first look inside the stadium on Thursday and already believe it will be one of the best sporting venues in the country.
“When you walk out it’s brilliant. It feels like a football stadium,” said Bridges, who played in the Hyundai A-League with Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets, as well as appearing the English Premier League with Sunderland and Leeds.
“It’s nice and enclosed and it’s going to be an incredible match between Leeds United and Western Sydney Wanderers.
“It’s great for the A-League and teams like Western Sydney Wanderers being able to play against a big European team.
“There’s 100 days to go until the match, it’s the 100th-year anniversary or centenary for Leeds United.
“If stars align and everything goes well until the end of the season and Leeds are in the Premier League…it could be a very, very special occasion over here.”
The fixture has extra special significance for O’Doherty, who comes from a family of avid Leeds fans and will be sitting in the visitors’ active support section in July.
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“It’s an amazing prospect for Australian football to have such a big club like Leeds United come over and play,” the 21-year-old midfielder said.
“It’s such a good game to have in the new stadium…there’s so many Leeds fans that will come from all over Australia.
“Walking in now and seeing the stadium for the first time, it’s a lot more than I expected.”
