Soccer: Bunbury get the Glory

Bunbury's home of soccer, Hay Park, will host top quality action later this month after a meeting yesterday decided the recently redeveloped venue was up to scratch.

A report in last Thursday’s South Western Times revealed that A-League franchise Perth Glory was hoping to play a one-off match in Bunbury against a South West select XI on June 25.

However, the sport’s WA powerbrokers were concerned about the facilities at Hay Park. While the playing surface at the ground was redeveloped last year, permanent amenities are yet to be built—players currently use the ageing Bunbury United change rooms located about 100m from the new pitch.

At yesterday’s meeting, held between the South West Soccer Association, City of Bunbury, Football West and Perth Glory a compromise was reached that will see marquees and temporary toilets used.

A Perth Glory spokesman yesterday confirmed the club would take part in the fixture, and that star striker Shane Smeltz, as well as young defender Josh Risdon, originally from Bunbury, were chances to play.

In an email to South West Soccer Association executives last week, Football West CEO Peter Hugg described the playing surface in Bunbury as excellent, but the support facilities as ‘‘poor to non-existent’’.

The Times understands that South West Football League grounds Payne Park and Kelly Park had been touted mid-week as possible locations for the Glory fixture.

Both playing surfaces were deemed unsuitable while Hands Oval was not available.

Bunbury Forum Force president Vern Merchant praised the City of Bunbury for the role they played in brokering the deal and said he would like to see the Glory play regularly in Bunbury.

Perth Glory have not appeared in the South West since they hosted Gold Coast in a preseason match two years ago.

‘‘It does give local football followers their first chance to see some of the Glory players on the recently-completed Hay Park pitch,’’ Merchant said.

‘‘Whether they meet them, do coaching drills with that sort of stuff it’s all positive.

‘‘We’d like to see the Glory here again in more permanent facilities in the future and we’re going to be pushing for that.

‘‘The City of Bunbury is working hard to complete the facilities at the ground.’’