Pelligra Group announced as new owners of A-Leagues Perth Glory

The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has announced the Pelligra Group, owner of Italian football club Catania, as Perth Glory FC’s new owners.

A private, family-owned and operated property developer and construction business, Pelligra Group has expanded its breadth of developments with particular focus in the sports and entertainment sectors, acquiring interests in a number of sporting clubs around the world and enhancing that relationship through the development of sporting infrastructure.

In Europe, the Group holds a 100% interest in Italian Serie C football club, Catania FC s.r.l.,, including ownership of Catania Rugby, Catania Women’s Football, Catania Junior Football and the Varese Basketball Team.

Their Australian sporting interests, include ownership of Adelaide Lightning Women’s basketball team, Adelaide Giants Baseball team and the Canberra Braves and Adelaide Adrenaline Ice Hockey teams.

Explaining his ambitions for Perth Glory, Pelligra Group Chairman, Ross Pelligra stated “sport is a great passion of mine and over the years I have invested in other sporting clubs in Australia and in Italy.

“I have seen how integral a sporting club can be to a community.

“It can have a powerful, unifying impact and that is what we are here to achieve in Perth.

“There are three key pillars we need to focus on in the first phase of our tenure; to reconnect; to drive success and to create long term sustainability.

“I remember watching Perth Glory when I was a child on TV back in Melbourne and thinking that football had arrived in this country when I saw a packed Perth Oval every home game and a team that played an exciting and attacking brand of football that had everyone in Perth captivated.

“That is the energy we know exists here and that is the energy we must rediscover.

“We have learned from our previous experiences with other sporting franchises, but every team is different, every city is different and it is important we listen and learn.

“I want to return the club back to the Glory days.

“We want it to be the envy of every other A-League club, just like it was when it was first founded.

“I know that we have a strong football community here in Perth and it’s time to reunite.”

Welcoming the Pelligra Group’s investment, A-Leagues Commissioner, Nick Garcia noted “Perth Glory is one of Australia’s oldest and most decorated professional football clubs and we are pleased to welcome Ross Pelligra to the A-Leagues as the club enters a new era.

“Ross is a successful business and football operator, both locally and abroad, and this experience and his passion for the world game is a great asset for Perth Glory and the A-Leagues.

“There is an incredible opportunity that exists for football in Western Australia. We believe that with this new ownership, the future of Perth Glory is in safe hands and we look forward to seeing them deliver success both on and off the pitch.

Perth Glory Chief Executive, Anthony Radich added “(this) announcement brings to an end what has been an extremely challenging period for Perth Glory and opens a new and exciting chapter in our history.

Perth Glory’s next match in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men is today against Brisbane Roar at HBF Park. In the Liberty A-League Women, Perth Glory take on the Central Coast Mariners at Macedonia Park on Sunday 18th February.

Image credit: Perth Glory.