Campbelltown City Council’s push for an A-League team came as a big surprise to a lot of people.
But not to local insiders who’ve watched the Wests Tigers treat their local fans with disdain.
But council were also frustrated with the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Despite playing their three Asian Champions League matches at Campbelltown Sports Stadium earlier this year, the Wanderers did not put out too many positive signals about their engagement in Campbelltown and Macarthur going forward
Like the Wests Tigers, the Wanderers have a lot of fans here in this part of South West Sydney, and by and large both clubs have disappointed them.
The Tigers will only play three NRL games here in the 2018 season, while the Wanderers look like staying at Homebush until the rebuilt Parramatta Stadium is open for business.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]In the meantime, our fantastic venue in a great location is more useful to pigeons than footy fans – or Campbelltown Pigeon Stadium, as my old sports guru mate Wayne Cousins would have called it.[/social_quote]
The big clue in council’s media release about the A-League bid is in this quote from the Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr George Brticevic, who said: “Our community is calling out for, and deserves, a full-time sporting team with a full schedule of games, and this is a great opportunity to have a professional sporting team, playing at a national level, which lives and breathes this region.’’
“Full-time sporting team’’. Get it?
Wests Tigers and Wanderers, thanks but no thanks to your occasional visit to our region.
From that point of view, the council has got it absolutely right.
As a sport fan, well, bring it on.
Full marks to the mayor and the general manager, Lindy Deitz, for having a red hot go.
And who knows, it may make the Wests Tigers and the Western Sydney Wanderers think again.
