Victorian Police Officers who have fallen in the line of duty will be honoured when Melbourne Heart FC will take on Sydney FC for the Blue Ribbon Cup during Saturday night’s clash at AAMI Park.
Victorian Police Officers who have fallen in the line of duty will be honoured when Melbourne Heart FC will take on Sydney FC for the Blue Ribbon Cup during Saturday night-s clash at AAMI Park.
With the match marking the end of both Heart and Sydney-s participation in the Hyundai A-League season, both sides are sure to be vying hard for a chance to claim some silverware.
The Blue Ribbon Cup match will follow the annual Tony Clarke Shield contest between a team of former Socceroos and the Copperoos, which kicks-off at 3:30pm.
The Tony Clarke Shield is held in memory of Senior Constable Tony Clarke, who was murdered while on duty in April 2005.
Tony was a member of the Victoria Police Soccer Club and a fanatical Liverpool Football Club supporter.
Twenty players from the Victoria Police Soccer Club will take to the field against star players including Jeff Olver, Alan Davidson, Danny Tiatto, Jimmy Rooney and Ned Zelic.
President of the Victoria Police Soccer Club Senior Sergeant Ron Sinclair said the match was a fitting way to remember their mate and celebrate his life.
“It-s a great opportunity to play such legends of the game but to do it in remembrance of our colleague, friend and fellow soccer enthusiast is such an honour for all of the team,” he said.
“I think Tony will be looking down and cheering us on.”
Tony-s wife Tina Hogarth-Clarke and their son Connor will also be attending the game to cheer on the Copperoos.
Seven-year-old Connor will get the opportunity to toss the coin for the Hyundai A-League match with ex-Australian captain Mark Viduka and present the Tony Clarke Shield the conclusion of the Tony Clarke Shield game.
Tina said the match will be a nice way to remember Tony.
“Tony was a real soccer fan and this is exactly how he would like to be remembered,” she said.
The Police Air Wing will also do a flyover at half time of the Hyundai A-League match.
