Casey Fields earmarked as training base ‘makes sense’ if Team 11 wins A-League licence

TEAM 11’s newest ambassador Clint Bolton says the Dandenong-Casey A-League bid “makes sense” and fills a professional sports vacuum in the region.

EMBARGOED UNTIL 10.30AM MONDAY, APRIL 30. Artist's impression of the proposed Dandenong Stadium for Team 11's southeast Melbourne A-League bid.

TEAM 11’s newest ambassador Clint Bolton says the Dandenong-Casey A-League bid “makes sense” and fills a professional sports vacuum in the region.

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A $23.8 million pledge from the City of Casey — who’ve driven the bid alongside Greater Dandenong and Cardinia Shire councils — for Team 11’s training base and a regional centre of excellence was confirmed on Monday at the proposed Casey Fields site.

Team 11 ambassador Clint Bolton, at the funding announcement from Casey Council to upgrade Casey Fields into an elite soccer facility if the region wins an A-League licence, is joined by (from left) Councillor Collin Ross, Tejay Lebon, Ronaldo Onen and Casey Mayor Geoff Abblett. Picture: AAP

Since Waverley Park’s extinction as an AFL venue in 1999 in favour of Docklands-based Etihad Stadium — around the same time Gippsland Falcons quit the National Soccer League — the state’s rapidly growing south-east corridor has been bereft of a national sports presence.

Young soccer fans (from left) Tejay Lebon, Ronaldo Onen, Jacob Noorbergen and Bowar Yamum at Casey Fields, the proposed site for an elite soccer facility. Picture: AAP

Bolton, who lives in Berwick, a short distance from the proposed Dandenong stadium and Cranbourne training base, said the ingredients were there for a successful expansion club.

“Team 11 makes a lot of sense. There’s some compelling reasons,’’ Bolton said.

“Now because I live out this way, I understand why it’s a good thing. What professional sporting team represents this vast community of people? There isn’t one across the different leagues.

Artist's impression of the proposed Dandenong Stadium for Team 11's southeast Melbourne A-League bid.

“When talking A-League expansion, I firmly believe it has to be centred around infrastructure and a stadium. We need to go back to boutique stadiums, get away from the big stadiums which is cavernous.

“Get back to filling boutique stadiums, which should be a central part of any bid, and Team 11 has that commitment in Dandenong. Then a training facility, Casey Fields will be important.

“Grassroots football is strong, the people are there and they want to be able to identify with a professional team.”

An artist's impression of the proposed elite training facility at Casey Fields if the Team 11 A-League licence is approved.

Bolton was a Melbourne City (Heart) foundation player during an illustrious career which included four Socceroos caps and domestic titles with Brisbane Strikers, Sydney Olympic and Sydney FC.

“Recent history has shown when you put more than one team in a city, there needs to be a geographical divide. The south-east is a clear divide to the other two teams — it makes sense,” he said.

Casey Fields has been mooted as the venue for W-League and youth league games, as well as a potential temporary home while the stadium — recently revealed to be alongside Dandenong Station — should Team 11 win the expansion race.

An artist's impression of the proposed elite training facility at Casey Fields if the Team 11 A-League licence is approved.

Stage one is an $18 million community facility boasting a main turf pitch, three synthetic pitches plus an eight changeroom pavilion, starting later this year.

Stage two, predicated on the success of the A-League bid, is the elite training facility housing the men’s, women’s and junior academy sides.

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