Australia NewsCasey Plans A-League Coup |
ONE of Melbourne's fastest growing regions – an area which has produced Socceroo and Celtic star Scott McDonald - wants its own A-League team.
The City of Casey in Melbourne's south-east has confirmed they have held discussions about bringing a second Victorian A-League side to their area.Casey manager of city living Richard Amon said work was being done with Football Federation Victoria (FFV) and nearby shires to develop a regional football strategy.
“This direction will consider issues relating to both the requirements of a regional soccer facility that represents the City of Casey in soccer competitions and FFV’s own vision for a presence in the south east of Melbourne,” he told Berwick News.
Interestingly, the region was to have an AFL side based there, but when that fell through, city officials decided to pursue plans for football.
Casey encompasses an area around one hour's drive from Telstra Dome, so it's not expected to weaken the existing Victorian franchise Melbourne Victory.
Central to any A-League franchise would be Casey Fields, a 70 hectare multi-sport site in suburban Cranbourne where Celtic and Aussie star Scott McDonald hails from.
And according to Casey's own figures, an A-League franchise could be just what the rapidly growing area might want. The City of Casey has consistently been one of Victoria's fastest growing municipalities over the past 15 years.
The population is expected to reach 350,000 by 2031, making it as big as Canberra is today. This of course does not factor in football fans from across Melbourne – in particular the outer regions such as the Mornington Peninsula, the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges and the coastal parts of Westernport – who may want to also support Casey's A-League side.
What's more, with the A-League's appeal with younger people, the numbers of youth in Casey are forecast to rise over the next decade. Right now, around 40,000 students are in primary and high school in the area and the percentage of 12-24 age group is currently around 20%.
Deputy Mayor of Casey Colin Butler tells au.fourfourtwo.com that the area is struggling to keep up with demand for football pitches for its juniors.
With FFA committed to expanding the A-League, such a growing area in Melbourne located well away from the existing A-League franchise should be worth exploring.
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