South Coast A-League bid

South Coast Football is a community based group bidding to enter a team in the Hyundai A-League competition in 2010-2011. The bid, led by local businessman Eddy De Gabriele, aims to represent a population of 500,000 in the south coast region of New South Wales, taking in the Wollongong, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Wollondilly, Wingecarribee, Kiama and Eurobodalla local government areas. [http://www.southcoastfootball.com.au]

The area is a strong nursery for the game in Australia. While there are more than 12,000 registered players from juniors to seniors it is also the home of Socceroos such as Scott Chipperfield, Mile Sterjovski and Luke Wilkshire.Socceroo legend Johnny Warren hailed from Jamberoo in the club’s catchment while the captain of the 1974 World Cup team, Peter Wilson, played in the area after emigrating from England. Wilson still lives near Wollongong.
Tim Cahill, Australia’s World Cup 2006 hero, has declared his support for the South Coast bid and will launch his first coaching academy in Wollongong. [http://www.smh.com.au/news/a-league/wollongong-bid-scores-cahill-as-mascot/2008/05/18/1211049064801.html]

South Coast FC entered a bid to join in the 2009 season but missed out to Gold Coast and Townsville. The A-League is expected to expand further into a 12 or 14 team competition in 2010 and the South Coast bid is considered a frontrunner to join expansion. [http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/a-league/gordon-wins-ffas-affections-for-south-coast/2008/09/30/1222651084315.html]

The bid had its genesis in a decision by Wollongong City Council to pursue an A-League place in 2006. A key success so far has been the unification of nine separate football organisations in the region, the first time they have come together under one banner for more than 30 years. [http://www.smh.com.au/news/a-league/illawarra-unites-for-the-aleague-cause/2007/11/07/1194329317921.html] This includes the support of the Wollongong Wolves, or Wollongong FC as they are now known, who won the National Soccer League titles in 2000 and 2001.

Memberships

South Coast Football was expected to launch a membership drive in late 2008 to demonstrate the level of commitment to A-League football in the community. More than 6,000 fans turned up to the club's touted home ground of WIN Stadium, Wollongong to watch a pre-season Cup match between Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix in mid-2008, an impressive turnout considering a local team was not playing. [http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/81768,south-coast-delight.aspx]

Website

http://www.southcoastfootball.com.au

Facebook group

http://www.facebook.com/pages/South-Coast-Football/20810803299