Brisbane Roar CEO David Pourre says Surf City Cup is part of long-term push into Gold Coast market

BRISBANE Roar chief executive David Pourre says the club’s looming participation in the Surf City Cup will be just the start of a concerted push into the Gold Coast market.

BRISBANE Roar chief executive David Pourre says the club’s looming participation in the Surf City Cup will be just the start of a concerted push into the Gold Coast market.

Pourre joined Gold Coast Knights counterpart Adem Poric at the Croatian Sports Centre yesterday to officially unveil the Carrara venue as the host site for the pre-season cup, a tri-series event featuring A-League clubs Brisbane, Perth Glory and Newcastle Jets.

As revealed exclusively by Bulletin, the tournament will pit the Roar against Perth on August 30; the Roar against the Jets on September 1; and the Glory against the Jets on September 3.

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With the Glitter Strip sorely lacking A-League exposure since the collapse of Gold Coast United in 2012, Pourre said he was determined to grow the Roar’s presence in the city.

“It’s always an appeal to come down the Gold Coast. We have a massive responsibility (to do that) as the only A-League team in Queensland,” he said.

Gold Coast Knights chief executive Adem Poric and Brisbane Roar counterpart David Pourre (far right) with Knights juniors Jack Campbell and Jack Keene. Picture: Jerad Williams

“This pre-season is one that’s going to see our club not only be on the Gold Coast playing some very quality sides, but getting back into the community in the lead-up to the games.

“We’ve got a good community program which we’re really branching out further in the coming weeks, which will see a lot of our brand around town represented by people who are in the grassroots communities. That’s where the future of football is.

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“The Surf City Cup is really something special. Having three quality A-League teams on the Gold Coast during, what I believe is the best part of Queensland weather in winter, is great.

“It is good to see professional games down on the Gold Coast, especially football, which is the greatest participated sport in Queensland and Australia. It’s our opportunity and responsibility to bring content down here to support what is a really good local initiative.”

Pourre and Poric at yesterday’s press conference. Picture: Jerad Williams

With the Knights hopeful of making the Surf City Cup an annual event, Pourre said the Roar were open to the idea of committing long term.

Poric said securing the tournament was “huge”.

“The idea was that we wanted to make sure there was quality football down the Coast again, A-League standard. We’ve worked tirelessly to bring in three clubs,” Poric said.

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“We haven’t had an A-League football on the Coast for quite some time now and the likelihood is we probably won’t have an A-League club for 10 years. So to have the calibre of clubs coming in and playing here at a local venue (is massive).

“Hopefully we can) get people to support it to show we can eventually have our own A-League license back on the Coast.”

Meanwhile the Round 22 NPL derby bewteen the Knights and Gold Coast United scheduled for tonight has been postponed to 7pm on Tuesday at Tallebudgera’s Coplick Family Sports Park.