By ROY WARD
FORMER Dandenong Thunder keeper Stuart Webster won the Football Federation Victoria treble with the Thunder last season. This year he hopes to have similar success with his new club, Bentleigh Greens.
Webster signed with the Greens last week, ending his successful tenure with the Thunder, a club he said he loved and had hoped to stay with for the coming Victorian Premier League season.
The Thunder conceded just 15 goals last season with Webster in goals and an experienced, grizzled defense led by Craig Elvin and captain Shane Rexhepi.
Webster will join former Thunder teammates Luke Sherbon and Ross Thompson at the Greens.
The Pakenham resident said he had hoped to stay with the Thunder but was unable to come to the right terms with club officials.
“Bentleigh called me and were looking for a keeper so when it didn’t work with Dandenong I spoke with Bentleigh and it all went from there,” he said.
“Bentleigh is a club that has made some good signings and it will be a new challenge for me.”
Webster said he rated the Greens as a chance to make the grand final this season.
The goalkeeper, who was warmly regarded by Thunder supporters for socialising after matches, will get to face his old side early in the new season, possibly without supporters as the club is meant to play behind closed doors in the early rounds due to penalties arising from the VPL grand final. The Thunder is appealing those penalties.
“We play them in round 2 which at the moment means it will be behind closed doors — so the supporters will have to yell at me from the Dandenong Bypass,” Webster joked.
“I wish the club all the best. Chris Taylor and all the players were great to me. I hope they do well — just not against us.”
Emerging Thunder keeper Zaim Zeneli is expected to take Webster’s place in the side.
The Thunder has re-signed emerging stars Bryan Bran, Iqi Jawardi, Feston Azizi and Tim Mala.
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