A-League as a “winter” competition can help boost regions like Gippsland which have fallen on tough economic times while uniting a disparate game nationally, says one ex-NSL favourite.
“A powerful club, a respected club that had 3000 junior soccer players back then."
Wealthy Falcons backer Don Di Fabrizio helped build a club and a culture that for many years in the 90s punched above its weight and were a standard-bearer for country football.
"Players of the future for the A-League will be out there in the grassroots, playing on a Saturday then going to see an A-League game in the evening.
“Let’s give all those kids hope in 2021. And all those dreams and aspirations in an area that’s really lost its way," urges Gotis.
"The power industry is hurting and job losses with no investment is making life tough in Gippsland."
Uniting the game is key, says Gotis, who feels the NSL era has been largely disrespected since the inception of the A-League.
And while he's been vehemently opposed to how previous FFA CEOs have managed the game, he's quietly confident James Johnson is the man who can plot a resurgence in the code.
“When the A-League began, the administrators were hell-bent on ignoring the history of the game, and those players who played in the NSL.
“How can you do that? To try to kill the history," he argues.
"Now we’re seeing the benefits of those players who bled for the game and have so much knowledge from around the world and from the past. Let's unite our game ... we have a rich history."
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