And I also have to laugh at this comment from the Sunday Times. "WA's own Cristiano Ronaldo..." Yes you read correctly. Apparently his grandparents live here so that means he's now ours. Now I'm just waiting for the rumour mill to churn out a 'Glory set to sign Ronaldo'.

Perth Glory has pulled off a pre-season coup with the club set to play an international friendly against four times FA Cup winners Wolverhampton Wanderers at Members Equity Stadium in July.

Perth Glory and Wolverhampton have agreed in principle to the pre-season match in Western Australia with the final arrangements and contracts to be confirmed by the powerful English side and Football Federation Australia in the coming days.

Wolverhampton currently sits top of the Championship and are odds on to re-join the elite Premier League competition next season, alongside the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, after a six year absence. They currently sit five points clear of second placed Birmingham and nine ahead of Reading in third with just six matches remaining.

Wolves have a long and successful history that dates back more than 120 years and includes three First Division Championships, four FA Cups, two League Cups and runner-up in the UEFA Cup.

It will be the first time in a decade that a top level European club has played in Perth and Glory Deputy Chairman Mr Lui Giuliani said it is the start of many new initiatives that Chairman and Owner Mr Tony Sage has committed to implementing this season and beyond.

“This is a watershed moment in Perth Glory’s Hyundai A-League history,” Mr Giuliani said.

“Perth Glory is committed to winning on and off the field and this is one of many successful opportunities that we’re set to announce in the coming months.

“Our ability to bring Wolves to Perth is a true indication of Tony Sage’s commitment to Perth Glory and the West Australian community. He has underwritten the tour to ensure that Glory receives a significant kick start into a new and exciting era.

“We’ve said we’re committed to action and making things happen and this is a wonderful start,” said Mr Giuliani.
PGFC Wolves Logo
Wolverhampton Wolves Logo

Perth Glory fought off stiff competition from numerous clubs on the east coast to bring Wolverhampton to Western Australia in an exclusive deal that will see them play only in the west coast.

Glory Coach Dave Mitchell, who has a strong relationship with Wolverhampton Manager Mick McCarthy, was instrumental in the negotiations while Mr Giuliani also acknowledged the assistance of John Dennison from Entourage Management Services who helped facilitate the tour.

It is expected that Wolverhampton will spend approximately 12 days in Perth as part of a pre-season program which will culminate in two matches, one against the Glory and another yet to be confirmed.

“Not only will we test ourselves against a club playing at the highest levels in Europe, we’ll also get a great opportunity to observe their professional training standards,” said Mr Giuliani.

“We’re excited about the great tourism benefits this will deliver to Western Australia and there will no doubt be many clubs around the world that will now consider Perth as top class football training destination.”

The timing of the tour sits perfectly for Perth who will be in the final stages of their preparations for the 2009/10 Hyundai A-League season and Mitchell is looking forward to testing his new look squad against the visitors.

“I have no doubt that it will be a hard fought game but played in the right spirit,” Mitchell said.

“They’re well managed by Mick McCarthy who is a no nonsense bloke. I know him well and we’ve kept in touch so it’ll be great to come up against him.

“I’ve told Mick about Perth, what a great place it is and the strength of support for football in this town.

“There will be plenty of opportunities for local football supporters to take part in activities throughout the week and we’re very much looking forward to welcoming Wolves to Western Australia,” said Mitchell.

Perth Glory members will receive priority access to match tickets and will be notified once dates have been confirmed.

Mr Giuliani said the club was continuing to investigate the possibility of more international friendlies in WA during the pre-season and was hopeful of bringing another blockbuster match to Perth in 2009.

i wonder who the second match will be against? if the anon team needs a keeper im more than happy to play for free haha, my cv only includes keeping in fotsal but it cant be that different right :]

Perth Glory face action from FIFA after illegal talks with Kevin Phillips

Perth Glory and their coach Dave Mitchell are facing action from world football's governing body after illegally approaching Kevin Phillips.

Phillps' current club, Birmingham City, have requested that the Football Association report the A-League club after claiming no permission was given to allow Mitchell to set up a meeting with the striker.

Clubs can only approach contracted players without permission from their current team if he is in the last six months of his contract.

Phillips is less than a year into his two-year contract at Birmingham.

"We will be asking the FA to put a representation to FIFA on the club's behalf in respect of Australian club Perth Glory and their recent press claims over Kevin Phillips," Birmingham said in a statement.

35-year-old Phillips has scored 13 goals in 31 league matches this season to help take the Blues to second place in the second tier.

PERTH Glory coach David Mitchell has broken ranks with other A-League coaches to support national boss Pim Verbeek in keeping Socceroos players in Europe.

Despite pursuing national star Mile Sterjovski as a marquee signing for next season, Mitchell said the big picture was Australia's national team and every other interest in the game must defer to that.

"I'm certainly not annoyed, because I think the best thing for the country is the best thing for the league and the best thing for the clubs," Mitchell said.

"If the Socceroos qualify for the World Cup then there's a big generation of interest in football and a bit of a cashflow as well that comes down to all the clubs.

"That's the most important thing. If I was in (Verbeek's) shoes, I'd say exactly the same.

"What Pim has said makes it a little bit harder for us to attract (Australian) players but that's where you've got to go out and try and get some other players."

North Queensland Fury was outraged when Verbeek suggested their target Scott Chipperfield would jeopardise his World Cup spot if he played in the A-League next season.

Chipperfield this week confirmed he would spend another season in Europe, partly to aid his chances of going to South Africa and will likely have his contract with Swiss Super League club FC Basel extended.

But first choice Socceroo Jason Culina ignored Verbeek's veiled threats and signed as Gold Coast United's inaugural marquee player.

Mitchell said while the Dutchman's stance made recruiting Australian players for next season more difficult that would be made up for at the end of the four-year World Cup cycle.

"I think probably after the World Cup you'll see a flood of players coming back," Mitchell said.

"With Pim's stance about players coming back here, I think a lot of players have got cold feet about that and thought let's not make the move now."

That makes plenty of sense.
i'm sure they will as well.
i mean we dont want to see what happened to Lazza occur again.

If Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish and Dave Mitchell had spoke on the phone - it may have gone something like this!

EAR-WIGGING on a telephone call at St Andrew’s the other day, I’m sure I heard this conversation between Birmingham boss Alex McLeish and Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell.

Mitchell: G’day Bruce.

Eck: It’s not Bruce. He left ages ago.

I thought we were supposed to be behind all of Australia’s soap operas, not the other way round. And why the Aussie accent, Dave? You’re as Scottish as me.

Mitchell: Sorry sport, I’m a great Glaswegian galar. It’s Perth Glory here.

Eck: Morning Glory.

Mitchell: No, mate. I was just excited about that Super Kev bloke. He’s still a bit darty. It’s him I’m ringing about.

I almost choked on my Vegemite when I heard I’d upset that Sheila at your club so much that she’s reporting me to FIFA for trying to tap up Phillips.

Eck: Wee Kev will be going up and over with us, not Down Under with you, big man. He’s under contract for another year, pal.

Mitchell: Under contract? So you’ve tied the Kev-a-roo down, sport!

Eck: Very funny, Davey-boy. Tell me, why did you want Kev anyway?

Mitchell: To beat a pack of Wolves.

Eck: You mean dingoes?

Mitchell: No, Dingles I think they call them. Wolverhampton Wanderers. We’re playing them pre-season, but I’m not sure if I was supposed to say that either.

Eck: Oh, you want to beat those Wolves. You and me both.

Mitchell: I hear they absolutely hate Phillips. He’s the scourge of Wolverhampton because he always seems to score against them.

Eck:I could do with him being fit enough to score past them a week on Monday, pal. I’ll tell you what, you can loan Kev for that one game if I can borrow a boomerang.

Mitchell: Eh, Eck?

Eck: It’s so I’ve finally got some inspiration for getting Birmingham back to where they came from as quickly as possible.

Mitchell: Deal!

http://www.sundaymercury.net/midlands-sport/finalword/2009/03/28/if-birmingham-city-boss-alex-mcleish-and-dave-mitchell-had-spoke-on-the-phone-it-may-have-gone-something-like-this-66331-23254211/

Little bit of humour there. Pretty Smart.