Hyundai A-League Champions Sydney FC will face NPL NSW Men’s 1 side Manly United at Leichhardt Oval on Thursday 22nd August (kick off 7.30pm AEST) in the Sky Blues latest pre-season friendly as they prepare to defend their title.
The home clash will provide an opportunity to help the club’s young players with proceeds from the $5 entry going to the Sydney FC Foundation, which aims to promote the development of junior footballers within the Sydney FC Academy.
Manly finished 9th on the NSW NPL Men’s 1 ladder this season, just six points outside the finals slots, and the fixture will provide another tough test for Head Coach Steve Corica’s charges with the opposition preparing to face Brisbane Strikers in the FFA Cup Round of 16 a week later.
“It will be another good test for us against a top flight national premier league team,” Corica said.
“We’ve still got a few boys finding their way back to full match fitness but the majority of our players should be fit and I expect us to be able to put on a very good performance.
“Our first two home games of the season are at Leichhardt Oval and the more we can play on the surface and get used to it, the better.”
United are coached by Paul Dee who is assisted by former Central Coast striker Dylan McAllister and Hyundai A-League Championship winner and ex-Sydney FC centre-half Adam Griffiths.
“The friendly against Sydney FC is a great preparation for us ahead of the round of 16 FFA Cup match against Brisbane Strikers,” Dee said.
“For the players and the club, it’s also another wonderful opportunity and we thank Steve Corica, Danny Townsend and the people at Sydney FC for helping to make the match happen so quickly,” said Dee.
Entry to the game is $5 per person on the gate.
Sydney FC’s pre-season fixtures (all kick off times AEST):
• Wednesday, 14th August vs Wollongong Wolves at WIN Stadium, Wollongong (A), kick off 7pm.
• Thursday, 22nd August vs Manly United at Leichhardt Oval, Leichhardt (H), kick off 7.30pm.
• Saturday 21st September vs Newcastle Jets at Apex Oval, Dubbo (A), kick off 3pm.
