South West Sydney FC say their goal is to be a "true football club" - a team owned and backed by the community, with extensive fan consultation and involvement. 

While it's currently unclear whether the club will submit a formal Expression of Interest for an A-League licence by FFA's October deadline, Club Director Gino Marra is also the Director of the Australian Association of Football Clubs (AAFC), which have sought to instate a national second division entitled 'The Championship'. 

Like many potential A-League candidates, South West Sydney FC are focusing on the community aspect of their bid, with the club's website outlining the fledgling side's modus operandi going forward.

"South West Sydney FC has been out and about meeting with (the) football community. We have met with our Associations, NPL Clubs, Community group and our local clubs.

"We will continue to do this over 2018 to ensure that we get the best facility in place," the club's website states.

"These meetings are essential as we are building a club from the ground up. We want to ensure that we have the right vision & values in place to ensure we are a success on and off the field.

"Our local community will work with our board and management to ensure we have the right colours, and mascot, after all this is your community club."

South West Sydney FC have already secured the support of former Johnny Warren medalist Nick Carle, who publicly backed the club's entrance to the A-League, saying South West Sydney was geographically ideal.

“The biggest thing for me is how big of a region it is, and how big a football region it is,” he told www.southwestsydneyfootballclub.com.au

“The stats don’t lie, so many great Socceroos and footballers from this region, and it’s only getting bigger.

“It is a massive growth area and so many football lovers out here.

“It’s the perfect place for a new licence.”

 

In addition to AAFC, Marra is also the Director of Southern Districts Football Association, an association which governs football competitions in the area encompassing Penrith and Liverpool.

While South West Sydney FC have largely flown under the radar, and are yet to grant any media opportunities, behind-the-scenes they've been putting steps in place that many other clubs haven't.

With stories about football-playing grandmothers, starlets aiming for the Matildas and touching tributes to club volunteers, South West have accumulated a considerable social media following - around 15,000 people on Facebook - which compared to high-profile bid Southern Expansion (3,300) goes some way to reinforcing their community ethos.

The club will also be based in one of the fastest growing regions in Australia, with a current population of over 800,000 people. Their website states they currently aim to play in a 10,000 seat stadium.

Nick Carle believes South West Sydney deserves an A-League club

Carle is now a youth coach in the South West Sydney area and believes the development of future Socceroos hinge on expanding the A-League into high-catchment areas.

As a youngster who got his start in the expansive NSL, he's speaking from personal experience. 

“From my perspective where I am right now, Australian football at the moment needs more licences for more kids to get opportunities," he said.

“I don’t believe in the current model I would’ve got that opportunity aged 15. If it’s South-West Sydney then great because it has such a big area and so much talent.

“Football has come so far. I believe there are more numbers playing. Is it perfect? No. But these kids aren’t getting the opportunities at the moment with just nine clubs based in Australia for the A-League and W-League.

“Hence why more licences are so important.”

The club will face stiff competition for an A-League licence, with well-established bids from Wollongong Wolves and Southern Expansion - both based in and around Southern New South Wales - well publicised throughout the expansion process.

In this respect, South West Sydney's geographical advantage could also be it's undoing. While the region is a football hotbed, enhanced by large infrastructure projects such as West Sydney Airport, it's also very close to two existing A-League clubs in Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC. 

It may be a hard-sell to convince FFA that a fifth New South Wales club should court priority over regions such as Queensland, with a population of almost five million and only one A-League club.

Likewise, details about the bid's financial backing, infrastructure arrangements and relationship with local council remain completely unseen. Nevertheless, as an idea, the demographics of South West Sydney tell their own story.

The club is based in the only region in Australia with over 500,000 people, but without a full-time sports team in a national competition. It also boasts 200,000 people under the age of 15, alongside 25,000 football participants. 

In an area that's expected to reach two million people by 2035, figures close to football in the region believe ignoring South West Sydney due to its proximity to other A-League clubs would be ignoring huge potential. 

“If you’re bringing in a third club you want all three clubs in Sydney to be doing well,” Carle said.

“Obviously Wanderers have an amazing supporter base and Sydney FC have proven over the last two or so years they are the biggest and best club and a benchmark in the A-League.

“I believe the market is there to have three teams in it. (Proximity) brings that extra rivalry through the derbies. That only makes it better for the game.

“And we all see how good the derbies are and how much they’ve brought to the league.

"It’d be a massive bonus whichever way you look at it.”