Football West News
Bayswater City have landed a plum tie in the Round of 32 of the Hahn Australia Cup with a home game against Sydney FC.
The 2025 NPL champions will host the five-time A-League grand final winners at their Frank Drago Reserve home.
Football West’s other representatives, Fremantle City, will travel to the Hunter Valley to face Northern NSW NPL outfit Maitland FC. This is Freo’s first time in the national rounds.
A-League side Perth Glory were drawn away against Queensland NPL team Lions FC.
Bayswater came from two goals down to defeat Perth RedStar 3-2 last week and secure their spot in the Round of 32. They last went this far in 2019, although they did represent Football West in the inaugural Australian Championship last year.
Club President Oriano Colli said: “Hosting Sydney FC at Frank Drago Reserve is a proud moment for Bayswater City.
“For our members, volunteers, players, coaches, sponsors and supporters, it is recognition of the hard work that has gone into building our club over many years. Opportunities like this are what the Australia Cup is all about and we are excited to welcome one of Australia’s biggest clubs to our home ground.
“It will be a fantastic occasion for our Baysie family, our local community and football in Western Australia, and we look forward to showcasing our club on the national stage.”
There were plenty of celebrations in the Fremantle clubrooms after they landed an away trip over east, leading head coach Scott Miller to joke: “I don’t think they realise how far away it is!”
Miller added: “As long as it was an away game, they were buzzing. But it is great to be able to get all the boys together and it will be a terrific experience.
“It is fantastic for the club to receive this exposure and a chance to grow the club’s profile.”
Miller also paid tribute to the club’s past and present Board Members who have seen the club climb through the divisions: “There are four people I’m especially pleased for – Tony Estrano, Maurice Oteri, Alex Ricciardi and Ian McTear, who have been great since I have been here and who have been with the club from the Amateur day all the way through.”
Miller’s side reached the Round of 32 with a 3-1 win over Olympic Kingsway last week. That also secured them a place in August’s State Cup final, where they will meet Bayswater.
“We always say how much we love playing against Bayswater, although we never seem to beat them. So it would be nice to get one over them in the biggest game, “ Miller said.
“They are a great team and have been the best side in the competition for the best two seasons. Matty Sparrow’s done a great job since going there.”
Sparrow, of course, joined Bayswater from Fremantle, taking players such as Oli La Galia and Pat Loughrey with him. Does that add any spice to the final?
“There may have been some of that stuff last year at the club but not now,” Miller said. “I think everyone’s just looking forward to playing in a final against a good team. We saw last year when the Freo Women’s team won the State Cup for the first time how good that was for the club and we hope to do the same.”
Details of the Round of 32 games will be announced shortly.
