Stakes high for Roar in rumble
BRISBANE Roar skipper Tom Aldred says there is more at stake than just pre-season bragging rights when the club hosts English Premier League giants Aston Villa in the inaugural Queensland Champions Cup in Townsville in July.
Aldred, 31, said there was pressure on the Roar to produce strong performances against Villa and Leeds, two of the biggest clubs in world football, in what could become a regular fixture on the calendar if all parties see the long-term benefit.
“We’re representing not just Brisbane Roar but the ALeague, playing against these sides showing what we’re about as a team and a league,” Aldred said.
“For us it’s definitely an opportunity to showcase that and if we do, it could hopefully become more of an annual thing.”
Born in Bolton and having previously played in both League One and the Championship, Aldred knows as well as anyone how big of an occasion a visit from Villa and Leeds is for football in the Sunshine State.
“I think it’s great obviously for Queensland as a whole to have two Premier League sides coming over now. Everyone knows how huge the Premier League is – it’s one of the biggest leagues in the world in my opinion,” he said.
“And also it’s great for Leeds and Villa fans in Queensland to support their side and for football as a whole to raise the awareness.
“I know what England’s like, I’ve been on pre-season tours over there and I can tell you, there’s not many better places to play football than (Queensland).
“For now we’ll deal with what’s in front of us, but we know it’s important to put on a good show against both sides and showcase (the ALeague).”
Roar will host Leeds at Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium on July 14, and Villa at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on July 20.
Sandwiched between those two games is a blockbuster Villa-leeds clash at Suncorp Stadium on July 17.
More than 50,000 tickets have been sold across the three games, with promoters anticipating a strong travelling fanbase of Leeds and Villa fans from overseas and around Australia.
“Hopefully we can match them with orange jerseys and get some Roar fans out and watch two good games,” Aldred said.