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

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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

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Pre-season

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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

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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

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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

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

Transfers

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Transfers in

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

Transfers out

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

Match results

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Legend

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Win Draw Loss

Preseason matches

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Date Opponents Venue Result Scorers Ref
31 May 1996 Sampdoria WACA Ground 0–3 [12]
5 September 1996 Swan IC Ashfield Reserve 3–1 Nick Lazarevski (2), Bobby Despotovski [13]
8 September 1996 Floreat Athena Lake Monger Velodrome 7–0 Bobby Despotovski (2), Gary Lees (2), Paul Strudwick, Scott Miller, Alex Novatsis (og) [14]
10 September 1996 Morley-Windmills Ashfield Reserve 12–0 Bobby Despotovski (6), Nick Lazarevski (3), Paul Strudwick, Paul McVittie, Scott Miller [15]
14 September 1996 Inglewood Falcons 2–0 Scott Miller, Doug Ithier [16]
17 September 1996 Spearwood Dalmatinac Ashfield Reserve 3–0 Bobby Despotovski, Spase Najdovski, Peter Vukrimovic [17]
22 September 1996 Sorrento Kiev Sports Centre 6–0 Doug Ithier, Bobby Despotovski (3), Spase Najdovski, Paul McVittie [18]
26 September 1996 WA State Amateur team Kiev Sports Centre 4–0 Dale Wingell, Paul McVittie, Vladimir Beretovac, Scott Miller [19]
30 September 1996 Bayswater Panthers all-stars Bayswater Oval 3–0 Bobby Despotovski (2), Alan MacKenzie [20]
2 October 1996 WA State Amateur team Ashfield Reserve 6–0 Alan MacKenzie (3), Bobby Despotovski (2), Dale Wingell [21]
6 October 1996 WA State team Bayswater Oval 5–0 Paul Strudwick (2), Bobby Despotovski, Dale Wingell, Gareth Naven [22]

League results

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result[23] Scorers Attendance Referee Ref
1 13 October 1996 UTS Olympic Home 1–4 Alan MacKenzie 9,639 Lennie [24]
2 20 October 1996 West Adelaide Away 1–3 Paul Strudwick 3,527 Brazzale [25]
3 26 October 1996 Newcastle Breakers Away 3–1 Paul Strudwick, Bobby Despotovski (2) 3,750 Micallef [26]
4 3 November 1996 Canberra Cosmos Home 6–0 Paul McVittie, Bobby Despotovski (2), Dale Wingell, Gareth Naven, Scott Miller 8,053 Panella [27]
5 10 November 1996 Collingwood Warriors Away 0–0 5,504 Dade [28]
6 16 November 1996 Gippsland Falcons Home 2–3 Vas Kalogeracos, Paul Strudwick 6,299 Gorton [29][30]
7 23 November 1996 Sydney United Away 2–4 Paul Strudwick, Vas Kalogeracos 3,450 Diomis [31]
8 1 December 1996 Adelaide City Home 2–1 Gavin Wilkinson, Bobby Despotovski 9,765 Lennie [32]
9 7 December 1996 Brisbane Strikers Away 5–1 Gavin Wilkinson, Bobby Despotovski (2), Vas Kalogeracos, Paul Strudwick 4,028 Shield [33]
10 14 December 1996 Wollongong City Home 3–1 Paul Strudwick, Bobby Despotovski (2) 10,281 Lennie [34]
11 21 December 1996 South Melbourne Away 0–1 7,896 Brazzale [35]
12 28 December 1996 Melbourne Knights Home 3–2 Paul McVittie, Vas Kalogeracos, Scott Miller 14,759 Gorton [36]
13 4 January 1997 Marconi-Fairfield Away 2–1 Vas Kalogeracos (2) 5,419 Micallef [37][38]
14 12 January 1997 Marconi-Fairfield Home 1–1 Paul Strudwick 17,582 Brazzale [39]
15 2 February 1997 UTS Olympic Away 2–0 David Barrett (og), Bobby Despotovski 7,124 Hugo [40][41]
16 9 February 1997 West Adelaide Home 1–1 Vas Kalogeracos 15,737 Lennie [42]
17 15 February 1997 Newcastle Breakers Home 0–2 11,546 Dade [43]
18 22 February 1997 Canberra Cosmos Away 1–4 Bobby Despotovski 2,000 Brazzale [44][45]
19 2 March 1997 Collingwood Warriors Home 0–2 10,964 Panella [46][47]
20 9 March 1997 Gippsland Falcons Away 1–1 Alan MacKenzie 2,149 Diomis [48]
21 15 March 1997 Sydney United Home 3–1 Vas Kalogeracos (2), Dale Wingell 11,644 Connolly [49][50]
22 23 March 1997 Adelaide City Away 1–1 Bobby Despotovski 5,253 Micallef [51]
23 30 March 1997 Brisbane Strikers Home 0–2 12,858 Dade [52]
24 6 April 1997 Wollongong City Away 3–1 Bobby Despotovski (2), Gavin Wilkinson 3,158 Dade [53]
25 12 April 1997 South Melbourne Home 4–0 Vas Kalogeracos (3), Con Blatsis (og) 15,197 Hugo [54]
26 20 April 1997 Melbourne Knights Away 1–3 Tony Carbone 10,000 Micallef [55][56]

Statistics

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Leading goalscorers

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Player details

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List of squad players, including number of appearances by competition

Nat Pos Name Appearances Goals
  GK Vince Matassa 11 0
  GK Tom Maras 8 0
  GK Robert Zabica 7 0
  DF Gavin Wilkinson 24 3
  Vladimir Beretovac 13 0
  Vinko Buljubasic 25 0
  Tony Carbone 8 1
  Doug Ithier 12 0
  Paul McVittie 25 2
  Scott Miller 26 2
  MF Gareth Naven 25 1
  Craig Naven 25 0
  Paul Strudwick 23 7
  Peter Vukrimovic 6 2
  Dale Wingell 25 2
  Marc Wingell 2 0
  FW Alan MacKenzie 12 2
  FW Vasilios Kalogeracos 20 12
  FW Bobby Despotovski 23 14

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

References

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  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.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Perth Glory Transfers 1996/1997". WorldFootball.net.
  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.
  16. ^ Moffatt, Mel (16 September 1996). "Glory's Striking Worry". The West Australian – via Factiva.
  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.
  19. ^ Moffatt, Mel (27 September 1996). "Glory Lacks Punch Up Front". The West Australian – via Factiva.
  20. ^ Moffatt, Mel (1 October 1996). "Tough Workout Pleases Glory". The West Australian – via Factiva.
  21. ^ Moffatt, Mel (3 October 1996). "MacKenzie Scores Treble In Glory Whitewash". The West Australian – via Factiva.
  22. ^ Moffatt, Mel (7 October 1996). "Glory On The Target For Big Time". The West Australian – via Factiva.
  23. ^ Perth Glory's score written first
  24. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 01 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  25. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 02 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  26. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 03 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  27. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 04 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  28. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 05 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  29. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 06 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  30. ^ Schwab, Laurie (17 November 1996). "Falcons hang on for first win". The Sunday Age. p. 6.
  31. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 07 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  32. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 08 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  33. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 09 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  34. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 10 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  35. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 11 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  36. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 12 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  37. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 13 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  38. ^ Kogoy, Peter (5 January 1997). "Perth grab the glory as Marconi stars fail to shine". The Sun-Herald. p. 59. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  39. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 14 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  40. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 15 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  41. ^ Cockerill, Michael (3 February 1997). "Perth grab the glory and points". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 29. Retrieved 3 June 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 16 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  43. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 17 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  44. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 18 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  45. ^ Taylor, Matt (23 February 1997). "Sweet Victory At Last For Cosmos". The Canberra Times.
  46. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 19 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  47. ^ "Glory, glory as Warriors upset Perth". The Age. 3 March 1997. p. 62. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  48. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 20 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  49. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 21 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  50. ^ Cockerill, Michael (17 March 1997). "Perth woo Pumas trio after vital win". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 32. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  51. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 22 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  52. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 23 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  53. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 24 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  54. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 25 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  55. ^ "1996/1997 Season Round 26 Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  56. ^ Schwab, Laurie (21 April 1997). "Knights eye more glory". The Age. p. 51. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  57. ^ a b "1996–97 Regular Season Top Scorers". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  58. ^ "Perth Glory roster for 1996/97". OzFootball. Retrieved 9 February 2015.