Australia NewsGold Coast Wins Support |
EXCLUSIVE: Soccer Far North Coast in NSW is ready to lend its support to the Gold Coast's A-League inclusion with an army of fans and and a strong player base to back it.
“Like some fans from around here, I travel up to Brisbane to see Queensland Roar,” said general manager of Soccer Far North Coast, Matt Kelso."But it's a long journey and there aren't too many of us who do that.
“It would be huge, without a doubt and a huge bonus,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com of the Gold Coast's plans to be included in the A-League.
“Would fans around here support it? Absolutely.”
Far North Coast NSW, based around Lismore, is close to the Queensland border and the Gold Coast. It has also long been a hotbed of football talent.
SFNC currently boasts 7500 players, thus more doubling the Gold Coast's talent base of 6000.
A Gold Coast franchise also gives the far north coast's young players a pipeline into the big league, particularly as the youth A-League is about to kick off in 2008.
“I'm excited. Our area is an untapped goldmine," said Kelso.
“It'll be about developing the game in the regions and giving them a pathway to the top. There are so many positives to this.”
Recently, a group of 16-year-old players from SFNC were sent to the UK. One of those players is understood to have impressed Derby County.
The region has also produced former NSL goalmachine Paul Foster and his brother Craig, who went on to play for Australia, among others.
As for the fans, Kelso says the Gold Coast is an excellent location for the many younger fans on the far north coast.
“Many of the young people in our area go clubbing on the coast anyway," added Kelso.
“What's more, the new freeway will cut down the time it takes to get to the stadium at Robina. For me, it now takes just 50 minutes from Lennox Head to the Gold Coast. Fans around here will support the Gold Coast, no doubt about that."
Kelso also cites the example of NRL club Gold Coast Titans. The franchise is currently one of the top two crowd pulling teams in the league.
“The way they want about promoting their club in our area was very impressive. They now have very strong support from this region for the Titans," said Kelso.
“It can happen for football on the Gold Coast too.”
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