As Armdale SC look to progress to the final rounds of the Australia Cup for the second time in their history with victory against Modbury Jets, there is another storyline brewing.
Having finished in the top four goalscorers for the last two NPLWA seasons and with nine goals this campaign, Armadale’s Angel Andres Snr has proven to be one of Western Australia’s most prolific marksmen.
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But now his son, Angel Andres Jnr is looking to follow in his footsteps.
After scoring 14 goals for Armadale in the NPLWA U20 competition, Andres Jnr has been elevated into the first team set up alongside his dad.
He made his competitive debut off the bench a fortnight ago against Perth Glory but his dad was not on the pitch because he had been sent off.
If they are to take to the pitch together in Armadale's Round of 32 match against Modbury Jets on Thursday night, the Andres’ will make Australia Cup history by becoming the first father-son duo to play together.
Even if it is only to be a few minutes together on the pitch, Andres Snr said the chance to play alongside his son in an Australia Cup match would be a memory they would cherish forever.
“Even if it’s only a few minutes, for me as a dad, it would be an amazing feeling to play with my son,” Andres Snr said.
“Just sharing training sessions and game days like he is another teammate is something very special but to play together in a national competition would be amazing.
“Especially because In the future, we could look back and say that we were the first father and son to play together in the Australia Cup.”
He added: “I always thought about us playing together but I never thought it could be possible until 5 years ago when I saw him coming through so I’ve been doing everything possible to keep myself in good shape to try to make it happen.”
Having moved to Perth from the south of Spain in late 2013 after a series of serious knee injuries playing football in Malaga, Andres Snr did not expect to make a return to playing football upon his arrival in Western Australia.
But after rediscovering his love for the game through a mini-World Cup tournament, he went on to play at amateur level before spells with Fremantle City, Dianella White Eagles and Cockburn City prior to Armadale.
Now almost nine years later, he has rediscovered his goalscoring mojo.
Having finished in the top four goalscorers for the last two NPLWA seasons, Andres Snr is one of Western Australia’s best attackers. And he is on good pace again in 2022 with nine goals, sitting in fourth with five games remaining.
After finding his feet in Armadale’s family environment, he believes the club has all the characteristics to make a cup run.
“Armadale is an amazing club,” he said.
“It is a humble club with amazing people who really love it and who work very hard to improve the club day by day.
“I'm very thankful to play for them and have the possibility to play with my son but Modbury are such a good team.
“I have watched a few of their games and they play good football but it won't be easy for them to play in our home.”
Armadale SC take on Modbury Jets at Alfred Skeet Oval on Thursday, July 21 at 8:30pm (AEST).
