English Premier League clubs are set to return to Western Australia in July as West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur go head-to-head at Optus Stadium.
The London sides will face each other on July 18, with West Ham taking on Perth Glory three days earlier (July 15) in the ICON Perth Festival of Football.
Former Hammers striker Carlton Cole is in Perth to launch the event and said he is looking forward to the upcoming trip which will serve as preparation for the 2023/24 season.
“I’ve got to get a head start on the lads, some of them have never been here before, so I’ll be filling them in on the good vibes I’ve been receiving,” Cole told Far Post Perth.
“I’m going to enjoy every minute of my time here. We would like to have a lovely impact over here, have good vibes, see some great football, get fit for the upcoming season, and obviously play against some good players.”
West Australians Stan Lazaridis and Richard Garcia donned the famous claret and blue kit during their careers, while Lucas Neill is another Socceroo who spent time at the club.
“I love Lucas, Lucas is a top man,” said Cole. “I always say that he is probably one of the best captains I’ve ever had.”
Both West Ham and Spurs have endured difficult seasons so far, with the former battling to avoid relegation while the latter have largely underperformed and been publicly called out by coach Antonio Conte.
“West Ham like flirting with the danger, always has,” said Cole. “We’ve got to stick together in times like this when it’s looking dark and it’s not looking good.
“There are another eight teams around us in the same position, so we just make sure we’re not one of the three that goes down. That’s going to happen with hard work and believing in the process.
“I’m positive and I know that [relegation] is not going to be our experience. We’re going to be in the Premier League next season.”
Perth Glory, meanwhile, will take on Premier League opposition for the first time since the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United in 2019, a game that attracted 50,206 spectators.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for fans and us players to play against a Premier League team,” said Glory defender Jack Clisby.
“It’s going to be a tremendous occasion; I’m sure a lot of fans from around the country will come down to watch the game.”
Thousands of supporters are expected to travel to Perth from interstate and overseas, following in the footsteps of Manchester United, Leeds United, Aston Villa, and Crystal Palace fans who attended games at Optus Stadium in 2022.
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