The barista, the boilermaker and no shortage of playmakers will confront A-League powerhouse Brisbane Roar when they tackle amateur outfit Stirling Lions in the FFA Cup.
Football Federation Australia’s new knockout competition was designed to offer so-called minnows the chance to amaze.
In Friday’s round-of-32 draw it was Perth club Stirling given the sternest test – the reigning A-League premiers and champions headlined by Socceroos midfielder Matt McKay.
“I’m calling it their World Cup,” Stirling football manager Don Evans said of the game.
“It’s their chance to shine against the best team in Australia.
“Today’s one of the best days of my life and the greatest day our football club has ever had.”
Stirling pays its players a weekly wage of $50-400 during the season.
Outside that they’ve got full-time jobs. Soccer is a pastime, not a profession.
“They train twice a week. No doubt they’ll put on a few more sessions to make sure they’re up to scratch for the Roar,” Evans said.
Captain Andy Brown, who in the words of Evans “works in the steel industry and is made of steel”, marshals the Lions’ defence.
Phil Arnold scores goals and runs a cafe, while goalkeeper Aleks Vrteski was on the books of two A-League clubs but is now in management at a cleaning company.
Many of the Stirling squad have been part of Perth Glory’s youth team – including Evans’ son Dean.
“They play good attacking football. It definitely won’t be a nil-all draw,” Evans predicted.
Beyond the boilover of all boilovers, Evans’ main hope is the spotlight results in some A-League scouts paying further attention to his players.
The venue for the game will be Macedonia Park, whose future went to a vote at an AGM of WA’s Macedonian Community in 2006.
“This place was too good to sell off and chop up for developers,” Evans recalled of the fight for its future.
Now the battle will be getting everything cherry ripe for the occasion, which Evans hopes will attract a record crowd of over 6000.
“It’s going to be all hands on deck,” Evans said.
The other early FFA Cup mismatches pit South Coast Wolves against Central Coast Mariners, while Adelaide City host Western Sydney Wanderers.
Another Perth club, the Chris Coyne-coached Bayswater City, will take on Melbourne Victory.
The remaining 18 non-professional clubs were in a separate pot and will not confront A-League sides in the round of 32.
FFA will confirm dates and venues of games on Monday.
Evan Askew
Guest
WA Cup final between Floreat Athena and Bayswater Inter in 1988 played at Macedonia Park. According to Paschalides there was a 4000 crowd. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AglUxEal1l0&list=PLcifubUyCD5fjTnnF2gUBdkuPnBdXqcg3
melbourneterrace
Guest
Here here. Your holier than thou attitude and constant need to one up like you are the authority on the game is pathetic fuss.
Football United
Guest
Again with the inferiority complex, you might have watched FA cups but you don't quite seem to get it yet. In case you are incapable of understanding basic points, seeding amateur and semi pro teams from Professionals is different to constructing the tournament so a non seeded team is guaranteed a run to the semi final.
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
6000 isn't as crazy as it sounds,went to the Glory friendly there last pre season there was over 1k and there was loads of room,they have got over 4000 in there for a Cup final,makes you think doesn't it how Glory just isn't tapping into the potential market http://www.stirlinglions.com.au/news.htm
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@Football United I've been watching the FA Cup competition since 1972 - quarter of a century before the internet started giving us instantaneous access to overseas football results. I'll be willing to test my knowledge on the FA Cup competition against anyone who has been following the FA Cup since 1972. Of course, it may be the case you weren't alive in 1972... possibly, your parents weren't even born? I don't follow the early rounds of the DFB Pokal but, after doing some basic research - which took less than 60 seconds - I discovered what I had previously been told .. .... the early rounds of the DFB Pokal are not random. The 36 teams from Bundesliga1 & 2 teams are placed in one pot. The 28 other teams from lower leagues are placed in another pot. So that, for the 1st round of the DFB Pokal, each professional team plays an amateur team. Plus another non-random rule for the 1st round of DFB Pokal, which the FFA has adopted ... each amateur team plays at home. The 2nd round DFB Pokal: again the teams are split into 2 pots (professional teams & amateur teams), so the 2nd round draw is also not random, with amateur teams paired with professional teams until either pot is empty. Sound familiar so far? From the Ro16 onwards the draw it truly random. I haven't yet checked the format for Cop del Rey or Coppa Italia. Is that egg dripping from your face?
leon
Guest
Well said. Sanctimonious attitude is growing increasingly tiresome, Fuss.
langou
Roar Guru
My football team played at Bayswater once. We had no problem fitting all our fans in the stand, however our fans did equal three wives, two girlfriends, one ex-player and a friend who lived nearby and was hoping we would shout him a beer post match.
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
6000 at Macedonia Park? Even if 6000 wanted to go they wouldn't fit. It's actually a great little venue by WA state league standards, but it's tiny. The stand would only host a few hundred, and you might be able to pack a couple of thousand in the outer if they all stand up. Not sure where Bayswater will be playing their game, but their usual ground wouldn't hold 1000. It's just a flat reserve with a small grandstand on one side.
Football United
Guest
And you've already found a way to act all high and mighty with your condescending attitude. I'm ecstatic that we have a cup and the draw is my only issue with it. Cups generally should be random though so to give them distinction them from other tournaments like League or Continental fixtures. It is the unpredictable nature of fixtures that give them such appeal. Can't blame you for cheerleading this unorthodox feature though. Considering most football fans grew up with cups in the traditional fashion like the DFB Pokal, FA Cup or the Copa del Rey, it is hardly surprising that a late comer from AFL like yourself wouldn't quite get it.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@Football United You’ve found something to whinge about already with the FFA Cup? What exactly is so heinous about having 7 of the 16 fixture not totally random? Unbelievable ..or, really, the more I’m exposed to some football fans, I’m beginning to realise constant complaining is very believable.
Kasey
Guest
Your annoyance. I'm one of the group who thinks that FFA seem to have split the middle pretty well between complete open draw(very high cost) and the route chosen(more manageable costs) even with the whinging over the ethnic club name edict, I was very much excited by the FFACup draw:)
Football United
Guest
Was a bit annoyed at how contrived the draw is as it feels like the FFA are trying manufacture the romance of a team going far in the cup. That all said, there are definite positives to getting more coverage and thus more support to these smaller teams. When else would Sterling Lions get attention like this? I'll be really interested to see how Wolves go hosting A-League opposition. Hopefully the fans come out to see the Wolves back in national football again.