At times last season, Perth Glory’s struggling side consisted of goalkeeper Liam Reddy, defender Darryl Lachman, and the kids as they finished bottom of the Isuzu Ute Men’s A-League ladder.
While those youngsters performed admirably when thrown in at the deep end, it was clear to all concerned that bringing in more experience would not only go a long way to improving the team’s fortunes on the park, but also help to set the next generation up for success.
Towering central defender Mark Beevers recently penned a two-year deal at the club, bringing with him the experience of more than 500 games of professional football in the English Championship and League One.
Image credit: Esteban Barbosa / Perth Glory FC
The former Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall, Bolton Wanderers and Peterborough United man, who was named in the League One PFA Team of the Year for the 2020/21 campaign, has arrived in Perth and gotten straight into preseason training.
“I’m just delighted to be here,” he said. “It’s a bit of an extended holiday in terms of coming back to preseason because usually back in the UK I’m back at the end of June.
“The boys and the staff have been really good with me, they’ve shown me around the place and that, so it’s great.”
Beevers always aspired to playing outside the UK and the opportunity to move to Western Australia came about recently thanks to a connection with an old teammate.
“I know [Glory’s Head of Recruitment] Andy Keogh, who turned out to be a Perth legend by the looks of it, so it kind of just fell into place,” he said.
“Playing abroad was something that I wanted to try at some stage, and I think it was the right time for me as well.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge even outside of football, to experience something a bit different.”
With his family due to arrive in Perth at the beginning of August, Beevers has been cast in the club’s very own version of The Odd Couple having taken up residence with fellow new signing Mustafa Amini.
“It was a nice introduction to Perth, getting slung in with Musti,” he joked. “He’s a good guy, we complement each other well…and what I mean by that is I do all the cooking, he does nothing!”
On the pitch, Glory shipped 43 goals in their 26 league games, including 12 in just two April fixtures, and will look to Beevers’ experience to tighten things up at the back.
“I think a lot of managers look for that kind of player, especially at the back,” he said. “I fall into that category now at 32 and I’ve had a long career in the UK, 15 years now, so I’ve racked up quite a few games and been involved in a lot of different scenarios.
“Hopefully, I can bring that experience within the team…I understand that we’ve got quite a young team here, I’m still learning everyone’s names!”
There is one thing that a 15-year career in English football cannot prepare you for – playing through the peak of Australia’s summer.
The fixtures are yet to be released for the upcoming season, but Beevers will join Glory fans in hoping that afternoon kick offs are kept to a minimum between December and March.
“Playing in the heat, that’s not something I’ve done before,” he said. “In the UK, you might get a couple of games at the start and the back end of the season but other than that it’s fairly chilly throughout.”
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As well as Beevers, Glory have brought in several players to form the core of the team under new Head Coach Ruben Zadkovich. Ryan Williams, Aaron McEneff, Ben Azubel, and Amini join reigning Most Glorious Player award winner Lachman and seasoned goalscorer Bruno Fornaroli as names that we can expect to be on the team sheet when available.
“On the pitch, I like to organise the back four,” he said. “I see myself as an organiser and now and again pop up with a set piece goal.
“I haven’t done it over the last couple of years, but I like to think I can get a few goals in a season and that’s something I would like to do as well.”
Asked about his aspirations and targets for the year, Beevers is all about good preparation and making the most of a lead in period that he is still getting his head around.
“It’s a long preseason and something I’m not used to, to be honest,” he said. “First and foremost, get as fit as possible.
“Training has been great so far, I just started training this week and we’ve worked hard so I think come the start of the season we’ll have a fit group which gives us the best chance to get results.
“Alongside that, I can see already that we’ve got quality in this group, so I think we’ll be fine.”
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