Future Gold Coast: Gold Coast United soccer team aims for A-league, vision to surpass it by 2030

A return to the A-League has long been the dream for Gold Coast United but chairman Danny Maher believes the club will have moved far beyond that vision by 2030.

A RETURN to the A-League has long been the dream for Gold Coast United but chairman Danny Maher believes the club will have moved far beyond that vision by 2030.

Desperate for an A-League resurrection following their ill-fated stint from 2009-12, United’s short-term hopes were dashed last year when they were overlooked for one of two new licences.

But with a home base secured at Tallebudgera’s Coplick Family Sports Park, a competitive second-tier team in the NPL and a thriving junior base, visions of grandeur remain.

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Gold Coast United's Rufus Scott, 13 with former Socceroo Michael Thwaite. Pic Tim Marsden

“In 2030 the club will be operating at the highest levels of football of any clubs in Australia. Currently, that’s A-League … (but) I could see by 2030 that our Australian competitions would be linked more tightly with Asian competitions, whether that’s a greater focus on the Asian Champions League or some sort of competition like the Super Rugby format, where there’s multiple countries involved,” Mr Maher said.

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“I’d like to see one of those clubs be the Gold Coast. Definitely we’ve created the foundations for that. We’re an attractive international destination and I’d like to see our club at the highest level as part of an international football group.

“We absolutely want W-League (too). Definitely if we get the A-League back, adding a W-League should be pretty straightforward.

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Former Socceroo Michael Thwaite. Pic Tim Marsden

“By 2030 I would anticipate there will be a new, modern, mid-tier sports venue with modern facilities that support things such as e-sports. I anticipate the club having an electronic sports arm and participating in electronic sports tournaments as well as the physical tournaments of football that we’re used to now.”

While United held their own during their three-seasons of A-League, the club was ultimately stripped of the license following a drawn-out feud between then-owner and mining magnate Clive Palmer and Football Federation Australia.

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However, Mr Maher said lessons had been learned.

“We’re building from the community and the grassroots up, rather than putting a club here and trying to work it down or not work it down at all,” he said.

“There’s broad spectrum support (for the club) from football, business, education and government. I think over time football administrators need to come to terms with what geography is like on the Gold Coast.

“The Gold Coast has a very attractive international brand and a recognisable international brand, and I think that’s what’s there to be leveraged, not just bums on seats.”