Melbourne Victory Women will use the experience of key midfielder Louisa Bisby to the ultimate advantage in its inaugural Westfield W-League season.
Melbourne Victory Women will use the experience of key midfielder Louisa Bisby to the ultimate advantage in its inaugural Westfield W-League season.
Victory Women will kick start its campaign against Central Coast Mariners Women at Telstra Dome on Saturday, 25 October (kick off 4pm), which will act as a curtain raiser to the Hyundai A-League blockbuster between Victory and Sydney FC (kick off 7pm).
Victory Women will field a young squad in the national competition this season, with Bisby assigned as one of the team-s chief leaders.
The reliable 29-year-old has achieved plenty in an outstanding playing career to date, but is determined to taste more success with Victory Women.
“It-s exciting as we don-t know what to expect,” Bisby said.
“How good Central Coast Mariners are as a team we don-t really don-t know, but we-re really looking forward to getting out there and taking them on.
“I-m looking forward to playing on some nice ovals and especially the season opener at Telstra Dome,” she said.
English-born Bisby began her football journey in 1993 with Aston Villa, before migrating to Australia, where she embarked on a glittering junior career, which included a tour of Holland with the Australian Under 18 team.
In 2000 she played professional football for Chengdu in China, before returning to Australia the following year to play for Box Hill in the Women-s Premier League (WPL).
Bisby spent three seasons with Box Hill, winning the 2003 WPL Gold Medal before moving to Europe for two years to play semi-professional football for German club Brauweiler Pulheim.
Bisby returned to Melbourne with Box Hill Inter in 2008, culminating in WPL championship glory in 2008.
Bisby said the creation of the Westfield W-League could have a profound impact on women-s football in Australia.
“It-s important to see how the inaugural Westfield W-League season kicks off and how all members of the football community, including spectators, take to women playing at a national level,” Bisby said.
“It’s certainly a competition the women’s game has been looking forward to for a number of years.
“Hopefully with plenty of coverage it will encourage the more experienced players to think twice before heading overseas, and also increase the participation numbers at grass roots level.”
Victory Women will play its first match against Mariners Women as a curtain raiser to Victory-s Hyundai A-League match against Sydney FC at Telstra Dome on Saturday, 25 October.
Victory members and all ticket holders for the Hyundai A-League match (kick off 7pm) can watch the Westfield W-League match (kick off 4pm) for free. Gates 2 and 7 at Telstra Dome will open at 3:30pm, with all other gates opening at 5pm.
Tickets are available from any Ticketmaster outlet, by calling 136 100 or online through www.ticketmaster.com.au.
