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  • Primer Minister Gillard confirms government funding for Football in Western Sydney. Ben Buckley confirms introduction of Western Sydney into A-League.

     

    In an announcement made today at Valentine Sports Park in North Western Sydney at Football NSW Headquarters, Football Federation Australia have confirmed the introduction of a Western Sydney A-League team for the 2012/2013 Season.

     

    “I’m delighted that the funding from the Gillard Government will help create a fertile environment for the new Hyundai A-League club in Western Sydney,†spoke the FFA CEO Ben Buckley.

     

    “From day one of its existence the new club will have a core focus on community engagement. The community will have a say in the culture, colours, name and logo of the new entity and we will explore a model that would allow for community ownership. In partnership with Football NSW, FFA will ensure the club is truly integrated in community football, schools programs and the elite player pathway. We intend to build a model that will be driven by the passion of the football people in Sydney’s west. This represents a major investment by FFA in the future of the game and aligns with FFA’s Strategic Plan endorsed by the recent Smith Review.â€

     

    Federal Funding of $8 million was announced. $1 million to be used to fund the W-League, and $3 million for the redevelopment of the Football New South Wales headquarters at Valentine Sports Park.

    Our poll has shown yet again that message is clear. Supporters in Western Sydney do not want the team to play at ANZ stadium - #NoToANZ

     

    The supporters on this site and on the old forum voted time and again to confirm that statement.

     

    Myself, yourself, people who were active on the old forum, people who chanted at Parramatta stadium all those years ago, supporters who do not even know they will have a team to support and new supporters who will soon be among the supporters here. The facts are that the vast majority will not want to play in the cavernous dead zone atmosphere that is ANZ stadium. Such is the support for Parramatta that I have not bothered to create a poll about which part of Western Sydney we should play, only if we should play at ANZ in addition to Parramatta. Nothing I have read in either new or old forums has changed my belief that Parramatta is where we want to be.

     

    These next few months will be vital for the direction this club will take.

     

    What can you do to make sure your voice is heard? Do you want to have your say?

     

    Comment in News Articles: There will be many news articles written about this club. Comment on them. This is a good one to start with: Daily Telegraph Sydney West To Be A-League Base. Other sites will include Fox Sports, or FourFourTwo Australia and The World Game. They will all have articles online that will shape the perceptions of the community. Be clear and concise with your support of Parramatta and your argument against ANZ.

     

    Twitter: This is a major source of discussion and interaction between parts of the Football Community. There are dozens of personalities you can directly talk to and put your support of Parramatta forward to. @ALeague @Mel_Mclaughlin @FOX_FOOTBALL @MickLynch_Age @thepfa @TheWorldGame @FFA @TheRealBozza @Craig_Foster @lesmurraySBS are just some of the football twitter accounts that will impact on this debate.

    Twitter Hashtags: There are several major hashtags involved with Football. A couple of the most widely circulated are #TheWorldGame, #FoxFootball and #ALeague. The hashtag I have been using is in my forum signature. #NoToANZ. Include this hashtag in any discussion about the Western Sydney team if you have the space for it. Don't needlessly spam this though as there's no point in that.

     

    Forums: While not as public as twitter and news site comments, making sure you continue to push the #NoToANZ point in any discussions online you might take place in is a good step.

     

    I would hope every single person that has voted against playing at ANZ stadium or who understands that their fellow supporters believe in Parramatta as our home can help with this.

     

    Anyone who has watched any sport at ANZ knows the reasons why it is not a stadium that should host any domestic A-League matches. ANZ stadium would be too big for all but a handful of teams in any sport world wide. It will destroy the supporter created atmosphere that makes Football so unique.

     

    To those in charge who may read this. You have the evidence in front of you. You know where you should be playing. Do not let the lure of ANZ's riches outweigh what your supporter base so clearly wants. That is to play at a small, intimate stadium in the heart of Western Sydney. Derbies included.

     

    Thank you all for reading.



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