Inglewood kicked off their 70-year anniversary celebrations in the best possible fashion by lifting the Men's NPL Night Series. Photo by Football West/FotoEnzo
Inglewood United are out to celebrate their 70th anniversary in style on Sunday when they host Perth SC in the Men’s NPL at Inglewood Stadium.
Andres Oliveira’s side are seven games unbeaten and will move above the Azzurri into the top four with three points this weekend.
Sunday’s game also provides an opportunity for the community to reflect on Inglewood’s proud history, from their Kiev days in the 1950s to the present.
A range of memorabilia will be collated in the clubrooms with photos and jerseys displayed for supporters old and new to reminisce over. On the pitch, heritage pennants will be exchanged between Inglewood and Perth, while the first team will wear a one-off commemorative strip which incorporates multiple facets of the club’s history including the names of significant contributors.
Since forming in 1951, many greats have graced Inglewood, but nobody is as synonymous with the club as the late Siggy Kramer. The Football Hall of Fame Western Australia member’s 60-year involvement with Inglewood as a player, coach and administrator left a lasting impact, not just with the club but with the wider football community in WA, before his passing in 2014.
Inglewood club president Cesare Colli said: “I refer to Siggy, and now his son Karl, as Mr Inglewood because they’re the glue that holds it together in an emotional sense. They connect the old with the new.
“Siggy was instrumental in getting a 25-year lease where we are at Hamer Park and that was significant because the club was bedded down once and for all, for a long time.
“To be able to get that grandstand built back in 2001 was a significant cost then and to pull those resources together was incredible. I guess The Kramer Family Stand is the visible thing of Siggy’s legacy, but it’s way more than that, it’s the whole club. He was a huge personality, a very clever guy and knew how to read people.
“He was fiercely protective of Inglewood which also came out on match days sometimes. If the referee did something wrong, it wasn’t unusual to see Siggy jump out of that VIP room which seemed a regular occurrence! But he was a lovable character, he really was.”
Inglewood’s longest-serving player Scott Blackmore rejoined the club for a second spell in 2014, having originally been at Walter Road in 2005 prior to playing at ECU Joondalup. He also paid tribute to Kramer, the volunteers behind the scenes and acknowledged the magnitude of the milestone.
“It’s phenomenal and will be a massive weekend for the club. To operate for 70 years and to do so with proud tradition and good support is fantastic,” the defender said.
“As players, we’re very aware of it and are excited to see the initiatives on game day. I’m a traditionalist, I love the history and I hope I’m still around to celebrate 100 years in the future.
“It takes many people and a lot of volunteers who commit their spare time and effort for us to play out there every weekend. We owe them a depth of gratitude for what they’ve done and I’m so proud to be associated with them and the club.
“With any great local community club there’s prominent families involved and without them they don’t survive, thrive and prosper. I recall when I joined in 2005 Siggy was the man I initially met upon signing and he was one of the factors which made me join Inglewood. I was familiar with him through my father and enjoyed seeing him. He was always a gentleman and great conversation.”
Siggy’s son Karl still carries the Kramer name at Inglewood as vice-president, while Colli as president since 2015 has had an association with the club from 2004, which dates back to the playing days of his three sons (including Jason from 2004-2017).
The family environment looks to be continuing at the club, too. Blackmore, Jason Barrera and former players Jason Colli and Miki Vujacic all have sons playing at junior level with Inglewood.
“We regard it as a family club and foster that atmosphere,” Colli said.
“It’s part of the culture which is important and something I’ve aimed to keep alive and build upon in the last seven years, for players to come through and feel like they’re part of a family.
“Inglewood has been a part of my family’s life since 2004 and is like an extra family member. You’re involved in the emotional rollercoaster of it, the doing well, the not doing so well. It’s really hard to put into words.
“Playing on Saturday and getting a result is what it’s about, but one of the most enjoyable parts for me is the Thursday night tradition of training and dinner. To socialise, connect with players, coaches, members, not just about the club but life, too, it’s pretty special and the time I enjoy most.”
On the pitch, Inglewood can finish the weekend as high as second should they win and results on Saturday go their way. It provides the players with added incentive.
“We’re looking to keep the momentum going and definitely want to be back up there,” Blackmore said.
“We feel like we’re good value for that top four position and I’m very excited to see what we can do Sunday. I’m looking forward to seeing some old faces and we can’t wait to play on the weekend.”
On Saturday, Rockingham host Cockburn in a clash between the league’s bottom two with Goran Stajic’s side needing a win to close the current six-point gap to safety.
Unbeaten leaders Floreat Athena, who are 10 points clear of second-place ECU, booked their place in the FFA Cup Round of 32 in midweek. They host a Perth Glory team needing to break a three-game winless run to keep their finals hopes intact.
ECU also advanced in the FFA Cup to set up a State Cup final clash with Athena. On Saturday they travel to Alfred Skeet Reserve to play bogey-side Armadale, who have only lost one of the past seven meetings with the defending champions.
Gwelup Croatia host Sorrento hoping to close a nine-point gap on the third-placed Gulls, while the winner of Bayswater and Balcatta will also maintain outside finals hopes.
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