Matthew Hall
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Lucas Neill FC: Sydney's Second A-League Team
The cat is finally out of the bag.
This weekend Lucas Neill revealed his well-developed plan to launch Sydney's second A-League club.
Of concern to other entities that have so far gone public - South Coast FC, Canberra, and Tasmania - is that Neill's bid appears very strong.
Before Football Federation Australia even get to value Neill offers in marketing dollars, the new team his delivered financial details - a bible of dollars and cents over 300 pages deep - that has been well-received by FFA's own money men.
It's planned the team will join the A-League in 2010, after the World Cup, and at the same time as Melbourne acquires a second side, the intriguingly-named Melbourne Heart.
Neill's team will play most home games at a redeveloped Parramatta Stadium but also use Homebush for blockbuster games against Sydney FC and Melbourne rivals.
Matches at Penrith and Campbeltown are also mooted.
A deal has been struck to use Football New South Wales proposed new $40 million facilites - announced just last week - at Riverstone as a state-of-the-art training facility and club headquarters.
The argument for a second Sydney team is strong.
But so is expansion on the South Coast and in Canberra (besides geography, Tasmania is on the flimsiest ground).
Sydney FC officials will also have some views on the proposal. FFA Chairman Frank Lowy's family are co-owners of the club and his own influence is wide and strong.
But has Sydney made the most of its five-year licence and has it penetrated grassroots across the entire city?
In fact, has it made any penetration of support anywhere west of Parramatta?
Neill has long been interested in reinvesting in the local game.
His scholarships, where young players get the opportunity to travel to Europe on his dime and train with top clubs and top players, was one significant if small step. Now, he's thinking bigger.
"The timing and opportunity is now there to go better and give something more back to the game and the country," Neill told me on Friday. "I have been fortunate and had so many good things in my time that it is time to start passing it on."
FFA has longed for overseas Socceroos to return home and play in the A-League.
With Neill's plan they have got more than they wished for - a successful player investing his energy and money in establishing a club in football's heartland.
How can they resist?
COMMENTS
The West Sydney is the heartland of football. My only concern is that playing in Parramatta will not attract all those in Liverpool, Penrith, Campbelltown etc. This where the player pool deep and the football fans which have yet to embrace the A-League.
- by Ben Smith on November 08, 2008 at 09:51 PM
that's a valid point Ben, though Matthew mentions that some games at "Penrith and Campbelltown are also mooted"
in reality you need a modern home stadium (25,000 plus capacity with further room for expansion) that's well served by rail and bus as major hub and Parra does this - shouldn't be a problem getting the fans there esp if its "their" western Sydney team and marketed the right way to contrast with the SFC bling and projection of affluence
- by Pablo on November 09, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Bring it. I can't wait!
- by zach on November 10, 2008 at 09:33 PM
I for one would support Lucas and his team, im out in Campbelltown and yes its a bit of a drive to parramatta, the west/sth west/nth west area is quite large, Sydney FC have from day 1 of the A League tendered there preference for the eastern side of Sydney and those North ...
The great thing about a 2nd Sydney team and likewise with Melbourne would be that many football fans who enjoy the game but dont head to matches may come out to show more support, ive followed Sydney FC int he A League but have never realy considered them 'My Club" .... The west deserves to have 11 players representing them out on the field, be it Parramataa/Campbelltown/Penrith in location.
Neil's first priority should be getting Emerton, a Campbelltown boy on board once he gets the blessing from the FFA.
- by Matt on November 11, 2008 at 01:49 AM
Agree with Matt. I've had a season pass for SFC, but never connected with the culture. Bling ain't my scene. Western Sydney represents something like 2 million people. Tasmania & ACT are pimples by comparison. I do have a soft spot for the South Coast though, it is one of the real hearts of Oz football.
- by Gnome on November 11, 2008 at 07:54 AM
I think that someone like Lucas Neill, who is obviously concerned about talent development, should be involved in an A-league regardless of where it is situated. Given that our season is at odds with other quality leagues around the world, why haven't more clubs taken the opportunity to set up loan arrangements with international clubs a la Joel Griffiths to Japan? Someone like Lucas Neill will surely recognise the importance and value of such an arangement. Bring it on!
- by iain on November 11, 2008 at 08:24 AM
There are over one million people living west of Parramatta and this number is growing all the time. I think the area deserves a football team it can identify with more readily. I for one with my family will support them. I think the idea to spread the games between Parramatta, Penrith and Campbelltown is great. Bring it on.
- by Ross on November 11, 2008 at 08:43 AM
I love Sydney FC but I for one would love to see a home town rival would be awsome for the game downunder and sure to stir passions...look at Man Utd v Man City or Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid everyone looks forward to those home town derbies and they never dissapoint!
Brint it on you Westies! haha
- by Jake on November 11, 2008 at 09:04 AM
Hmmm.... just waiting for the inevitable, and massive, Cove/SCC vs. Westies brawls that will happen.
- by hessy on November 11, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Sydney FC's biggest problem - from day 1 - is its desire to be only an eastern suburbs team - a throwback to the old Sydney United Hakoah days and an unfortuante legacy that Frank Lowy is bestowing on the club.
The public transport to the SFS and its distance from the bulk of its supporter base has been a barrier to bigger crowds and real connection.
Shift Bling FC out to the unused Concord Oval - far more central though not too far west - a short walk to the train line - develop it to seat 30,000 and establish a Western Sydney team out of Penrith.
Blockbusters at Homebush.
- by Simon on November 11, 2008 at 12:31 PM
If Lucas FC comes to Sydney... start writing the obituary for Sydney FC. We can't get over 13,000 on average to a game now and how many of these supporters would come from the 'heartland' that would be covered by Lucas FC?
2010 - Melbourne crowd average still 25k plus, Lucas FC 18k plus, Sydney FC 7k MAX! Get used to it cause if we can't get the place full now, it won't happen with 2 teams in Sydney! Imagine that Perth & Wellington having higher crowd averages than Bling FC!!!
- by Daz777 on November 11, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Sydney having 2 teams Melbourne having 2 teams. Hmmm gotta say Sydney doesn't seem to deserve 2 teams based on the crowd figures that turn up.
FC is based in the east they say, well sorry it is still only less than an hour to travel. I am a Roar fan and travel 3hrs to Brisbane to see the games from northern NSW, no public transport available to me to catch. Fair enough FC haven't connected with the west but to use travel is just a copout.
I would probably not be an FC fan either if i was in Sydney, lets just hope with another team you all turn up!
- by woodserelli on November 11, 2008 at 01:10 PM
Sydney FC needs to move away from the SFS.
Most soccer fans in Sydney live in the western suburbs - inner and outer west. The SFS is a hard location for them to get to considering Sydney's poor public transport & traffic problems. The SFS & SCG are better suited to Waratahs & Swans fans who primarily come from the east and north.
I'm a Sydney FC fan and I look forward to the new Sydney team, & I look forward to the future derbies! I just hope Sydney FC wakes up & tries to connect better with the community or the new team could kill Sydney FC altogether.
- by Josh on November 11, 2008 at 01:46 PM
I agree with Daz to some extent. Is expansion worth the risk of cutting the crowds in half?
Moreover, I think the South Coast (really just code for Woolongong, right?) would be a better option if you could get a ground.
Canberra isn't such a ridiculous idea - I don't think it should happen mind you, but they don't have anything to bridge the gap between Brumbies and Raiders. It makes as much sense as Townsville.
- by Gregg on November 11, 2008 at 02:35 PM
I agree with Daz to some extent. Is expansion worth the risk of cutting the crowds in half?
Moreover, I think the South Coast (really just code for Woolongong, right?) would be a better option if you could get a ground.
Canberra isn't such a ridiculous idea - I don't think it should happen mind you, but they don't have anything to bridge the gap between Brumbies and Raiders. It makes as much sense as Townsville.
- by Gregg on November 11, 2008 at 02:37 PM
Naahhhh, Sydney till I die. Who cares if it's West Sydney, South Coast or ACT. Another road trip, and some one else to hate mare than the tards. Bring it on.
- by Supa SFC on November 11, 2008 at 02:39 PM
In the beginning, we were so damn starved for a domestic competition that I jumped at the chance at Sydney FC Membership and held it for the first two years. My hour long drive to the SFS, tolls, paying for parking on top of food and the price of my seat was well worth paying for.
Maybe it was a Eddie Murphy, starved of food, someone throwing you a plain cracker kind of deal but I soon grew weary of the cost in both time and money.
Sydney FCs second season brand of boring football put me off also.
A local derby team, follow up on the 2010 world cup and a team closer to my home might just be the thing to tip me back into the favour of attending live games again.
- by Rob on November 11, 2008 at 03:20 PM
A team in Canberra is more of a priority! Sydney barely manages to sustain the one team, let alone a second one..
Canberra is dying for representation in a major sporting competition over the summer months, and would easily attract 10,000 fans at a pinch.
- by Raiders on November 11, 2008 at 03:39 PM
Daz777, Bling FC were never gonna rival Melbourne in supporter numbers because Sydneys football culture has always been in the west, not the east. The FFA got it wrong right from the start. While the ALeague is fantastic, Bling FC is not. Add to that, most longterm football lovers in Sydney wouldn’t dare swallow a Lowy football product, it really doesn’t surprise that there is support for a non Lowy west Sydney team and Bling FCs crowds have been doing so poorly.
Even if at the expense of Bling FC, a west Sydney team cant come quick enough.
- by Jem on November 11, 2008 at 04:03 PM
2nd SYDNEY TEAM BRING IT ON!!!!!! it is well deserved
BUT PEOPLE please cut the crap out about sharing the home games around!!!!!! all you doing is creating an orphan that no one likes or supports. there needs to be identity one home ground one place a fortress. When the time comes Penrith is more than deserving to have the 3rd sydney team, SYDNEY by far has enough distance between the east mid west, and west that they would not even touch in each others markets.
- by Tony on November 11, 2008 at 04:47 PM
Bring on the Sydney derby. Onya Lucas.
- by Ramz on November 11, 2008 at 05:26 PM
NSW already has 3 teams, all very close to each other. Let the other states and territories get a go before more NSW teams. It's bad enough Queensland is getting another 2!
You don't want either Sydney or Melbourne with more teams until the league is much bigger. Not only will the 2 teams end up having bickering fans but it is less interesting for everyone else without the great interstate rivalery.
- by Bluie on November 11, 2008 at 05:27 PM
I have followed Sydney FC from day one but only go to a couple of matches each year because getting there is a nightmare. If we had a west sydney team, Id buy a season ticket straught away.
There is a huge market of ex NSL supporters that wont have a bar of the Sydney FC but I have no doubt would get behind a West Sydney team.
- by Alex on November 11, 2008 at 06:15 PM
4 million people live in Sydney. We need 3 teams for the idea to work just adding one team won't work. Central Coast Mariners made a profit last year because they have smaller market can easily define their supporter base have a far cheaper facility to see the game and they promote the game at the grassroots .... that should be the model. I have been a member of Sydney FC since season 1 but not next year I'm over paying $5.80 for a plastic beer and eating crap food at exorbidant prices. Sydney need at least 15000 supporters just to break even at a stadium they can only 1/3 fill and the cost of running the team is too high far easier to market to $1m people within 15 kms than $4m people 60km's away ? What needs to happen is that FFA should have a plan for 3 teams North, South, West ..... we need to create cross town rivalry and grassroost local support. You could use Parramatta Stadium , North Sydney Oval (Needs Work) and Sydney eventually moves to the old St George Stadium at Kyeemagh which has been mooted as their new home anyway. You get all the local associations supporting the teams at a junior/senior level.
But FFA will stuff it up for sure because they don't understand the market ... has Ben Buckley a real feel for the game you need a visionary who understands the game and can pull from the past and deliver a good product to the public an affordable level.
I'm afraid to say it RIP Sydney FC and its FFA's fault
- by mark on November 12, 2008 at 06:39 AM
These comments about transport etc appear to be just excuses. The SFS is walking distance from Central station with regular matchday buses "up the hill". To use poor public transport as a reason for not going is just laziness.
An hour to get to a game? Hardly excessive...
And as someone who has followed Syd FC since day one and lives nowhere near the east, I have never considered them to be an eastern subs team at all.
And as for all those supporters in the west supposedly just waiting to get to a game, I didn't see that many at Parra Power, Marconi, Penrith or Blacktown for all those years.
- by Peter on November 12, 2008 at 08:44 AM
Supa SFC, it's tossers like you - and you are in a vast but loud and idiotic minority - that put the breaks on mainstream acceptance of the A-League. Football is a sport to be appreciated and enjoyed, not a means for you to find meaning in your sad little life with the gang mentality that comes with fanaticism. As soon as you use a word such as hate, you are nothing short of a moronic hooligan. Grow up!
- by Mick on November 12, 2008 at 12:52 PM
(West) Sydney Rams?...or is that Marinoes? what do you think?
- by Noel on November 12, 2008 at 01:22 PM
"Western Sydney Football Club" has already been registered by the AFL. I would prefer "Cumberland United". Sydney is such a hectic place to travel around in. No other city in Australia is so stressful to get from A to B. the club can have access to A grade facilities for training and playing(Parramatta stadium is currently under-utilised - the NRL's eels only had 10 games there this year). Big grassroots community to build links with. I'm really excited by the idea. Huge potential which Bling is ignoring. "How can Lucas sidestep the political issues with FNSW?' is the big question.
- by Daniel on November 13, 2008 at 03:30 PM
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Agree, a second team for Sydney can't come quick enough, especially one that taps into the genuine grass roots culture and long-standing proven football development pool of talent that is so strong in the west.
It would also help SFC lift their game too rather than this convenient monopoly they have which they've rather taken for granted and been shielded by. Competition is healthy and the cross town rivalry will prove to be intense and immense.
And I'll be aligning myself with a Lucas led consortium and club -
"I'm Sydney till I die, I'm Sydney till I die...etc" shout the Cove faithful, well
what would be the rival fan chant in 2010-2011?
Ah, there'll be proud to be "westies" I reckon and a new fan culture (or sub-culture) will be born.
To help bring some of Euro-based talent home its great that FFA (led by Ben Buckley) is meeting up with groups of players in the week after the Bahrain game
ps time that FFA allowed each club an extra marquee player, with one having to be a high profile Asian import - that would help lift interest and reinforce our integration in the AFC etc