Harvey to add firepower to City’s promotion push

by Damir Kulas 0

Dandenong City have sealed their fifth signing of the off-season by luring former Hume City striker Paul Harvey to the club for the 2017 NPL2 campaign.

The 32-year-old striker boasts an impressive goalscoring record in Victoria football, having netted 22 goals in 36 league games since the start of the NPL era in 2014.

The Scottish veteran first featured for the Bulleen Lions in 2014, netting seven times in 11 games while forming an explosive partnership up front with Joey Katebian.

He then made a mid-season move to the Ballarat Red Devils, netting another impressive tally of eight goals in 13 league matches but was unable to save James Robinson’s side escaping from the NPL era.

A move to Paisley Park Soccer Complex followed in the summer, with Harvey striking three times in six league games at Altona City before departing for another mid-season move to the NPL with Hume City.

He joined the Broadmeadows-based outfit alongside fellow new signing Theo Markelis and immediately clicked well with the former Melbourne Victory winger and future Victory winger Jai Ingham in the Hume frontline.

Harvey netted four goals in his first six league games for City, but departed ABD Stadium soon after receiving a red card in a league game, due to work commitments.

The forward returns to Victorian football at a time when his new employers Dandenong City are looking to gain promotion into the top flight in 2018.

City are also bolstered by the re-signing of long-time servants Dario Matkovic and Andy Jerez.

Matkovic served as captain of Dandy City in the absence of John Carroll in the back end of 2016 and will continue on for an eighth season with the club.

Having played his junior football at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex, Matkovic earned his senior stripes with Melbourne Knights in 2003, where he featured until 2008.

He completed a move to Oakleigh Cannons under the stewardship of John Anastasiadis in 2009, but made a senior return to his junior side the season after, where he has remained ever since.

Jerez signs on for a fifth straight season, with the left sided flanker continuing his long association with the club.

The former Joey formerly plied his trade at Kingston City, Malvern City and Springvale White Eagles but has called Dandenong home since 2013, having since become a stalwart of the club.

Hajduk have recruited heavily so far by bringing in former Melbourne City winger Mate Dugandzic to the club, as well as returning favourite Steven Topalovic and English brother pairing Shaun and James Kelly from the Port Melbourne Sharks and Moreland Zebras respectively.

Thus Harvey becomes new manager Stuart Munro’s fifth new signing at the club, with the their new Scottish striker tasked with the responsibility of banging in the goals at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex.