Western United will present Ballarat and District Soccer Association president and stalwart Herman Bogers with a jersey ahead of tonight's Herman Bogers Charity Shield match at the Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility.
The Ballarat City Football Club will take on the BDSA All Stars in the annual charity match. The event recognises Herman Bogers' tireless work for the game of football in the region. All funds raised from the event will be donated to the Bushfire Appeal.
Western United FC, the team for the west, will support the match with a signed jersey for auction, while Western United will have inflatables and a range of other fun activities for families from 6-7pm. The game kicks off at 7pm.
The Green and Black will face Brisbane Roar in the second of its four home games at Ballarat's premier multi-sports and events facility on Sunday 16 February in the round 19 clash of the Hyundai A-League 2019/20 season. Gates open at 3pm, game begins at 4pm. Tickets via Ticketmaster.
Western United defeated Roar 2-0 earlier this season in a highly-charged match in Brisbane. The clash will feature former England international Robbie Fowler in his first season as a coach in the A-League with Roar. For home fans, United will showcase superstars including Greek international Panagiotis Kone and A-League legend Besart Berisha in attack alongside Aussie rising stars Oskar Dillon and Jerry Skotadis.
The event will also feature inflatable fun for kids, face painters, a lounge area with bean bags on the hill and player signings and selfies post-match.
City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Ben Taylor thanked Western United for throwing its support behind Herman Bogers and the fundraising event named in his honour.
Cr Taylor says the City of Ballarat's work to attract Western United to Ballarat brings high-level professional soccer to Ballarat while bolstering grassroots level soccer.
"Ballarat soccer enthusiasts and Western United fans will get to witness yet another thrilling match at Mars Stadium this Sunday," he says.
"It's terrific to see A-League soccer in Ballarat and to also see these exceptional matches being played at our magnificent Mars Stadium."
Sunday's game has ramifications for the top six with Western United in seventh spot on the ladder heading into this weekend's round. Brisbane Roar are in sixth.
Head coach of Western United, Mark Rudan, says he's looking forward to seeing Ballarat back their A-League boys.
"It's a big game, but they're all big games. It's hugely important to have a big home crowd support [at Mars Stadium] as a football club. It's about growing our fanbase and growing as a football club. The people of Ballarat are very loyal and they were great last time we played here."
More than 5,000 fans watched as Western United took on Wellington Phoenix in its history-making first A-League soccer clash at Mars Stadium on Saturday 28 December, 2019. Mars Stadium has state-of-the-art facilities, including media facilities, that will enable the matches to be telecast live on Foxtel.
Media please note: Western United will also hold media opportunities in and around Ballarat this week ahead of Sunday's match:
Wednesday 12 February, 9am-3pm
Community football event
Beaufort Community Bank Complex (Beaufort PS / Trawalla PS / Buangor PS)
Thursday 13 February, 9am-1.30pm
Community football event
Alexandra Oval Ararat (Ararat North PS/Ararat West PS/St Mary's School)
Saturday afternoon 15 February, 3pm - exact time TBC
Press conference at Mars Stadium, Ballarat, with Western United head coach/player (plus 15 mins of training vision, TBC)
Sunday afternoon 16 February (kick off 4pm)
Western United v Brisbane Roar
Post-match press conference (Fox Sports) and mixed zone as required
