Murray Bridge will face Stirling in 2025 Anzac clash
United are preparing to face a foe with a familiar face on the sideline as they hope to retain soccer's Anzac Mateship Perpetual Trophy.
This story was contributed by Joe Di Santo.
Murray Bridge United will host Stirling Districts this Saturday in round three of the division three South Australian Amateur Soccer League: the annual Anzac Mateship Perpetual Trophy game.
The hosts will not only play senior games; they’ll also host a number of Adelaide Hills Junior Football Association matches against their guests.
United will be looking to retain the Mateship Trophy while Stirling will be looking to cause an upset.
This year’s game has a strong Murray Bridge United flair, with club legends Terry Hayes, Mark Goldstone and Andrew Beaven now at the helm as Stirling’s senior coach and assistants.
Stirling has a young squad fighting for promotion back into division two after being relegated to division three last year for the first time this century.
Hayes’ young chargers will be eager to take the three points and create their own destiny, and get hold of their first set of silverware since 2007’s Saturday division two A grade championship.
The last time Hayes was at United was in season 2021.
He was coach and had a great run, taking United to runners-up in the Saturday division two championship and then on to the dizzy heights of division one.
Amongst Hayes’ 2021 squad were Goldstone, Beaven and current United coach Jeremy Brynes, who was also in an assistant coaching role at the time.
Byrnes will be in no mood for a reunion with his counterparts as he looks to lead a relatively new squad with the experience of long-term players Dylan August, Graham Alympic and captain Dale Binney to lead their championship campaign.
The game will also have a military feel to it.
Royal Australian Navy bugler Sean Hickey will sound the Last Post.
United life member and veteran Trevor Wehrman will recite the Ode of Remembrance.
Past players and veterans Joe Di Santo, Vince Nisco and Craig Burgemeister will be in attendance as well as Sheila Gane, who be will representing her husband Dennis, an army veteran and junior coach; and her son Derrick, a navy veteran and past player.
Both teams need to win on Saturday; a victory to either will put their season on the right track.
Action at Beatty Terrace will get underway at 9am with a number of junior games being played.
At 1pm the B grade will play a curtain-raiser followed by a pre-game ceremony, then the main event and trophy presentation.
