He’ll have bigger prizes on his mind in the Hyundai A-League but Robbie Fowler has already brought a measure of success to Brisbane Roar.
Fowler’s side officially got their hands on the first-ever Surf City Cup after Tuesday night’s final match of the three-club tournament, which also included Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory.
Wins over Perth Glory (1-0 on Friday) and Newcastle Jets (3-1 on Sunday) on the Gold Coast ensured Roar claimed the trophy, even before Tuesday’s final match, which was won by the Jets in a penalty shootout.
“It’s good, new group, new philosophy, a different way of playing and everyone’s enjoying football, when you’re enjoying your football, you play at your best,” midfielder Aiden O’Neill said of Roar’s progress so far.
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“It’s a long pre-season and you just need to keep working hard so everyone’s ready to go when the season begins.”
Roar begin their Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Season with an away clash against defending Premiers Perth on Sunday, October 13.
A little something to add to the mantlepiece 🏆
Thank you to @gcknightsfc as well as @PerthGloryFC & @NewcastleJetsFC for a great weekend in the inaugural #SurfCityCup!#RoarAsOne pic.twitter.com/SzDDmU37fX
— Brisbane Roar FC (@brisbaneroar) September 3, 2019
Merrick unveils another impressive talent
He’s one of the most successful coaches in Hyundai A-League history but it seems Ernie Merrick has been hiding another incredible talent over all these years.
Ahead of Newcastle Jets’ clash against Perth Glory at the Surf City Cup on Tuesday night, the wily Scotsman had fans watching on in amazement.
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With an act more accustomed to the circus than at a football match, Merrick showed his own bit of skill by balancing a broom on his chin.
We’re not sure what his players thought of it but we say ‘take a bow Ernie’!
Some #SurfCityCup pre-match entertainment from circus extraordinaire, Ernie Merrick! 🎪 #MadeOfNewcastle pic.twitter.com/PWwNWFxoQS
— NEWCASTLE JETS FC ✈️ (@NewcastleJetsFC) September 3, 2019
Stevenson trumpets the reasons to become a Wanderers member
If you’ve been to a Western Sydney Wanderers game over the last six years, there’s a good chance you have heard the tunes of Josh Stevenson.
Stevenson has been the trumpet player in the Red and Black Bloc [RBB] since the Wanderers’ second season in the competition.
As a devout Wanderers fan, he’s been riding the highs and feeling the lows at the club in that time.
But ahead of the 2019/20 campaign, Stevenson can sense a return to the glory days as they head back to their spiritual home at Parramatta – Bankwest Stadium – this season.
“The best part of Parramatta, even before you got to the game was being in Parramatta and you just saw Wanderers fans everywhere,” he told the club’s official website.
“As soon as you got anywhere near the Stadium or Parramatta you just got pumped up and felt like this is game day, this is what it means to be a part of a club and this is what it means to be a fan.
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“To be in this spot, even though it’s a new building, a new stadium, it still feels like home and it feels like we’re back.”
You've heard him before at our games 🎺 and now @JoshStevo95 opens up on why you should join our family this season.
Membership is on sale now: https://t.co/kgAUQ6GdoT #WSW pic.twitter.com/NazaMRP3YB
— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) September 3, 2019
Sky Blues teens set lofty 2019/20 goals
After signing their first Hyundai A-League contracts with Sydney FC, teenage duo Harry Van Der Saag and Marco Tilio have set their sights on breaking into Steve Corica’s first-team squad in 2019/20.
The pair – along with 17-year-old Ryan Teague – inked their first professional deals with the Sky Blues on Tuesday.
While the Sydney FC squad is packed with experienced stars and quality, the youngsters are focused on breaking into the Hyundai A-League as soon as possible.
“That’s the goal. You want to play as many A-League minutes and play as many A-League games as you can,” Van Der Saag told Sydney FC’s official website.
“It’s a massive goal for me to make my debut this season.”
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Tilio added: [Playing in the Hyundai A-League] is something I’ve always wanted to do.
“I’ll put my head down, keep working hard and hopefully I can get on the pitch this year which would be exciting for me.”
✍ They just signed deals with the @ALeague squad, now what are their plans?
Hear from Harry Van Der Saag & Marco Tilio…#SydneyIsSkyBlue #WeAreChampions pic.twitter.com/Pb8nKcjeVA
— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) September 3, 2019
