Sunday amateur league club Tea Tree Gully City set to host West Adelaide in FFA Cup SA round one
Sunday amateur league club Tea Tree Gully City is primed for the biggest day in its history as it prepares to host Argentine playmaker Marcelo Carrusca and his West Adelaide teammates in the opening round of the FFA Cup SA.
Local Soccer SA
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Soccer SA. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- SA clubs fire up at community summit
- Gallop keen to discuss Reds ownership
- 90 Minutes: Weekly local soccer wrap
DAMIEN Kuypers has cooked more barbecues and marked more pitches than he cares to remember during three decades involvement with Tea Tree Gully City Soccer Club.
But the chairman never dreamt he would see the Sunday amateur league outfit go head-to-head with one of his Adelaide United heroes in a competitive match at Tilley Reserve.
The Gullies would face the biggest challenge of their 54-year history when they hosted former National Soccer League champion West Adelaide in the FFA Cup SA on Sunday (2pm).
Kuypers said the David versus Goliath clash was a chance to put the club on the map and test itself against the likes of star off-season recruit and Reds great Marcelo Carrusca.
“I’ve cooked a lot of barbies, I’ve run the bar and I’m in the process of marking the pitches,” said Kuypers, who began playing for Tea Tree Gully aged five.
“But for me and a few of the other boys who are Adelaide United fans, to have someone of Carrusca’s stature gracing the fields that I’ve grown up on will be pretty special.
“You never know who you might come up against in the cup and we were lucky enough, or unlucky enough, to draw West Adelaide.
“But no one goes into any game thinking they’re going to lose and the players are excited to get out there and get amongst it.”
West was the sole National Premier Leagues SA club drawn to feature in the opening round of the state phase of the national knockout competition.
Argentine playmaker Carrusca was unlikely to relish the trip to Adelaide’s northeast suburbs, given his new club was winless in the opening five rounds of the top flight campaign.
Tea Tree Gully midfielder Rhys Devlin said his teammates were undaunted by the prospect of facing a side from three tiers above them.
“They (West) obviously haven’t had the best of starts, so definitely the pressure is on them to perform and kickstart their season,” said Devlin, the oldest player in the Gullies team at 31.
“Realistically it’s going to be a very tough game for us, but it’ll be a great experience, especially for our younger players.
“It’ll be an imposing crowd right near the touchline and quite vocal, so that might add a little bit of a different element for them (West).
“The goal of the day is obviously to try to cause an upset and give them a good game. You’ve got to play to win, so we’ll be doing that.”
The Gullies, who narrowly avoided relegation from the Sunday Premier last year, would look to captain and centre back Liam Crook to stand tall in the face of expected West pressure.
Young wingers Dylan Rocca and Hamish Taylor were among other talents to watch.
Kuypers said a loyal band of volunteers had been working overtime to prepare for a bumper turnout at the club’s FFA Cup debut.
“We’re getting the beer fridge stocked and the canteen stocked and we’re putting more staff on,” said Kuypers, who had served the club as a player, coach and committee member.
“It’s been all systems go trying work everything out, but we’ve got a good team of volunteers here and we couldn’t do it without them.
“It’s a good chance to get our name out there and we’re hoping we get a good crowd.”
The winner of the FFA Cup SA will join Adelaide United and NPL champion Campbelltown City as the state’s representatives in the national round-of-32.
FFA CUP SA – ROUND ONE
Friday
Brahma Lodge v Adelaide Wanderers, Cockburn Green, 7pm
Adelaide Victory v Fulham, Rushworth Reserve, 7pm
Rostrevor Old Collegians v BOSA, Steve Woodcock Sports Centre, 8pm
Pontian Eagles v Mercedes Old Collegians, Yalumba Drive Reserve, 8pm
Saturday
Adelaide University Grads Red v UniSA, University Ovals, 12pm
Sturt Lions v Gawler, AA Bailey Reserve, 2.30pm
Adelaide Red Blue Eagles v Noarlunga United, Carnegie Reserve, 2.30pm
Mount Barker United v Ghan Kilburn City, Cornerstone College, 2.30pm
West Torrens Birkalla v Port Adelaide Pirates, Jack Smith Park, 2.30pm
Modbury Jets v Adelaide Cobras, Jet Park, 2.30pm
Adelaide University v Modbury Vista, University Ovals, 2.30pm
Adelaide Cobras amateurs v Elizabeth Downs, Argana Park, 3pm
Cardijn Old Collegians v Vipers, Cardijn College, 3pm
Cove v Eastern United, Cove Sports and Community Centre, 3pm
Old Ignatians v Sacred Heart Old Collegians, Margaret Bond Oval, 3pm
Salisbury United v USC Lion, Burton Park, 3pm
Northern Demons v Cumberland United, Byrne Park, 3.30pm
Western Strikers v White City, Carnegie Reserve, 5pm
Seaford Rangers v Playford City, Karingal Reserve, 6pm
Sunday
Tea Tree Gully v West Adelaide, Tilley Reserve, 2pm
Elizabeth Vale v Adelaide Titans, Mofflin Rd, 3pm
Noarlunga United amateurs v Adelaide Hills, Wilfred Taylor Reserve, 3pm
Raiders embrace ‘underdog’ tag, new recruit scores winner
An NPL side enjoying its second season in the top flight is making a strike for the top of the table, while another club coach says his side is playing a brand that’s ‘nice, it’s good, it’s sharp’. Check out The Messenger’s reports from the weekend’s action.
Top women’s soccer coach quits, cites ‘difference of opinion’
A top flight women’s soccer coach has quit mid season because “differing opinions” despite leading the side to first spot on the table with just one loss after six rounds.