Son says memorial match a ‘beautiful thing’ after popular soccer figure Libero Pietropaolo honoured in Albany

Players from Albany and Perth have united in memory of popular soccer figure Libero Pietropaolo. Mr Pietropaolo, a stalwart of the Albany soccer scene as a player and coach before moving to Perth, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in November 2022. He was farewell by hundreds of mourners in Albany in December and now his family and friends have come together to leave a lasting memory of “Lib” on the pitch. Perth Soccer Club and Albany Bayswater Soccer Club joined forces on Saturday in Albany, playing in a memorial match in Mr Pietropaolo’s honour. He was a part of both clubs across many years of involvement in the sport he grew up playing. Players from both sides wore No.10 — made famous by Mr Pietropaolo in his playing days. Son Lucas Pietropaolo said it was amazing to see so many people turn out in memory of his dad. “It was a beautiful thing and I’m sure dad would have loved it,” Lucas said. “Dad was such a bright person and he touched those kids hearts that he coached. “It was players dad had coached in Albany and ones he had coached in Perth, all coming together as a whole. “Soccer was his life, his passion, his thing — he always wanted to be around soccer and just loved the sport. “No.10 was his number, he’d be the first to grab it every year and it was fitting we chose to have that on the back of our jerseys.” Albany Bayswater claimed a 6-3 win in the memorial match and plans are already being made to make it happen annually. “It was a really special thing and turned out to be a great idea,” Lucas said. “We are looking at making it a yearly thing. “Everyone got together in the clubrooms afterwards and to see everyone sharing memories of dad.”