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Western Sydney Wanderers FC

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This article is about the association football club. For the Australian rules football club, see Greater Western Sydney Football Club.
For the Western Sydney W-League team, see Western Sydney Wanderers FC W-League.
Western Sydney Wanderers
File:Western Sydney Wanderers FC.png
Full nameWestern Sydney Wanderers FC
Nickname(s)The Wanderers
Founded2012
GroundParramatta Stadium, Sydney
Capacity21,487
OwnerAustralia FFA
Executive ChairmanAustralia Lyall Gorman
Head CoachAustralia Tony Popovic
LeagueA-League
2012–13Inaugural Season
Current season

Western Sydney Wanderers FC is a professional association football club based in Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League. Western Sydney Wanderers FC are a new entrant into the competition for the 2012–13 season. The club was announced on the 4th of April 2012. Football Federation Australia began the life of the club with a series of community forums across Western Sydney. These views were then included in a community survey which helped shape the club's culture, logo, colours and playing style.

A home ground has yet to be announced, but through community consultation, the preferred choice is Parramatta Stadium, a 21,487 seat multi-use venue in the suburb of Parramatta.[1] The club has been identified from the start as the "heartland club" for Sydney. It is owned by Football Federation Australia. It is hoped to sell the club to a private consortium in the future. There is also the prospect for a partial supporter ownership model.[2]

History

Sydney Rovers FC

Main article: Expansion of the A-League
Main article: Sydney Rovers FC

Western Sydney was regarded as a potential location for one of the original A-League teams for launch in season 2005–06. A bid named Sydney Blues was the only bid to oppose Sydney FC. This bid was unsuccessful and Sydney FC were entered into the league with a 5 year city exclusivity deal as part of the 'one-city one-team' philosophy. As the five year deal wound to its conclusion Football Federation Australia announced the bid process for teams in Sydney and Melbourne. Several bids for each city were received. On 29 September 2009 Sydney Rovers FC were given a provisional license with the club due to start for the 2011–12 season. The bid team was unable to find funding. The Sydney Rovers bid was declined entry into the 2011–12 A-league season.

Foundation

On 4 April 2012 the FFA CEO Ben Buckley announced the creation of a new team for Western Sydney.[3][4][5][6] Players such as Scott Chipperfield, Tim Cahill and Lucas Neil have expressed support for a Western Sydney Football Club. The administration of the team is to be based at Valentine Sports Park. FFA held supporter forum meetings in Mount Pritchard, Parramatta, Rooty Hill, Penrith, Castle Hill, Campbelltown and Bankstown, where the fans set the clubs culture and values, name, colours, playing style and home ground location.

On 17 May 2012 Lyall Gorman was appointed Executive Chairman of the then-unnamed Western Sydney Wanderers.[7] Tony Popovic was also announced as the inaugural head coach of the Western Sydney team. Popovic joined the club after requesting to be released from the final year of his contracted role as assistant manager of Crystal Palace F.C.. Popovic was in talks with both A-League Sydney clubs but stated his desire to build the club from scratch was an opportunity he could not pass up. Popovic signed with the Western Sydney team to take the helm for four seasons.[8] Ante Milicic joined the club as assistant coach on 22 May 2012.[9]

Team Launch

Western Sydney Wanderers Launch

Upon the launch of the club the title of "New Sydney Club" was given, with no official club name announced.

Following community forums, the FFA launched an online survey to discuss various options for the new club. It covered aspects of culture, location, team colour and playing style. A final survey was launched with specific focus on club colour and team name. Options for team colours were Black and Red, Black and White, and finally Red, White and Black. Options for the team name were Athletic, Wanderers, Wolves, Strikers and Rangers.[10]

On the day the 2012–13 season draw was released it has was also confirmed that the official club name, club logo and club colours were formally announced on Monday 25 June 2012. The name Western Sydney Wanderers was officially released, as was the club logo, the home playing strip, that Parramatta Stadium would be the main stadium for the club and three of the inaugural players.[11]

The badge as launched by the club includes the name of the club in all caps Century Gothic font, with white writing, and a stylised W, W and S pattern to represent the name as the logo.

A-League

The 2012–13 A-League season is to be the inaugural season of the new Western Sydney club.

Supporters

The official supporter group were formed when Sydney Rovers was created, and continued to support the cause for a Western Sydney A-League club until the announcement on April 4. They migrated to a new website and forum shortly before the new team was announced and it has become the central hub for the teams supporters. Active support sub-groups are based around geographic areas of Western Sydney.

The main supporters group has been officially named the Red and Black Bloc. Members of the group attended the first ever game of the Western Sydney Wanderers on 25 July 2012, where the club played Nepean FC at Cook Park, St Marys. The group gathered at the northern end of the ground and were vocal in the support of the team. Sydney's The Daily Telegraph noted the impressive debut of the group, whilst The Sydney Morning Herald described the group as "a noisy bunch on the northern hill".[12][13][14][15]

Rivalries

  • Sydney FC are Western Sydney Wanderers's local rivals. The two clubs will participate in the Sydney Derby for the first time during the upcoming A-League Season.

Sponsors

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt partner
2012— Nike NRMA

Club facilities

Stadium

On 26 July 2012 it was officially announced that Parramatta Stadium would be the home ground of the club for all its home games. The only game to be moved from the venue would be the "community round" game, scheduled to take place at Campbelltown Stadium in season 2012/2013. Lyall Gorman, the club's CEO, acknowledged that the feedback he had recieved from the fan forums was that the fans wanted a single home ground and that the club must be based in greater western Sydney. Parramatta Stadium was seen as ideal compared to other alternatives at Homebush Bay, Penrith or Campbelltown. Parramatta Stadium is a rectangular venue, perfectly suited for games, and has an appropriate capacity of over 20,000.[16][17][18] There were strongly supported views from the community supporters that the team should play at Parramatta Stadium.[19][20]

With the Western Sydney Wanderers A-league club and the Parramatta Eels rugby league club contracted to play at Parramatta Stadium, there is a greater potential for an upgrade and expansion of the stadium to be undertaken.[21] Parramatta Stadium is being considered for potential expansion from the current capacity of 21,487 up to a capacity of 31,300 seats, by redeveloping the northern and southern ends of the complex.[22] An upgraded stadium of this size could be an ideal long-term location for Western Sydney Wanderers due to it being close the the Parramatta CBD, close to well-connected public transport, and being more central to the Western Sydney region compared to other Western Sydney locations.[23]

At the supporter forums held in Mount Pritchard, Parramatta, Rooty Hill, Penrith, Castle Hill, Campbelltown and Bankstown, panel members and supporters in the audience raised the prospect of the club one day owning its own stadium.[24] [24]

The failed Australia 2022 FIFA World Cup bid proposed to construct a football-specific rectangular 41,000 seat stadium at Blacktown International Sportspark, located in Rooty Hill, NSW.[25] Some regard that this location would be ideal for a future home of Western Sydney Wanderers.

Others have raised the idea of redeveloping the Fairfield Showground for a football-specific stadium for future use by Western Sydney Wanderers. That area has developed dozens of National Team players, supported many NSL clubs and still has those clubs existing in the New South Wales state league. It would also be a location that has no opposing rugby league or AFL teams in the suburb itself, making it a true football specific stadium.[26]

Administration and training facilities

It was initially believed that the club's administration and training facilities would be based at the Football New South Wales headquarters at Valentine Park, Parklea. Facilities at the ground were not to the standard required, and the initial training sessions are being held at Blacktown International Sports Park. Parramatta Council, as part of its bid to host the team in its city, have offered Council owned office space inside the Parramatta CBD.[27]

Current squad

See also: Western Sydney Wanderers FC W-League

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Australia AUS Ante Čović
2 MF Australia AUS Shannon Cole
4 DF Australia AUS Nikolai Topor-Stanley
5 DF Australia AUS Michael Beauchamp
9 FW Australia AUS Mark Bridge
No. Pos. Nation Player
10 MF Australia AUS Aaron Mooy
11 DF Lebanon LBN Tarek Elrich
16 FW Australia AUS Kwabena Appiah-Kubi
18 FW Australia AUS Labinot Haliti
— MF Australia AUS Jason Trifiro

Personnel

Current technical staff

The following list details the current coaching staff.

Position Name
Head Coach Australia Tony Popovic
Assistant Coach Australia Ante Milicic
Goalkeeping Coach Australia Ron Corry[28]
Strength & Conditioning Coach Australia Adam Waterson[29]
Youth Manager Australia Trevor Morgan
Physiotherapist Vacant
Club Doctor Vacant

Management

Name Period Honours
Australia Tony Popovic 2012—

See also

References

  1. ^ "Australian Stadiums: Parramatta Stadium". Austadiums. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
  2. ^ "World Game brings $8m and a lot of hope to league heartland". The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
  3. ^ "New Hyundai A-League club for Western Sydney". Football Federation Australia. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  4. ^ "PM: West is best for FFA". Australian FourFourTwo. 4 April 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  5. ^ "Western Sydney to be unveiled". Australian FourFourTwo. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  6. ^ "Western Sydney confirmed for A-League in 2012–13". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 4 April 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  7. ^ "Lyall Gorman appointed chairman of new Sydney club". Football Federation Australia. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  8. ^ "Popovic head coach for new Sydney club". Football Federation Australia. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 29 e 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  9. ^ Davutovic, David (22 May 2012). "Ante's heart is back in Sydney". thetelegraph.com.au. News Limited. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  10. ^ "Last day to vote on new Sydney club". West Sydney Wanderers FC. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  11. ^ "Western Sydney ready to begin our journey". Football Federation Australia. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  12. ^ Australian FourFourTwo - Wanderers Fans Take Shape
  13. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/wanderers-journey-kicksoff-20120726-22sfg.html
  14. ^ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/soccer/western-sydney-wanders-have-first-hit-out-in-trial-match-against-nepean/story-fndb5nmd-1226435247170
  15. ^ http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/new-a-league-club-western-sydney-wanderers-fc-enjoy-5-0-victory-against-nepean-fc-in-debut-match/story-e6frf4gl-1226435353647?from=public_rss
  16. ^ http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/wswanderersfc/news-display/Parramatta-Stadium-the-right-venue-for-Wanderers/48321
  17. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/sponsor-and-stadium-sealed-20120726-22v3v.html
  18. ^ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/soccer/western-sydney-wanderers-to-play-at-parramatta-stadium/story-fndb5nmd-1226435711524
  19. ^ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/soccer-old/western-sydney-embrace-new-a-league-club/story-e6frey4r-1226338203563
  20. ^ http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/football-federation-australia-canvassing-the-thoughts-of-western-sydney-for-new-a-league-club/story-e6frf4gl-1226338560424?from=public_rss
  21. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/sponsor-and-stadium-sealed-20120726-22v3v.html
  22. ^ "Parramatta Stadium Master Plan". parramattastadium.com.au. Parramatta Stadium Trust. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  23. ^ Hinds, Richard (1 May 2012). "Wanted: stadiums fit for both fans and sponsors". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  24. ^ a b "Attacking style key for New Sydney Club: Bosnich". Western Sydney Wanderers FC. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  25. ^ "Australia's World Cup Bid 2022". Austadiums. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  26. ^ Paterson, Ian (3 May 2012). "A-League: Push to lure the league's newbies". Fairfield Advance. News Community Media. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  27. ^ Cockerill, Michael (4 April 2012). "New Sydney A-League team to be announced". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  28. ^ Cockerill, Michael (26 June 2012). "There's not much time to wander from task at hand". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  29. ^ Bossi, Domenic (2 June 2012). "Crosstown Bridge traffic angers Sky Blues". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 June 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthor= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
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