Expansion in the A-League is always a touchy subject. After the disaster of the North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United experiments the FFA has been, to say the least, cautious about expanding the national league.

However, expansion is inevitable. Despite the FFA’s vigilant approach, the league will expand beyond its current format. However, what the FFA needs to get precise is picking the right expansion areas.

The success of the Western Sydney Wanderers proves that if you place football into the thriving communities that live and die by the round ball game, it will unquestionably be a positive outcome for all to bear witness.

Wolves fans celebrating during the 2001 NSL Grand Final. (Photo by Getty Images)

In the Round of 16 FFA Cup fixture between National Premier League (NPL) side Wollongong Wolves and A-League powerhouse Sydney FC, the message was loud and clear from the Illawarra faithful;

“If you build it, we will come.”

The Wolves want back into the big time and they have the foundations needed to become the A-Leagues newest franchise; a boutique stadium, a solid fan base and a rich footballing culture.

Any time football descends on Wollongong, the community comes out in their droves. Over 5,000 people attended the 2014 FFA Cup fixture between the Wolves and the Central Coast Mariners and 11,000 turned up for an A-League fixture between Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets in 2015.

The main stand of WIN Stadium full to capacity during Sydney FC's A-League fixture against the Jets in 2015. (Photo by Getty Images)

Whilst training camps held by the A-League All Stars and the Matildas in 2014 each drew over a thousand spectators.

A crowd of over 8,000, turned out on a cold winter’s Wednesday night at WIN Stadium for the Cup encounter with Sydney FC.

That figure a record for the Round of 32 in the FFA cup and almost eclipsed the Wolves all-time average attendance during their NSL Championship years in the late 90’s early  00’s.

The two time NSL Champions and 2001 Oceania Champions League winners, who produced Socceroos like Scott Chipperfield and former Olyroo captain and current head coach Jacob Timpano, now play in the NSW NPL alongside other former NSL heavyweights Sydney United and Sydney Olympic.

Current Head Coach and fomrer Sydney FC and Olyroo defender Jacob Timpano (Photo by Getty Images)

Whilst the Wolves would be disappointed to bow out of the FFA Cup at the first hurdle, the clash was so much more than a game of football. The Wollongong community made a statement to the FFA where ultimately, a permanent return on the national stage is where the Wolves believe they should be.

The FFA can flirt with the idea of bringing in a third Sydney or Melbourne side or even a second Brisbane team and whilst those potential bids could be a raving success, starting a team from the ground up could be an uphill battle the FFA needs to avoid.

However, handing an A-League licence to an area, like Wollongong that has solid foundations where the building blocks are already in place, in particular a fan base that is begging for a return to the national arena is a path that’s worth taking.

The 2000 Wolves Championship winning side. (Photo by Getty Images)