Croydon and Adelaide City will be aiming to lift the first trophy of the season when they meet in the Football Federation South Australia Charity Cup, proudly supporting beyondblue, at Adelaide Shores Football Centre on Friday and further prepare for the upcoming season. 

The inaugural Charity Cup pits 2014 South Australian National Premier League champions Croydon Kings against 2014 Coca-Cola Federation Cup winners Adelaide City and is the curtain raiser to the 2015 season. 

Croydon defeated MetroStars in last season’s Grand Final and will be one of the contenders to take out the 2015 crown. Nonetheless, Coach Mark Brazzale says preparations have been less than ideal. 

“We’ve had a few ups and downs with injuries,” he admitted. 

“It hasn’t been a fantastic pre season, but we are getting ready for the new year and the challenges ahead. 

“The new boys have come in, have mixed well with the team and know what is required. There won’t be too many changes from last season, it will essentially be the same style and perhaps a bit of tinkering.” 

The Kings will go into the new season as the hunted rather than the hunter, but the boss is not placing any expectations on the team ahead of the season opener. 

“We are looking for an honest performance against Adelaide City. I take every game seriously, whether Cup or trial and we want to perform well. 

“Like last year there are no expectations on where we finish. We want to do the business every week. It will be a tough start with two difficult games in this one and Round 1 against MetroStars just five days later.” 

Adelaide City impressed in cup competitions – winning the Coca-Cola Federation Cup and advancing to the last eight of the Westfield FFA Cup – but finished sixth in the League and were immediately eliminated from the final series. 

Damian Mori says the aim in 2015 is to get to the decider and they will be looking to start on the front foot this Friday. 

“We are aiming to get a good start to the season,” the Coach said. 

“Our goal is to do better than last year, to finish higher than sixth and go all the way to the Grand Final.” 

Thanks to their involvement in the FFA Cup, City finished their campaign later than any other side and the tactician says that did alter preparations for the new season. 

“Pre-season has been good. It was a short break and we are looking forward to what’s ahead. 

“There was not as much running as what we would normally do because of our late finish and that means we are at peak fitness quicker. We will see after five games if it is an advantage. 

“We have some new young players this term and a younger squad overall.”

Football Federation SA Charity Cup

Friday 6 February
Adelaide Shores Football Centre, West Beach Road, West Beach
Croydon Kings v Adelaide City, kick-off 8:00pm

Curtain Raiser

West Adelaide v South Melbourne, kick-off 6:15pm