Stuck in a Queensland hotel, Perth Glory’s men’s squad and staff had no choice but to sit and wait, showing patience beyond belief whilst anticipating word regarding where they’d be spending their Christmas.
Up stepped the Australian football community to lift the spirits of the team caught in an unenviable environment created by sudden isolation.
Donna Giuffre is a Melbourne Victory fan, but her club allegiances were cast aside as she stepped forward to engage her fellow football fans in an effort inspired by the Christmas season to bring joy to the Glory camp.
Giuffre launched a Twitter campaign encouraging donations to her cause: to send grazing boxes to the hotel room doors of all Glory players and staff in a gesture of Christmas cheer.
Acquiring the services of Brisbane-based caterers Grazing Joni’s, Giuffre raised enough money to provide a grazing box to each of the 35 Glory players and staff.
They arrived on the same day the club was notified the APL would provide a charter flight to bring Glory players home in time for Christmas.
Glory head coach Richard Garcia led the chorus of thanks for the generosity of those who contributed to Giuffre’s cause.
Joining Giuffre in sending gifts to the Glory camp was Bonita Mersiades, who provided the locked down squad with magazines and books which were similarly appreciated by those who received them.
The Glory players and staff will travel back to Perth via charter flight tomorrow to observe the remaining days of their isolation period in home quarantine. The one member of the squad WITH COVID-19 will remain in Queensland to complete their quarantine stint.
