WA’s top-tier football competition will celebrate the game’s rich history with the inaugural National Premier Leagues WA “Rivalry Round” this weekend.

While WA entered a new era in 2014 by embracing Football Federation Australia’s NPL concept, the round-four matches have been selected to celebrate the pride and passion that has epitomised the game through the years.

Fixtures have been designed to foster old rivalries and, for some clubs, to ignite new beginnings. While there are strong cultural connections between some clubs and geography binds others, the match between top-flight
newcomers Perth Glory and Subiaco will be the first.

NPL WA manager Chris Beech hoped clubs would embrace the concept of a Rivalry Round and that it would become a regular fixture on the WA football calendar.

“The Rivalry Round is simply a way of highlighting a key element of what makes sport so great,” Beech said. “All over the world, great rivalries add something special to football. The recent El Classico between Real Madrid and Barcelona was another example of what football means to fans of those teams and tonight there’ll be an extremely passionate Manchester derby between United and City.”

“Football fans around the world can all relate to the emotions and excitement of derby day and we want to cultivate those friendly rivalries that already exist in WA.

“There is nothing quite like beating a near-neighbour or getting one over a traditional rival and we want fans to celebrate in good spirits and to enjoy the occasion.

“There have been some great football contests in WA and they form an important part of the sport’s history. We hope fans, officials and players embrace the concept and that the seeds are sown for new rivalries.”

Two clubs with traditional links to the Italian community will be joined in a pursuit of three points as Perth Soccer Club, formed as Azzurri in 1950, host Bayswater City, born in 1961 as Bayswater Inter, at Dorrien Gardens.

A northern suburbs derby between ECU Joondalup, who celebrated 20 years as a club in 2012, and Sorrento, 20 years Joondalup’s senior, will take place at ECU Football Stadium, while top-flight newcomers Perth Glory and Subiaco
will meet at the WA Athletics Stadium.

The rivalry between Floreat Athena, formed in 1951, and Stirling Lions, which began life as Macedonia United in 1958, has cultural and historical origins and continues to be one of the highlights of the football calendar for both
clubs.

The match between Inglewood United, which was formed as Kiev in 1951, and Balcatta, which entered the football ranks as Etna in 1978, will take place at Intiga Stadium.

The southern derby between 42-year-old Armadale and near-neighbour Cockburn City, whose origins stretch back to 1929, will be played at Dalmatinac Park on May 7 due to ground availability.

Rivalry Round
Saturday, March 29
Perth SC v Bayswater City (Dorrien Gardens, 3pm)
ECU Joondalup v Sorrento (ECU Football Stadium, 3pm)
Inglewood United v Balcatta (Intiga Stadium, 3pm)
Stirling Lions v Floreat Athena (Macedonia Park, 3pm)
Sunday, March 30
Subiaco v Perth Glory (WA Athletics Stadium, 6pm)
Wednesday, May 7
Cockburn City v Armadale (Dalmatinac Park 8.30pm)