Magazine - A-League of our Own

By Editor in Football on 19th Feb 2010 12:00

Penrith City Council and CUA Stadium have confirmed they are expressing their interest in hosting the Sydney Rovers – western Sydney’s new A-League team.

However, with expressions of interest not due to close until Monday, the parties are tight lipped about what they are hoping to achieve. CUA Stadium Manager, Tamara Van Antwerpen, said there were three aspects to the expression of interests, including the ability to provide administration, training facilities and a stadium.

She would not specify which, if not all aspects the local stadium and Council were vying for. Last week the Sydney Morning Herald reported a total of eight western Sydney councils were bidding to house A-League’s club-in-waiting. It also suggested five stadiums had already entered into negotiations, including CUA Stadium, Parramatta Stadium, Sydney Showground, ANZ Stadium and Campbelltown Stadium.

The local response to the potential of CUA Stadium hosting the team appears to be positive. “Anything that promotes and highlights the game will flow through to the grassroots level and put a spotlight on the local community,” said Richard Schotanus, President of Glenmore Park Football Club. “It would promote the game from the grassroots level and all the way up, and from that point of view it’s a fantastic idea.”

Ian Monaghan, President of the Blue Mountains Football Club based in Glenbrook, said the local players would benefit if CUA Stadium was successful.

The Sydney Rovers is set to begin in the A-League competition in the 2011 season.

Source & More: www.westernweekender.com.au
Article by  Emma Grodzicki

Read more articles in Football, by Editor or from February 2010.