Western Sydney Wanderers throw support behind Bankstown Dragons Football Club over gutted clubhouse

The Western Sydney Wanderers have thrown their support behind a junior ­football club after their much-loved clubhouse was gutted by a suspicious fire.

A fire at the Middleton Park clubhouse in Yagoona caused extensive damage on New Year’s Day. Picture: supplied

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THE Western Sydney Wanderers have thrown their support behind a junior ­football club after their much-loved clubhouse was gutted by a suspicious fire.

A blaze inside Yagoona’s Middleton Park clubhouse caused significant damage to the roof, change rooms and canteens on New Year’s Day.

At the time, the Bankstown Dragons Football Club and Bass Hill Broncos ­Junior Rugby League Club rallied together in a bid to ­restore their “home” before winter season kick-offs.

Now, the Wanderers have pledged their support as Dragons club management grapple with how to get kids on to the field with no facilities.

Bankstown Dragons Football Club president Andrew Powell, Banktown state Labor MP Tania Mihailuk and Bass Hill Broncos president Matavai Kiavaha outside the Middleton Park clubhouse. Picture: Tim Clapin

Bankstown Dragons secretary Rob Dubois said it came as a shock when ­Wanderers staff approached the club.

“It’s been great that they’ve been able to learn from the media that we are in trouble and contacted us to say ‘hey, we are here to help’,” Mr Dubois said.

“That was quite a ­surprise. We were going to contact them and see if they could provide assistance but they just came forward.”

A Wanderers spokesman said merchandise would be donated to the club for fundraising and an event was being planned to take place during registrations.

“We’re a club that prides itself on our support of our local community,” he said.

The Wanderers will donate merchandise and a registration day event is planned. Picture: Mark Evans

“There are over 210 grassroots football clubs within western Sydney and we’re always looking for ways to support growth and development in the region.”

Mr Dubois said the Dragons were working with Canterbury-Bankstown Council to restore the clubhouse.

“At this stage, we are still homeless and preseason will kick off in March,” Mr Dubois said.

“We still have no training ground, no match ground and we are getting no ­proceeds from the canteen.”

The council was in the process of sourcing quotes for repairs to the clubhouse, a spokeswoman said.

Police are still appealing for information about the fire.