Campbelltown launched ‘United For Macarthur’ A-League bid
As the Australian community prepares to unite behind the Socceroos’ World Cup campaign, Campbelltown Council wants the Macarthur region to unite behind its bid for an A-League team.
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As the Australian community prepares to unite behind the Socceroos’ World Cup campaign, Campbelltown Council wants the Macarthur region to unite behind its bid for an A-League team.
With support from Camden and Wollondilly councils, Campbelltown is spearheading a bid for a Macarthur region A-League, W-League and National Youth League team to play out of Campbelltown Stadium from the 2019/20 season.
Football Federation Australia (FFA) announced last month that it would be expanding the A-League from 10 to 12 teams in two years time.
The bid, dubbed United For Macarthur, will be among several from across the country to be submitted to FFA by its May 24 expression of interest deadline.
The new teams will be announced on October 31.
Campbelltown Mayor George Brticevic declared the time was right for a full-time sporting team in the growing Macarthur region.
“It will give our kids an extra pathway into elite football, a lot of players end up in the state league because there are only 10 A-League teams,” he said.
“We have a stadium next to rail and a short drive from Camden and Wollondilly which are growing massively.”
“It also gives the girls a pathway with the W-League, not every A-League club has a team in the W-League but we’re offering the full package.
Cr Brticevic envisioned a community ownership model that would attract business investment and allow supporters to invest.
“It’s a co-operative share model where council will provide the stadium,” he said.
“We don’t want a situation where we have a millionaire or billionaire shareholder who could walk away. We have a mechanism in place where if someone did want to leave then their share is bought out by the rest and it gives the community ownership unlike most clubs which are privately owned.”
The Macarthur Football Association, representing dozens of community clubs and over 10,000 registered players in the region, has thrown its support behind the bid.
General manager Matt Adamson said an A-League team would provide an economic and social benefit to the community.
“There is a groundswell of support in the community,” he said. “We tick all the boxes in terms of what FFA are looking for.”
Camden and Wollondilly leaders have given the bid their backing.
“We are absolutely behind it. Our young soccer players will have a pathway to a higher level and the Macarthur region as the fastest growing in NSW will benefit for years to come,” Camden Mayor Lara Symkowiak said.
“It will give a lot of opportunities to our young people and be positive for our economic development. The three council areas together is an ideal location for an A-League team,” Wollondilly Mayor Judy Hannan said.
Camden state Liberal MP Chris Patterson said he was personally supportive of the bid.
“We had the mayors and general managers from our councils in parliament last week to meet the Minister for Sport (Stuart Ayres) and discuss the bid,” he said.
Campbelltown state Labor MP Greg Warren said an A-League team would be ‘fantastic’ for the region.
“Our population is growing massively, and we have a huge soccer community out here, so I absolutely support Campbelltown Council’s bid,” he said.
“I encourage everyone in the Macarthur region to get behind this bid to have our very own A-League team right here in Campbelltown.”
The Macarthur community can get behind the bid by registering their support at unitedformacarthur.com.au and using the hash tag #U4M