Harnwell holds up for honour
Todd Harnwell has seen plenty of action at Percy Doyle Reserve since first lacing up his boots with Sorrento FC nearly 20 years ago.
Today, he will become the first player to make 400 first-team appearances for the Gulls when they host Cockburn City in round seven of the National Premier Leagues WA season.
Harnwell began playing at Sorrento as a seven-year-old and progressed through the club’s youth ranks before joining the first team squad 10 years later.
He had stints at Perth Glory and Sengkang Marine FC in Singapore but Sorrento was always home, with the Harnwell clan boasting strong family links to the club.
Derek Harnwell is the club president, while Glory legend Jamie Harnwell is in his first season as co-coach of the Gulls’ first team with Trevor Morgan.
The next generation of Harnwell kids is now flowing into Sorrento’s junior programs.
Todd Harnwell couldn’t imagine reaching the 400-game milestone anywhere else.
“It’s great to be able to do it at Sorrento,” Harnwell said.
“It’s my childhood club and that’s the main reason that I’ve been able to achieve it, because they’ve treated me well, so I’ve stayed with Sorrento my whole life.
“It’s a real family club, with Dad being president and now Jamie’s the coach and Mum’s done bits and pieces throughout the years.
“It’s made it so much easier to bring my kids down now and all my nephews and nieces.”
Harnwell said playing under his brother this season had been an adjustment, but the pair have enjoyed success so far this season.
Harnwell took his tally to five goals in six league matches by finding the net against Subiaco last week and the Gulls sit second on the table behind Bayswater City.
“Jamie and Trevor are just a perfect fit, they compliment each other in their styles,” Harnwell said.
“It was a bit awkward, I guess, to get used to it at the start because I was used to playing with Jamie and taking orders from him that way.
“But it’s been really good and we’ve had a bit of success.”
Today’s match at Percy Doyle Reserve kicks off at 3pm.
Elsewhere, unbeaten Bayswater City will start favourites against winless Subiaco, Balcatta host Stirling Lions, Armadale take on Perth and ECU Joondalup visit Inglewood.
