1996–97 Perth Glory SC season

The 1996–97 season was Perth Glory's first season in the National Soccer League and first overall season in the top flight of Australian soccer.

Perth Glory
1996–97 season
ChairmanNick Tana
Paul Afkos
Head CoachGary Marocchi
StadiumPerth Oval
National Soccer League7th
Top goalscorerBobby Despotovski (14)

Background
See also: Perth Glory FC § History

After a number of years of speculation around a team from Perth, Perth businessmen, Nick Tana and Paul Afkos put in a bid to join the 1996–97 A-League (as the NSL was known after being relaunched for the 1995–96 season) in late 1995. Arena Investments, a company owned by Tana and Afkos, had stepped in to invest in the Perth Kangaroos IFC after the initial investors of the 1994 FAS Premier League champions pulled out. On 1 December 1995, the name Perth Glory was announced and is considered to be the club's foundation date.[1][2][3][4]

Review

Pre-season

To allow the club to prepare for their first season, the Glory were excused from participation in the 1996–97 National Cup in September and October 1996. Instead the Glory played a number of friendly matches, starting with a match against Italian team Sampdoria which they lost 3–0. This was the only match that the club lost in the leadup to the season, with a series of matches against Western Australian opposition all ending in wins to the Glory.[5][6]

October

The league season began with a match against UTS Olympic at Perth Oval. The ground was ordinarily an Australian rules football ground so temporary seating was brought in to make a smaller arena for soccer. A crowd of 9639 saw the Glory lose 4–1 to Olympic, with Alan MacKenzie scoring a late consolation goal.[7][8]

April

The Glory entered the final round of the season needing just one point to secure a finals position. However they were defeated 3–1 by the Melbourne Knights after being reduced to ten players, in front of a crowd of 10,000 at knights stadium.[9][10]

Players
Further information: Perth Glory FC § Players

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
6 DF Australia AUS Gareth Naven
7 DF Australia AUS Scott Miller
10 FW Australia AUS Bobby Despotovski
— DF Australia AUS Vladimir Beretovac
— DF Australia AUS Vinko Buljubasic
— MF Australia AUS Anthony Carbone
— MF Australia AUS Doug Ithier
— FW Australia AUS Vasilio Kalogeracos
— FW Scotland SCO Alan MacKenzie
No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK Australia AUS Vince Matassa
— GK Australia AUS Tom Maras
— DF Australia AUS Craig Naven
— FW Australia AUS Paul Strudwick
— DF Australia AUS Peter Vukmirovic
— MF New Zealand NZL Gavin Wilkinson
— DF Australia AUS Dale Wingell
— MF Australia AUS Marc Wingell

Transfers

Transfers in
No. Position Player Transferred from Type/fee Date Ref
—DF Vinko Buljubasic Melbourne Knights Undisclosed July 1996 [11]
10FW Bobby Despotovski Gippsland Falcons Undisclosed July 1996 [11]
—FW Doug Ithier Australia Floreat Athena Undisclosed July 1996 [11]
—FW Vasilios Kalogeracos Australia Floreat Athena Undisclosed July 1996 [11]
—MF Paul McVittie Australia Stirling Lions Undisclosed July 1996 [11]
7DF Scott Miller Gippsland Falcons Undisclosed July 1996 [11]
—GK Robert Zabica Australia Cockburn City Undisclosed July 1996 [11]

Transfers out
No. Position Player Transferred to Type/fee Date Ref
—MF Paul McVittie Australia Inglewood United Undisclosed April 1997 [11]
—GK Robert Zabica Australia Cockburn City Undisclosed April 1997 [11]

Match results

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Preseason matches
Date Opponents Venue Result Scorers Ref
31 May 1996SampdoriaWACA Ground0–3[12]
5 September 1996Swan ICAshfield Reserve3–1Nick Lazarevski (2), Bobby Despotovski[13]
8 September 1996Floreat AthenaLake Monger Velodrome7–0Bobby Despotovski (2), Gary Lees (2), Paul Strudwick, Scott Miller, Alex Novatsis (og)[14]
10 September 1996Morley-WindmillsAshfield Reserve12–0Bobby Despotovski (6), Nick Lazarevski (3), Paul Strudwick, Paul McVittie, Scott Miller[15]
14 September 1996Inglewood Falcons2–0Scott Miller, Doug Ithier[16]
17 September 1996Spearwood DalmatinacAshfield Reserve3–0Bobby Despotovski, Spase Najdovski, Peter Vukrimovic[17]
22 September 1996SorrentoKiev Sports Centre6–0Doug Ithier, Bobby Despotovski (3), Spase Najdovski, Paul McVittie[18]
26 September 1996WA State Amateur teamKiev Sports Centre4–0Dale Wingell, Paul McVittie, Vladimir Beretovac, Scott Miller[19]
30 September 1996Bayswater Panthers all-starsBayswater Oval3–0Bobby Despotovski (2), Alan MacKenzie[20]
2 October 1996WA State Amateur teamAshfield Reserve6–0Alan MacKenzie (3), Bobby Despotovski (2), Dale Wingell[21]
6 October 1996WA State teamBayswater Oval5–0Paul Strudwick (2), Bobby Despotovski, Dale Wingell, Gareth Naven[22]

League results
Round Date Opponent Venue Result[23] Scorers Attendance Referee Ref
113 October 1996UTS OlympicHome1–4Alan MacKenzie9,639Lennie[24]
220 October 1996West AdelaideAway1–3Paul Strudwick3,527Brazzale[25]
326 October 1996Newcastle BreakersAway3–1Paul Strudwick, Bobby Despotovski (2)3,750Micallef[26]
43 November 1996Canberra CosmosHome6–0Paul McVittie, Bobby Despotovski (2), Dale Wingell, Gareth Naven, Scott Miller8,053Panella[27]
510 November 1996Collingwood WarriorsAway0–05,504Dade[28]
616 November 1996Gippsland FalconsHome2–3Vas Kalogeracos, Paul Strudwick6,299Gorton[29][30]
723 November 1996Sydney UnitedAway2–4Paul Strudwick, Vas Kalogeracos3,450Diomis[31]
81 December 1996Adelaide CityHome2–1Gavin Wilkinson, Bobby Despotovski9,765Lennie[32]
97 December 1996Brisbane StrikersAway5–1Gavin Wilkinson, Bobby Despotovski (2), Vas Kalogeracos, Paul Strudwick4,028Shield[33]
1014 December 1996Wollongong CityHome3–1Paul Strudwick, Bobby Despotovski (2)10,281Lennie[34]
1121 December 1996South MelbourneAway0–17,896Brazzale[35]
1228 December 1996Melbourne KnightsHome3–2Paul McVittie, Vas Kalogeracos, Scott Miller14,759Gorton[36]
134 January 1997Marconi-FairfieldAway2–1Vas Kalogeracos (2)5,419Micallef[37][38]
1412 January 1997Marconi-FairfieldHome1–1Paul Strudwick17,582Brazzale[39]
152 February 1997UTS OlympicAway2–0David Barrett (og), Bobby Despotovski7,124Hugo[40][41]
169 February 1997West AdelaideHome1–1Vas Kalogeracos15,737Lennie[42]
1715 February 1997Newcastle BreakersHome0–211,546Dade[43]
1822 February 1997Canberra CosmosAway1–4Bobby Despotovski2,000Brazzale[44][45]
192 March 1997Collingwood WarriorsHome0–210,964Panella[46][47]
209 March 1997Gippsland FalconsAway1–1Alan MacKenzie2,149Diomis[48]
2115 March 1997Sydney UnitedHome3–1Vas Kalogeracos (2), Dale Wingell11,644Connolly[49][50]
2223 March 1997Adelaide CityAway1–1Bobby Despotovski5,253Micallef[51]
2330 March 1997Brisbane StrikersHome0–212,858Dade[52]
246 April 1997Wollongong CityAway3–1Bobby Despotovski (2), Gavin Wilkinson3,158Dade[53]
2512 April 1997South MelbourneHome4–0Vas Kalogeracos (3), Con Blatsis (og)15,197Hugo[54]
2620 April 1997Melbourne KnightsAway1–3Tony Carbone10,000Micallef[55][56]

Statistics

Leading goalscorers

Player details

List of squad players, including number of appearances by competition

Nat Pos Name Appearances Goals
AustraliaGKVince Matassa110
AustraliaGKTom Maras80
AustraliaGKRobert Zabica70
New ZealandDFGavin Wilkinson243
AustraliaVladimir Beretovac130
AustraliaVinko Buljubasic250
AustraliaTony Carbone81
AustraliaDoug Ithier120
AustraliaPaul McVittie252
AustraliaScott Miller262
AustraliaMFGareth Naven251
AustraliaCraig Naven250
AustraliaPaul Strudwick237
AustraliaPeter Vukrimovic62
AustraliaDale Wingell252
AustraliaMarc Wingell20
ScotlandFWAlan MacKenzie122
AustraliaFWVasilios Kalogeracos2012
AustraliaFWBobby Despotovski2314

Statistics accurate to end of 1996–97 NSL season[58]

References
  1. Schwab, Laurie (5 August 1995). "Company WA team for NSL". The Age. Retrieved 1 July 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Garcia and Kerr lead new look Glory". Perth Glory FC. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  3. Cockerill, Michael (6 September 1995). "Stalled A-League gets key support". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 July 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "The first 20 years for Perth Glory". AAP Australian Sports News Wire. Australian Associated Press. 1 December 2015.
  5. "Falcons test four players in pre-season National Cup". The Age. 6 September 1996. p. 36. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  6. Gatt, Ray (9 August 1996). "Cup could be a knockout". The Australian – via Factiva. New national league club Perth Glory have been given permission to miss the Johnnie Walker Cup so they can maximise preparations for their entry into the Ericsson Cup...
  7. Moffatt, Mel (11 October 1996). "Perth's Colour Splash". The West Australian – via Factiva. SA technical director Peter Russell inspected the ground on Wednesday and expressed extreme satisfaction with the changes, which include the erection of 2000 temporary seats.
  8. Moffatt, Mel (14 October 1996). "NSL Big Boys Ruin The Party". The West Australian – via Factiva.
  9. Taylor, John (21 April 1997). "Knights loom large in playoffs". Daily Telegraph – via Factiva. The Glory, needing a draw to qualify for the semi-finals...
  10. Moffatt, Mel (21 April 1997). "Glory Finals Dream Ends In Nightmare". The West Australian – via Factiva.
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  12. "Sampdoria crush fledgling Aussies 3–0". Agence France-Presse. 31 May 1996 – via Factiva.
  13. Moffatt, Mel (6 September 1996). "Six Clubs Face Exile". The West Australian – via Factiva.
  14. Moffat, Mel (9 September 1996). "Sutton Hits Cup Winner". The West Australian – via Factiva.
  15. Moffatt, Mel (11 September 1996). "Glory On The Rampage". The West Australian – via Factiva.
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  17. Moffatt, Mel (18 September 1996). "Najdovski On Target For Glory". The West Australian – via Factiva.
  18. Moffatt, Mel (23 September 1996). "Despotovski Puts Partner In Shade". The West Australian – via Factiva.
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