Gold Coast United FC

Football club infobox
clubname = Gold Coast United FC
fullname = Gold Coast United Football Club
founded = 2008
ground = Skilled Park,
Robina, Queensland
capacity = 27,000
chairman = Clive Palmer
mgrtitle = Coach
manager = flagicon|Israelflagicon|Australia Miron Bleiberg
league = A-League

Gold Coast United was officially announced as an expansion team for the Hyundai A-League's 2009-10 season on the 28th August 2008. It is the second bid accepted by the league, with an unrelated bid known as Gold Coast Galaxy FC preceding it. The club is owned by billionaire Clive Palmer, the richest man in Queensland [cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/a-league/aleague-expansion-assured-as-tycoon-agrees-to-fund-gold-coast/2008/05/29/1211654220833.html|title=A-League expansion assured as tycoon agrees to fund Gold Coast|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=2008-05-30|accessdate=2008-06-03] .

History

Consideration for 2008/2009 League

A consortium under the working title of "Gold Coast Galaxy FC", led by real estate magnate Fred Taplin was, along with ALeague NQT, was considered for admission for the 2008-09 season but Football Federation Australia delayed expansion of the league until at least the 2009-10 season. [cite news|url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/71821,no-aleague-expansion-this-season.aspx |title=NO A-League Expansion this season |date=2008-03-11|accessdate=2008-03-11|publisher=FourFourTwo] [citenews|url=http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=hal_newsdisplay&id=21732 |title=Hyundai A-League expansion delayed |publisher=A-League |date=2008-03-11|accessdate=2008-03-11] The Galaxy was strongly expected to join in the 2008-09 season along with North Queensland Thunder, expanding the league to ten teams. Although the Galaxy bid appeared to have good support, the Thunder bid appeared much less secure, particularly after a major financial backer pulled out of the franchise on March 5, 2008. The FFA determined on 11 March that neither team would be granted entry "in the best interests of the league," given that a nine team format was generally unfavoured.

During the off-season prior to the 2008/2009 season a number of players were touted to join the club and it made some tentative signings, including former Queensland Roar manager Miron Bleiberg [ [http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21788443-5003412,00.html Coast reaches for stars] ] , goalkeeper Scott Higgins, [citenews| url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,20797,23268208-10389,00.html?from=public_rss |title=Scott Higgins joins Galaxy of stars |publisher=Courier Mail |author=Monteverde, M |date=2008-02-24 |accessdate=2008-02-29] and former Wellington Phoenix Brazilian player, Felipe'. Without entry into 2008-09 season, the players became free agents and can still sign for the 2009-10 season depending on the terms of their next club contracts. The franchise was also linked at times with signing Nwankwo Kanu as their "marquee" player [ [http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/gold-coast-keen-on-kanu-106194/ Gold Coast Keen on Kanu] SBS The World Game website, "Retrieved on June 6th, 2008"] .

The name 'Galaxy' was an interim name and it was always undetermined whether or not that name would be used by the club as a permanent name. Galaxy was said to have have ties to American Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy, which would have meant pre-season warm-up matches and possible player sharing opportunities. Indeed, in February 2008 there was even talk of David Beckham turning out for a pre-season match [ [http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2008/02/22/8000_gold-coast-news.html Gold Coast Chasing Beckham] Gold Coast Bulletin, February 22nd, 2008 "Retrieved on June 6th, 2008"] The Galaxy consortium had planned to market the club deep into Northern New South Wales, down to Coffs Harbour.

Consideration for 2009/2010 League

Once the FFA had decided not to have new franchises in 2008/2009, the focus turned to 2009/2010. The Galaxy consortium's chances of entering the A-League were dealt a severe blow in June 2008 when a rival consortium headed by real estate and mining billionaire Clive Palmer entered talks with the FFA [ [http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2008/05/30/11822_gold-coast-sport.html Billionaire eclipses Galaxy A-League bid] Gold Coast Bulletin, May 30th, 2008 "Retrieved on June 6th, 2008"] . On June 3, 2008, Fred Taplin announced that the Gold Coast Galaxy had dropped out of the race for the Gold Coast licence and a place in the A-League 'in the interests of football' [cite news|url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/77501,galaxy-bosses-we-quit.aspx|title=Galaxy Bosses: 'We Quit...'|date=2008-06-03|accessdate=2008-06-03|publisher=FourFourTwo] . The same day, FFA chief Ben Buckley confirmed that the Palmer consortium had succeeded in securing the franchise [ [http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23808437-5003412,00.html FFA backs Clive Palmer's Gold Coast A-League bid] Brisbane Courier Mail June 4th, 2008 "Retrieved on June 6th, 2008"] . On June 6th, Palmer signed a provisional agreement with the FFA to field a team in the 2009-10 season. The press conference was held at Skilled Park, further reinforcing the suggestion that the new franchise will play at the 27,000 capacity stadium. [ [http://news.smh.com.au/sport/gold-coast-accept-aleague-licence-20080606-2mp1.html Gold Coast accept A-League licence] Sydney Morning Herald June 6th, 2008 "Retrieved on June 6th, 2008"] . Palmer bragged that he would build a side capable of winning the League in its first season [ [http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/77779,gold-coasts-glitzy-aleague-entry.aspx?r=rss Gold Coast's Glitzy A-League Entry] FourFourTwo Magazine online, June 6th, 2008 "Retrieved on June 7th, 2008"] .

Colours and Badge

The proprosed colours of the club are yellow and blue, similar to the National Rugby League's Gold Coast Titans and the National Basketball League's Gold Coast Blaze. [cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/a-league/gold-coast-townsville-set-for-aleague/2007/12/12/1197135558003.html|title=Gold Coast, Townsville set for A-League|date=2007-12-13|accessdate=2008-02-13|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald]

tadium

It has been proposed that the club would will play home games at the new Skilled Park stadium. Skilled Park is located in the satellite growth suburb of Robina, next to Robina railway station. The stadium is effectively a smaller version of Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane and was designed by the same company.

The new stadium is able to seat 27,000 people.

Current Squad (Actual or Potential)

Former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Bosnich is reportedly being chased by Gold Coast United. Palmer has indicated to his manager Miron Bleiberg to hunt for Chinese talent for his first playing list, targeting current Sheffield United defensive midfielder Sun Jihai as a first signing. [ [http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/78525,gold-coast-want-sun-to-shine.aspx?r=rss Gold Coast Wants Sun to Shine] 442 Football e-zine, June 17th, 2008 "Retrieved on June 18th, 2008"] . Ex-FC Porto junior and current Melbourne Knights midfielder Cameron Watson is also said have been closely watched by Bleiberg. [cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/a-league/promotion-should-be-elementary-for-watson/2008/07/24/1216492594257.html|title=Promotion should be elementary for Watson|date=2008-07-24|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald]

Former Brazilian World Cup stars Roberto Carlos and Rivaldo were said to been keen to end their careers with Gold Coast Galaxy. [cite news|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/brazilians-linked-with-gold-coast-132558/|title=Brazilians linked with Gold Coast|date=2008-09-03|publisher=SBS]

Recently, Joel Porter has been touted as a possible signing by Miron Bleiberg. Bleiberg has been quoted as saying "Porter's at the right age. I've seen a lot of him down the years, but my rule is that I won't sign any player I haven't watched in person, so that's what I'll be doing with him," [cite news|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/porter-poised-for-glitter-strip--141343/|title=Porter poised for Glitter Strip|date=2008-02-11|publisher=SBS]

Gold Coast United's first two signings are ex-ALeague QR players Scott Higgins and Steve Fitzsimmons. [cite news|url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/84404,miron-eyes-local-produce.aspx|title=Miron eyes local produce|date=2008-09-16|accessdate=2008-09-16|publisher=FourFourTwo (Australia)]

Former Wellington Phoenix defender Kristian Rees is in talks with the club. [cite news|url=http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/85777,rees-confirms-gold-coast-talks.aspx|title=Rees confirms Gold Coast talks|date=2008-10-01|accessdate=2008-10-10|publisher=FourFourTwo (Australia)]

Current squad

References

External links

* [http://www.gcutd.com.au/ Gold Coast United Supporters Forum]
* [http://www.gcunited.proboards.com/ Gold Coast United Fan Forum]