SOCCER ALANA Murphy’s switch to Nottingham Forest and the start of the VPL1 season are under the spotlight this week. Murphy, 20, is a Langwarrin prodigy who joined the English WSL2 side last week from SC Sand in Germany’s Bundesliga 2. Forest wasted no time in cinching the deal. “They reached out to my agent in search of a centre midfielder and when he sent through my profile they seemed to like what they saw and straight away they made an offer,” Murphy said. Nottingham Forest head coach Carly Davies couldn’t hide her enthusiasm over Murphy’s capture. “Alana is an…
Author: Craig MacKenzie
SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie MARCUS Spivey has been scoring for fun for eight seasons and if the current pre-season is anything to go by that trend will continue. The big man is testing himself by jumping from Mentone now in State 6 to Skye United in State 1 and he’s up for the challenge. “I just love scoring goals and I want to prove to myself that I can play at this level,” Spivey said. His signing is a coup for Skye given the host of suitors that always line up at season’s end with lucrative offers. But throwing dollars…
SOCCER THIS week the local spotlight falls on Saturday’s annual Steve Wallace Memorial Day. The event commemorates the life of local soccer icon Stephen William Wallace who was 54 years old when he died on 19 July 2011. He was a former Langwarrin player, coach, president, life member, club council representative and Bayside League referee. Twelve local clubs play for the Wallace Cup and the Wallace Plate. This year’s Wallace Cup will be contested by Langwarrin, Mornington, Skye United, Peninsula Strikers, Chelsea and Rosebud. The Wallace Plate will be contested by Baxter, Somerville Eagles, Frankston Pines, Seaford United, Mount Eliza…
SOCCER RYAN Woolf and Patrick Briggs were announced as new signings by local State 2 and State 4 clubs respectively last week. Both have been plucked from State 5 competition last year with Woolf winning Pakenham United’s best and fairest while Briggs was an ever-present in East Bentleigh’s State 5 East championship-winning side. Woolf has joined Peninsula Strikers while Briggs has switched to Chelsea. Strikers’ joint coaches Ross Wallis and Stephen Duffy have been forced to rebuild the senior squad after an exodus of players following the resignation of head coach Scott Morrison. Strikers have flirted with promotion for the…
SOCCER JACK Elliott’s return to Baxter and the second annual Billy Baldwin Memorial Day are upcoming highlights on the local scene. Elliott has been a wanted man ever since walking away from the sport to concentrate on HYROX, a global fitness racing sport that combines eight kilometres of running with eight functional workout stations creating a consistent, indoor challenge testing strength, endurance and stamina. He has qualified for the Pro singles and Pro doubles events at the world championships in Switzerland in June and will be part of an Australian contingent expected to number over 100 at the prestigious event.…