43 southeast soccer clubs back Team 11 bid for A-League team in Dandenong
DOZENS of southeast soccer clubs ranging in size from more than 900 players to 40 have backed the region’s bid to bring an A-League and W-League team to the local area.
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DOZENS of southeast soccer clubs have backed the region’s bid to bring an A-League and W-League team to the local area.
Last month the Leader reported iconic Dandenong businessman and Jayco Caravans owner Gerry Ryan had pledged his financial support after the bid was short-listed to advance to the final stage of the expansion process.
Team 11’s bid has so far been supported by 43 local clubs, ranging in size from Berwick City, with more than 900 players, to Sandown Lions with 40 members.
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The backing comes from clubs in the National Premier League, Victorian state leagues, Latrobe Valley Soccer League, Gippsland Soccer League, the Victorian Churches Football Association, Bayside Football Association and Melbourne Chinese Soccer Association.
Team 11 Project Officer Matt Windley said they would work with the clubs to establish a relationship between grassroots and professional football if the A-League push was successful.
“This club will be nothing without the backing of the local football community,” he said.
“The support received so far has been incredible and we can’t thank enough the tireless efforts of the volunteers who run these clubs to help Team 11’s bid.”
Zakarya Shojaie, president of Dandenong based Afghan Victory, said a professional club belonged in the most multicultural area in Australia.
“To have a club here where we can provide greater encouragement for our kids to achieve their dreams as elite footballers would be amazing,” he said.
Casey Comets president Dawn Stone said the support showed the importance of the bid to the community.
Football Federation Australia will decide on the two new teams by October 31.
If Team 11 is successful, a 15,000 seat stadium will be built in Dandenong to house the team and a $38 million training hub will be built at Casey Fields.
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