Perth Glory legend Jamie Harnwell and stand-in captain Travis Dodd have both thrown their support behind the campaign for a Home of Football in Western Australia.
Perth Glory legend Jamie Harnwell and stand-in captain Travis Dodd have both thrown their support behind the campaign for a Home of Football in Western Australia.
Football West is seeking a funding commitment of around $20 million from the State Government to build a home for the game, one which would benefit the entire football family from juniors and amateurs through to Perth Glory’s W-League and Hyundai A-League sides.
Alistair Edwards’ men trained at the current Gibney Reserve facility today to highlight the desperate need for the Home of Football proposal to be given the green light and wore gold t-shirts promoting the campaign.
“It’s hugely important for football in WA to have a home,” said Dodd.
“If you look around at the other sports in this state, rugby has a state of the art facility which we use on a daily basis and basketball has got a new facility as well.
“Where we’re training today, this is football’s facility and to be honest, it’s not up to much.
“There’s not even any hot water in the showers here, for example.
“You want to set a high standard on and off the park and that’s not the case here.
“It would be great if football could have one base with everything coming out of it like the other sports.
“The Glory players are right behind the push for a Home of Football and whatever we can do to help, we will.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Harnwell, the club’s record appearance-holder who currently coaches Glory’s W-League side while also continuing his playing career with State League outfit Sorrento.
“The campaign has already been a huge success so far,” he said, “and it’s great to see Perth Glory come down to support it today.
“It’s going to be a benefit to them and a benefit to all senior players, junior players, coaches and administrators.
“The plan includes a 5000-capacity boutique stadium and playing Grand Finals, games against other states, W-League matches and games in the FFA Cup if they come up would be awesome.
“And there are just so many good things that would come out of it as well in terms of developing players for the future.”
A promotional video for the project featuring the likes of Jacob Burns, Harnwell and West Coast Eagles legend Glen Jakovich has prompted a vast outpouring of support via social media, with former Glory striker Robbie Fowler and supermodel Megan Gale among those offering their public backing.
And Football West chief executive Peter Hugg is optimistic that the state’s decision-makers are listening.
“Hopefully,” he said, “this will garner enough traction with the respective political parties for them to take notice and make a commitment.
“Whilst the Home of Football will provide a training facility for the Glory men, women and youth teams, our various state representative teams and the National Training Centre development squads, it will also enable us to provide facilities to the greater football family as well as the general public, schools and community groups.
“With much of the playing surfaces proposed to be artificial grass and wanting to maximise usage of the facility, we will look to conduct sessions for a whole range of groups that want to play and train there.”
Football West has received in principle support for $500,000 from FIFA through its “Goal” program and will be seeking support from Federal Government as well as commencing its own fundraising activities.
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