Josh Macdonald picked a good time to return home to Wollongong.
The former Nottingham Forest youth player and former Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder is back in familiar surroundings as he looks to relaunch his professional career and the Westfield FFA Cup has afforded him a priceless opportunity to showcase his talents on a national stage.
And it is an opportunity that will not be lost on the Wolves – and indeed the greater city of Wollongong – either.
Sydney FC are one of the biggest clubs in Australia’s new age of professional football.
Since the inception of the A-League, Sydney have won the competition twice, putting them on level pegging with the Wolves – who now ply their trade in the PS4 National Premier Leagues New South Wales Men’s competition – in terms of national titles.
In the old National Soccer League, the Wolves enjoyed a golden run as they won back-to-back national titles in the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 seasons, and now they are determined to prove that they deserve to be back on the national agenda.
“I’ve only been back for about six weeks, but it’s been good. I’m enjoying it to be honest,” Macdonald said.
“It’s a massive honour to have such a massive club as Sydney come to Wollongong for a competitive game.
“It’s good for us as a city as we push for an A-League club. There are so many passionate football people down here, I’m guessing the whole nation will be surprised by how many people turn up to WIN Stadium for the game.”
Thus far, the league season has been one to forget for Wollongong.
The Wolves sit second bottom on the table with just 13 points from 19 games thus far this season.
Injuries have hit the club hard all campaign, but Macdonald is hoping he and his battle-hardened Wolves team-mates will be able to take the scalp of a new-look Sydney FC still early in its pre-season.
“They have a whole new team and they lost to Macarthur [Rams] 1-0 [in a friendly] which is good for us,” Macdonald said.
“I think everyone on our side just needs to turn up. Once they get out there and realise who they’re playing, I think the adrenaline will kick in.”
Match Details
Wednesday 10th August
Wollongong Wolves v Sydney FC
WIN Stadium, Wollongong, NSW
#WOLvSYD
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