Bayswater City’s Brent Griffiths is in doubt against Balga because of interest from a South African club for his services.
Camera IconBayswater City’s Brent Griffiths is in doubt against Balga because of interest from a South African club for his services. Credit: Supplied/Kristie Lim

Soccer: Griffiths hopes experience will help Bayswater City climb NPL WA ladder

Kristie LimEastern Reporter

FORMER A-League defender Brent Griffiths hopes to use his international experience to help Bayswater City improve on last year’s fifth place in the National Premier Leagues WA.

Griffiths (26) joined Bayswater in the off-season on a two-year contract, following a stint at Penang in the Malaysian Super League.

The defender also played for Perth Glory, Wellington Phoenix and most recently the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

He and older brother Rostyn, who is the captain of Perth Glory, spent their youth days at Blackburn Rovers in England’s northwest.

Griffiths said the transition from Penang to Bayswater had been a “culture shock”.

“Penang was an interesting place, Malaysia in general is an interesting place,” he said.

“I think the football was probably on par or better here at Bayswater.”

MORE: Manchester United great Denis Irwin looking forward to taking part in Perth charity match

MORE: Swastikas among racist graffiti in Mandurah

MORE: East Freo, Bicton, Melville and Attadale residents told to expect more toxic exhaust from Roe 9 tunnel traffic

Griffiths said he rejected the temptation to play at other overseas clubs because of his Perth-based partner.

“To be honest, I had a couple of offers come through to other countries such as Borneo, Iraq and Bahrain,” he said.

“Since been playing in the A-League and Penang, I have come and trained here in the off-season to keep fit since (coach) Chris Coyne started here.

“I have had a pretty good affiliation with the majority of the team from the beginning.”

Griffiths said Bayswater’s style of play was similar to A-League clubs.

“I started watching the boys in the off-season and saw their actual views and tactics are similar to the A-League and that was what stood out most against the other teams,” he said.

“The idea was to come and play and bring my experience to the team as well.”

Griffiths said it would be nice to play in the A-League again but was focused on playing with City.