A host of Adelaide United legends, coached by John Kosmina, will take to the field against an Australian Defence Force select side on Saturday evening as part of the club’s annual Remembrance Day clash.
The game, to be played as a curtain raiser to Adelaide United’s Round 4 Isuzu UTE A-League match against Sydney FC, will feature former captain Travis Dodd and club champion Jason Spagnuolo along with fan favourites Lucas Pantelis and Marcos Flores among a host of past greats.
The combined Australian Defence Force side has brought together the best players from across the Navy, Army and Air Force from across the nation.
The ADF side will train at Adelaide United’s Playford High Performance Centre on Thursday and at Coopers Stadium on Friday.
The curtain raiser gets underway at 4:30pm with two 30-minute halves to be played.
2023 Adelaide United legends squad
Adam Van Dommele
Adriano Pellegrino
David Scarsella
Fred Agius
Gyawe J Salley
Iain Fyfe
Lucas Pantelis
Marcos Flores
Travis Dodd
Jason Spagnuolo
Daniel Mullen
Chad Bugeja
Rachael Quigley
Michael Matricciani
Michael Brooks
Adelaide United’s annual Remembrance Round match has become a regular feature of the A-Leagues fixture since it first hosted a game in 2011.
This year, the match against Sydney FC falls on Remembrance Day itself – the 11th of November – which coincides with the armistice that ended World War One in 1918
Traditionally on this day each year Australians observe one minute’s silence at 11am in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts.
While many will acknowledge this honoured tradition, Adelaide United in conjunction with the RSL-SA will acknowledge it further with an official Ceremony of Remembrance before kick off on Saturday night.
The ceremony will involve the formal aspects of Remembrance Day – the reading of the Ode of Remembrance by the State President of RSL SA Dave Petersen, bugle renditions of the Last Post and Rouse, as well as a moment of silence.
Defence force cadets will be stationed at each of the gates around Coopers Stadium collecting donations for the RSL’s Poppy Appeal, which helps deliver life-changing support to veterans and their families. Red poppy badges will also be on sale to support the cause.
Furthermore, at the conclusion of the game, the RSL in association with Adelaide United will award the Tomas Dale Medal to a player who best demonstrates outstanding sportsmanship.
Private Tomas James Dale died in August 2010 aged 21 as a result of an explosion during his first deployment with the Australian Defence Force in Afghanistan.
Previous winners of the medal include current stars Ryan Kitto and Nestory Irankunda.
Previous winners of the Tomas Dale Medai
2011 Iain Ramsey
2012 Dario Vidosic
2013 Marcelo Carrusca
2014 Not awarded
2015 Not awarded
2016 Jordan O’Doherty
2017 Nigel Boogaard (Newcastle)
2018 Shane Lowry (Perth)
2019 James Troisi
2020 Not awarded
2021 Not awarded
2022 Ryan Kitto (Remembrance Day), Nestory Irankunda (Anzac Day)
The Remembrance Day match has become a recognised fixture on the A-Leagues calendar at the club’s home game on the day of or a date that falls closest to Remembrance Day.
Tickets for Saturday night’s match are available through Ticketek. Kick-Off is at 7.15pm ACDT and patrons are encouraged to arrive early for the Legends v ADF curtain raiser at 4:30pm and the official Ceremony of Remembrance.
For parking at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide United members and ticket holders will need to show the car park attendant a valid ticket or current membership card to claim $8.00 parking and avoid paying the standard fee.
Alternatively, anyone with a membership or a valid game-day ticket can travel to the game for free on any Adelaide Metro bus, train or tram.
