Continuing my journey through the WA side of the 2016 FFA Cup from the very beginning. I started off with my local side Backpackers FC and will follow them until they’re knocked out and then follow that side that defeated them and so on so forth. Who knows where I’ll end up…
ROUND ONE
BACKPACKERS FC 8 Western United (Sunday Division 5) 0
ROUND TWO
Fremantle Croatia (Sunday Premier League) 4 BACKPACKERS FC 4 (Backpackers won 4-2 on penalties)
ROUND THREE-Saturday March 19
BACKPACKERS FC (Sunday Amateur Division 3) v Bunbury Dynamos (South West Premier League)
With an upset win against Fremantle Croatia in the second round Backpackers FC continued to defy normal convention by making it to the third round in their inaugural attempt to take out the FFA Cup. In the third round they faced an equally impressive and bloody well named ‘Bunbury Dynamos’ from the South West leagues looking to also make history by also making it to the fourth round for the first time in their history.
It was a home game for Backpackers FC on a stormy Saturday afternoon in Perth and where it all started in Round 1 at the back of Morley at the beyond suburban looking Elstead Reserve.
Backpackers were expected to beat the Dynamos but they were no push overs beating another metropolitan team in Ballajura FC the previous round. Bunbury Dynamos are a team founded in 1967 and features the Welsh dragon/gryphon on their club badge that has always been seen as a mere coincidence that the chairman of the club at the time was also Welsh.
Unfortunately due to a close friend’s wedding I was unable to attend this match and, of course, with me not being there for this game they now had a bit of a bar area to cater for thirsty fans now that interest is swelling in their cup run as the teams were whittled down. There was even a small football orientated bouncy castle for the kids! Glamour! According to those in attendance Backpackers FC made hard work of it in the first half but were ahead by half time from the spot thanks to Al Dutton.
Then in the second half Dynamos found their rhythm and pushed for an equaliser with Backpackers FC (apparently) defending stoically until a late second goal confirmed their path in to Round 4 thanks to a superb solo effort by Sean Lehart.
2-0 at full time and now Backpackers FC march on but it now gets very hard with the Saturday semi-pro teams involved. Backpackers FC will face formidable opposition to get through being drawn away to Saturday second division club Curtin University in Round Four. While it’s not impossible it will be another massive test for this young team who seem to be enjoying the journey. Will I be following Backpackers in to yet another historic round after the forthcoming clash or will I be with Curtin University in the fifth round hanging out at the tavern and selling Green Left Weekly. We’ll find out when the teams clash on Easter Monday.
BACKPACKERS FC 2 (Dutton, Lehart)
BUNBURY DYNAMOS 0
CROWD-N/A (although there were around 60 at the wedding)
ATMOPSHERE-N/A. (The atmosphere at the wedding was very good though. Speeches had the crowd onside).
FACILITIES-N/A. (Although Ocean Reef Surf Club was an excellent place for a wedding and a superb sunset)
EATS/DRINKS FACILITIES-N/A. (Saying that though the beers and champagne on offer and the wedding were plentiful along with a fantastic meal)
Backpackers FC away to Curtin University in Round 4 on Easter Monday March 28.
About Dennis Gedling
RTR FM Presenter. Dilettante. Traffic Nerd. Behind the Almanac World Cup 100. Keen Cat, Cardie, Socceroo/Matilda, Glory Bhoy.
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I love hearing about the exploits of this team Dennis.
Do they have a nickname, e.g. Go ‘Packers or Carn Dufflebags ?
Do you run into many of them holding clipboards, wearing bright coloured t-shirts asking for you to sign up for Medicin Sans Frontiers in Hay Street Mall?
Or are they ring-ins?
Haven’t heard a nickname but packers would be a good one.
The team started off a Sunday morning indoor soccer thing to get backpackers together that’s turned in to an actual football club to create a social network for people travelling through our fair city. It’s about 50/50 backpackers and permanent ex pats. You would probably find most of them working on a building site cash in hand rather than your more stereotypical backpacker jobs looking at some of them.
Hopefully for the game on Easter Monday in the game against Curtain Uni there’s a good mix of backpackers and pissed up engineering students. Will go more in depth for the next article that will probably see them fall.