QBE Night Series kicks off on Friday
Football West News
Pictured: Floreat celebrate last year's Night Series success.
Floreat Athena coach Glen Grostate can’t wait for the QBE Night Series to kick-off despite losing one of his star players during the off-season.
Grostate’s nephew Aryn Williams put himself in the shop window with excellent performances in the 2015 PS4 NPLWA season and has been snapped up by Hyundai A-League side Perth Glory.
But Grostate, who led Floreat to Night Series success last year, says his new-look side will go into the latest campaign, which kicks off at Inglewood Stadium on Friday, just as determined as last year.
“When we brought silverware back to the club last year it was fantastic,” Grostate said. “If you’re going into a cup competition you want to win it and that’s what we’ll be trying to do. You go into it and have a crack.”
Floreat have also lost Jack Allen to Bayswater City but Grostate is delighted to have on board Carlo Coelho, from Perth, and Bayswater trio Chris and Jason Saldaris and Declan Hargreaves, as well as Jarrod McNally from Inglewood.
Last season’s McInerney Ford Gold Medal winner Ludo Boi recently returned to Floreat training after an overseas holiday, while Kris Gate has also been away.
“The club put their trust in me (last season) and there’s no pressure on me, even now,” Grostate said. “I feel like we’ve got some very good players in and there’s no reason why we can’t have another good year.”
Athena kick-off their title defence against an Inglewood United side also with a number of new faces including Ashley Rosindale, Mark Pritchard, Adam Tong, Alex Dunn and David Cyrus.
The match starts at 8.30pm.
In the first Night Series match at 6.30pm, former Perth Glory skipper Gareth Naven will be in charge of his first official game as coach of Perth SC against Armadale.
Night Series squads will be published on Thursday, January 28.
Matches will be played at Inglewood Stadium, Cockburn City's Dalmatinac Park, Sorrento's Percy Doyle Reserve, Stirling Lions' Macedonia Park and Dorrien Garden, home of Perth SC.
Pool A: Inglewood United; Floreat Athena; Cockburn City; Bayswater City; Subiaco; Perth Glory.
Click here for Pool A fixtures
Pool B: Stirling Lions; Sorrento; Balcatta; Perth SC; ECU Joondalup; Armadale.
Click here for Pool B fixtures
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