It was the sight of the weekend’s action: the collective buy-in of all 10 clubs playing in five Liberty A-League games to wear Adelaide United’s Pride Progress Captains’ armband.
The armband commissioned by the Reds and designed by artists Troy-Anthony Baylis and Dylan Pimm incorporate the colours of the Transgender Pride Flag, 1999, and colours representing marginalised communities of colour.
Both Adelaide’s Isuzu UTE A-League and Liberty A-League captains, Craig Goodwin and Isabel Hodgson, are set to wear the armband in each of the club’s fixtures through 2022-23 – but in Round 2 of the Liberty A-League season, the armband was on full display league-wide.
Hodgson, together with Perth Glory captain Tash Rigby, completed the set on Sunday evening when the two sides engaged in an end-to-end battle at Macedonia Park which capped off Round 2. Adelaide won 1-0 in the west to end the weekend on two wins from the opening two games for the first time in club history.
Perth came home with a wet sail – but despite banging at Adelaide United’s door, the home side were unable to break through to find an equaliser as Dylan Holmes’ first-half strike handed the Reds all three points and second spot on the Liberty A-League table.
Hodgson, speaking pre-match, lauded her club’s commitment to the values of inclusivity and visibility for marginalised individuals.
“The steps we, as Adelaide United, took last season were incredibly significant for football in this country, but also sport in general… to be part of a club, this amazing community, which values inclusivity and visibility for marginalised individuals, means the world to me,” Hodgson said.
“I will wear this armband with immense pride, and I am sure Craig (Goodwin) will do the same for our men’s team, as will any other club captain’s we have in the future.
“We are only at the beginning of our journey into this space and I am looking forward to playing my part in shining a light on these valuable causes.”
Grove growing into her gloves after another impressive display
Adelaide United were in severe danger of conceding their advantage to Perth Glory at Macedonia Park, with the hosts coming home strong and peppering Reds goalkeeper Annalee Grove with a flurry of late chances.
But the 21-year-old stood tall in between the sticks for Adrian Stenta’s side. The Reds sit second on the Liberty A-League table after Round 2 and Grove has made a significant contribution to the successful start. Grove has made 11 saves across two games, keeping back-to-back clean sheets.
A star in the making.
