Inside the Wanderers' new Centre of Football
Western Sydney Wanderers opened Stage 1 of the club's Blacktown-based Centre of Football on Monday.
The new Centre of Football includes three elite training pitches housing the club's Hyundai A-League, Westfield W-League teams and academy teams.
It also features designated change rooms, physiotherapy rooms, a state-of-the-art gym, offices and media centre.
Once completed, the Centre of Football will be one of the biggest club sport facilities in Australia, with a new academy facility, community offices and six more pitches still to be built at the 11-hectare development.
Western Sydney Wanderers Chairman Paul Lederer said: "We have planned, paid for, and delivered a facility in Western Sydney that in my opinion is unrivalled."
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“Along with my fellow owners and directors we have had this development at the heart of our long-term plans since our investment in the club in 2014.
“I said at the time that we have the tools and support to make a significant impact in the Australian sporting landscape and with this development we have done just that.
“The last three years of hard work today comes to fruition. With our Centre of Football, our new stadium in Parramatta and the support of our members and fans there has never been a more exciting time to be a part of this club and I am full of pride when I think of what we have achieved in such a short time."
Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas said: “While Bankwest Stadium is the jewel in the crown of our football club, our Centre of Football will be the forge that moulds our future generations of male and female talent.
“The Wanderers Centre of Football is not just an elite facility but will be a community asset as we deliver a wider and more strategic community program in one of Western Sydney’s biggest growth areas and a heartland of football.”
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Blacktown City Council Mayor Stephen Bali said: “Blacktown City is a sporting city, and we are committed to growing sport in Blacktown."
“We have spent the past few years planning to transform our great city and one of our key projects was to create a first-class training and administration centre for the Western Sydney Wanderers in what is and always has been the spiritual home of the Wanderers – and I think you will agree we have done just that.”
The Centre of Football will also play a massive role in the broader Blacktown community through community programs which include but are not limited to:
- Male and female elite pathway development
- Female participation with a focus on body image; mental health; obesity and healthy eating
- Programs for Seniors and the elderly
- Migration settlement, activity and inclusion programs for CALD community across Western Sydney
- Indigenous community engagement and participation activity and pathway opportunity
- All-abilities football participation and activity
- Host international teams and youth tournaments primarily using the club's football network across the Asian regional and other key markets
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