Seaford Giants football club claims to be entering Southern Football League for 2020 season
Is there a new club entering the Southern Football League in 2020? If you believe the Facebook page of the Seaford Giants there is but the SFL says otherwise.
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A new club is set to join the Southern Football League next season – or is it?
While Greater Western Sydney is getting ready to play in its first AFL grand final this Saturday there is another Giants side making noise in the south of Adelaide.
The Seaford Giants – a Facebook page of a fake football club using the GWS logo – has claimed to have been accepted into the Southern Football League for the 2020 season.
“As per the rumour last week, we can confirm that we have been granted a licence into the Southern Football League - for Season 2020,” the Facebook post read.
“Preseason dates to come soon, with a very exciting coaching announcement.”
But potential players and supporters hoping for a big, big sound from the south of the town are set to be left disappointed.
The league quickly shut down the Giants’ claim, with SFL president Craig Warman denying any new clubs had been granted a place in the competition next year.
Further digging reveals more of the supposed team’s claims are false and when contacted those running the page owned up to the hoax.
“Once a Facebook page was up and running, the Giants bandwagon suddenly snowballed in the SA footy community, quicker than anyone had initially realised it would,” the page administrator said.
“Unfortunately, there aren’t currently any plans for the Seaford Giants to enter any local football competition.
“We sincerely hope that no one is too disappointed that the Giants won’t be happening, and we are hoping to continue the page as a bit of a parody of our non-existent Giants.”
The hoax fooled at least one group, a Facebook page called The South Australian Footballer, which published the Seaford Giants’ entry to the league and president and coach announcements to its 10,000 followers.
News of a new team joining the competition sparked significant interest from the southern football community, in a week where the SFL is dealing with the Cove Football Club being booted from its Hallett Cove home.
Photos of inaugural president “Ted Jackson” and a new coach by the name of “Don Clark” were also posted.
But a reverse Google image search revealed the picture of “Jackson” is actually Game of Thrones actor Ian Beattie, who played character Meryn Trant in the hit TV series, while the image of “Clark” is American composer Brad Ellis.
Warman said the SFL was aware of the Facebook page but had not received any contact from a group calling themselves the Seaford Giants.
“We haven’t accepted any new teams into the league but if they want to apply they’ve got until October 31,” Warman said.
“They have to come up with senior and junior teams so we’ll see if anything comes of it.”