Southern Expansion’s bid to enter a new team into the W-League has been boosted with the announcement of Matildas greats Di Cleary (nee Alagich) and Julie Murray as ambassadors.

Southern Expansion is keen to deliver a new professional club in the region south of Sydney, covering St George, Sutherland and the South Coast and were left deeply disappointed when the FFA turned them down in May.

Their ongoing bid is spearheaded by former Socceroo Craig Foster and iconic football broadcaster and commentator Les Murray AM, with financial backing from Chinese property giant JiaYuan.

And they have now signed up Cleary and Murray, both southern locals who played over 150 games between them for the Australia women’s national side.

Murray, who played professionally in both Denmark and the USA, said: “This has been a dream, of mine and Craig’s and Di’s for years.

“We share the same sort of football philosophy with Craig and also in particular the club ethos and culture that will be built right from the start. The club brings real life back to the area and there are so many different positive aspects to having a professional club in our backyard.

“Di and I will be providing advice that actually results in the best possible structure for the club in the women’s game. Once we press the ‘go’ button, that it will be something that is recognised domestically and internationally as one of the best club structures in the world.

“I can’t begin to imagine the excitement of going to the first game, W-League or A-League, it’ll be just ridiculous.”

Murray and Clearly will work particularly in establishing junior development programs for talented local girls in the southern region with the aim of identifying and developing the next generation of Matildas.

Foster said: “Julie and Di are two of the greatest champions in the history of our women’s game but, more than that, they’re wonderful people with a heart for football and the passion to make a contribution to the future.

“They will provide a perspective on the direction of the women’s game, underpinning programs and integration into the local communities, aspects of player welfare and education, links to the business community to provide further financial opportunities for players outside of the football season, the prototype player we will seek to produce for our football and give our young girls a vision of what can be achieved through hard work and dreaming of greatness like their club ambassadors.”