Matt McKay heads Brisbane Roar Legends team for bushfire aid
Matt McKay has been spending his weekends surfing since hanging up his boots, but the former Brisbane Roar skipper will gladly forego the waves on Saturday to help victims of the bushfires that have ravaged Australia.
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Matt McKay has been spending his weekends surfing since hanging up his boots, but the former Brisbane Roar skipper will gladly forego the waves on Saturday to help victims of the bushfires that have ravaged Australia.
McKay will be part of a Roar Legends side taking on a NPL Queensland team on Saturday at Suncorp Stadium in a charity match supporting Rural Aid’s drought and bushfire relief effort.
Those joining McKay in the Roar team include fellow A-League championship-winning captain Matt Smith, Socceroos greats Craig Moore and Danny Tiatto, five-time A-League title winner Michael Theo, the “Slippery Fish” Henrique, Jean Carlos Solorzano, Michael Baird, Warren Moon, Jonti Richter and Royce Brownlie.
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“It’s been a tough few months for Australia, and we (can) do our little bit, the Roar Legends, but it’s great to get the orange back on,” said McKay, who retired at the end of last season after 302 appearances in all competitions for Brisbane.
“I haven’t missed the football too much.
“I really enjoy my weekends off, spending time with the family and going surfing … but this is a good initiative and when the email came about this game, I was definitely going to play.”
Smith, who still plays in the NPL for the Gold Coast Knights, said he was “very proud and very pleased” to take part in the charity match.
“Once you’ve finished playing (at the top level), there’s not too many opportunities like this to see some old friends and faces,” said Smith, who led the Roar to A-League titles in 2012 and 2014.
Baird, who scored for the Roar in their first A-League match, a 2-0 win over the New Zealand Knights at Suncorp Stadium on August 28 2005, hopes he can repeat the feat on Saturday.
“That was a special day, and just to be a part of this now for such a great cause, it’s great to be back on the pitch,” Baird said.
Saturday’s match kicks off at 2.10pm and is the curtain-raiser to the A-League match between the Roar and Wellington Phoenix.
The jerseys worn by the Roar Legends players will be auctioned after the game with the proceeds to go to Rural Aid.
Originally published as Matt McKay heads Brisbane Roar Legends team for bushfire aid