Hume City is the latest NPL Victoria club to target National Second Division entry
Hume City is the latest NPL Victoria club to put its hand up for Football Australia's National Second Division. President Ersan Gulum details his plan.
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Hume City is joining the race for entry into the National Second Division.
The Broadmeadows-based club is preparing an expression of interest to join the proposed competition, which is scheduled to kick off in October this year.
With eight foundation clubs locked in, Football Australia is chasing as many as eight more before the season launches.
Melbourne Knights announced on Friday that it had been in discussions with FA about entry, while Heidelberg United and Caroline Springs George Cross are also expected to apply.
After a breakout 2024 campaign, which saw it reach NPL Victoria and Dockerty Cup semi-finals and an Australia Cup quarter-final, Hume City is looking to raise the bar.
Club president Ersan Gulum, who launched his career from Hume City, said the club was keen to be involved.
“It’s a difficult process to get into the National Second Tier,” Gulum said.
“There’s a lot that needs to align and we’re in the process of doing all those requirements to put our hat in the ring.
“We’re a new committee and as someone who’s come through the ranks at Hume City and pursued their dreams, I’m fortunate to sit in the seat to push this club in the direction I want it to.
“We know we have the right facilities to push into the competition and excited by what we can achieve.
“With the backing of the community and sponsors I think we can put our hat in the ring and challenge ourselves as a club.”
Hume City has been interested in joining the NSD since it was first proposed back in 2016.
If it is successful in gaining second division entry, Gulum said it was important to have a strong foundation.
The former Australia youth and Turkey senior international said the club was looking to strengthen its junior pathway to prove that it was serious about its future.
“We’re laying the foundations of what this club stands for … one of those aspects is the direction of our junior program,” he said.
“I have a plan of what it looks like, a full-time program, we have appointed a technical director, Michael Zakoski, and S-and-C (strength and conditioning), Nicky Zakoski.
“You can see by our first results, we had a dominant display up in Bendigo.
“These are the things we need to get into place to prove to Football Australia and Football Victoria, we’re not just about our senior team, we’re about our juniors as well.
“These kids and their parents, the volunteers, without them we wouldn’t be standing where we are right now.”
The new National Second Division format was announced late last year.
Melbourne-based clubs Avondale, Preston Lions, South Melbourne as well as NSW clubs APIA Leichhardt, Marconi Stallions, Sydney Olympic, Sydney United 58 and Wollongong Wolves have been locked in as foundation members.
Six more clubs were recognised as potential additions; Adelaide City (SA), Gold Coast United and Sunshine Coast (Queensland), Gungahlin United (ACT), South Hobart (Tasmania) and George Cross.
Financial questions have held clubs back from applying in the initial phase.
Gulum said several questions still needed to be answered to ensure clubs could go to sponsors and supporters.
“It is very costly, sponsorship will play a big part,” he said.
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“What we can offer to a sponsor in the NST, what they are getting in return for two or three years doesn’t add up.
“I think Victorian and Australian football are nutting out the nitty gritty of television contribution, which platform is it going to be streamed or televised on.
“For the club, that has to be sorted out because if we want to enter into the NST we need to be able to speak to our sponsors and our backers about ‘this is what we can offer’.”
Hume City will kick off its NPL Victoria campaign on Friday night with a trip to possible second division rival and promotion-winner Preston Lions.
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