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 and Mount Martha.
The Cup and Plate contestants will be split into two groups with group winners playing in the final.
Wallace Cup, Group A: Chelsea, Skye United, Mornington.
Wallace Cup, Group B: Peninsula Strikers, Langwarrin, Rosebud.
Wallace Plate, Group A: Mount Eliza, Seaford United, Mount Martha.
Wallace Plate, Group B: Frankston Pines, Somerville Eagles, Baxter.
Matches will consist of 20-minute halves and the Cup will be played on the main pitch at Lawton Park with the Plate being played on the top pitch near the venue’s main entrance.
Here is the full draw:
12pm: Skye Utd v Chelsea, Mount Eliza v Mount Martha
12.50pm: Peninsula Strikers v Rosebud, Frankston Pines v Baxter
1.40pm: Mornington v Chelsea, Seaford Utd v Mount Martha
2.30pm: Langwarrin v Rosebud, Somerville Eagles v Baxter
3.20pm: Mornington v Skye Utd, Seaford Utd v Mount Eliza
4.10pm: Langwarrin v Peninsula Strikers, Somerville Eagles v Frankston Pines
5.10pm: Wallace Cup final, Wallace Plate final.
This is the 13th staging of the Wallace Cup and previous winners are:
Casey Comets 2013; Mornington 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018; Moreland Zebras 2019; Langwarrin 2020, 2021, 2023, 2025; Baxter 2024.
This is the third staging of the Wallace Plate and previous winners are Somerville Eagles (2024) and Seaford United (2025).
Late last week Wallace Memorial Day organiser Tanya Wallace announced a major change to the annual event that honours her father’s contribution to the sport.
“As of 2027 I will be opening the event back up to clubs as the format of the day is solid now,” Wallace said.
“So I’m seeking expressions of interest now from clubs to host the day.
“My family and I are grateful to the soccer community on the peninsula for playing in dad’s memory even if it’s no longer a fundraiser.
“It’s a day where we feel like he is still a part of things and enjoying us showcasing all the amazing clubs from up above.
“He loved nothing more than seeing clubs succeed and was never one to shy away from giving another club a hand.
“Dad was the epitome of a community man.
“His grandsons will be able to remember his legacy and what an impact he made when he was still with us.”
In VPL1 news Langwarrin lost 2-1 to Bayside Argonauts in a friendly on Saturday morning at Lawton Park.
Tosan Popo scored for Langy in a competitive game.
In State 1 news Mornington lost 1-0 to VPL outfit Eastern Lions at Gardiner’s Creek Reserve on Saturday.
It was an evenly balanced contest throughout with each team well organised defensively and committed in the challenge.
The decisive moment came in the second half when a rare error from Mornington allowed Eastern Lions through on goal and the resulting one-on-one was calmly finished.
Mornington had only commenced training last week making the performance particularly pleasing.
Still in State 1 and Skye United’s seniors and reserves had hitouts last Thursday evening.
The seniors drew 1-1 with Endeavour United at Reema Reserve.
Skye used a different squad in each half as gaffer Phil McGuinness is still sifting through triallists.
Endeavour opened the scoring in the second half, however Skye equalised not long after through a deflected free-kick from trialist Nasha Hussainy.
Skye’s reserves went down 2-0 to Seaford United at North Seaford Reserve in a dominant display by the home side.
Skye’s keeper was injured inside the opening five minutes so Seaford’s Bayleigh Caulfield went into goal and had an outstanding match making multiple saves including one from a Dylan Waugh penalty.
Seaford led 1-0 at half-time after Conor McFall’s defence-splitting pass put Zain Ahmed through on goal and he made no mistake.
Despite Caulfield’s heroics Seaford’s second goal eventually came when Keegan Bell’s effort just inside the box deflected off a defender and found its way to the back of the net.
Skye’s superior fitness showed in the last 20 minutes and Seaford keeper Hayden Hicks proved impassable.
The result has given Seaford coach Paulo Pinheiro a selection headache as it won’t be easy choosing between his two senior squad keepers based on their respective performances in this contest.
This Thursday Skye travels to Dorset Recreation Reserve to take on Croydon City.
The reserves kick off at 6.45pm and the seniors at 8.15pm.
In other news it seems that Peter Blasby hasn’t retired after all.
Last week Melbourne Knights’ Goalkeeper of the Century was hired by Springvale White Eagles.
