Casey chases

By Kelly Yates
AN A League soccer team could be training at Casey Fields in less than six months if Casey council’s bid to attract the club is a success.
Casey CEO Mike Tyler said discussions had been held over the past year with the Football Federation Victoria, Football Federation Australia and Melbourne Heart.
“Melbourne Heart will be participating in the 2010/11 A League season, and is currently establishing an administration, appointing a coach and acquiring a playing list,” Mr Tyler said.
“Also important to the club is the establishment of a long term training and administration base, although there may be an interim base established in the short term.”
Mr Tyler said it was premature to speculate whether the discussions would result in Melbourne Heart being based in Casey.
“Although discussions involving council and the club are at an early stage, they will progress quickly if Melbourne Heart decide to establish in Casey as the club requires facilities to commence training by February/March next year,” Mr Tyler.
Mr Tyler said that, as with the attraction of an AFL club, there were a range of benefits to the community, including having elite players as role models within the community, access by local clubs to players and the A League club for assistance, community pride in having an elite team in the soccer code based in Casey, match venue for the A League junior team and spectator opportunities at pre-season and exhibition matches.
Casey council adopted its Regional Soccer Strategy in May, with the council teaming up with Cardinia Shire, the Shire of Yarra Ranges and the FFV to cater for the soccer boom in the region.
The council formed a committee on 24 August to seek to attract an A League soccer team to Casey.