Heart boots Casey Fields

By Bridget Brady
NEW A-League soccer team Melbourne Heart has given Casey Fields the flick.
The team last week announced it would not make Cranbourne its home, instead opting to establish its base at La Trobe University in Bundoora.
City of Casey chief executive Mike Tyler said the council was disappointed it could not secure Melbourne’s second A-League soccer team, which enters the competition this year, after long discussions with various peak bodies.
Mr Tyler said the council was confident it had a “very good” proposal for Melbourne Heart, but recognised there was serious competition to attract the team.
Having Melbourne Heart based at Casey would have benefited soccer enthusiasts and Casey residents, Mr Tyler said.
“Council is disappointed that Melbourne Heart chose to establish its base at La Trobe University rather than at Casey Fields, as it would have provided outstanding role models for Casey residents to have elite athletes permanently based in the community, coaching advice for our clubs and players, opportunities for aspiring Casey players and a sense of close involvement for Casey residents in a national sporting competition,” Mr Tyler said.
La Trobe University will become Melbourne Heart’s training and administration base, and the club’s chief executive, Scott Munn, said the ability to cater to both aspects was an important criterion when deciding on the club’s home.
“As a football club, there were a number of criteria which we considered to be of paramount importance when canvassing the options for the location of our training base,” Mr Munn said.
“Most important of which was an ability to house both the administrative and training arms of our club, as well as provide ample access to various support services, including conditioning and medical facilities.”
Mr Tyler said not securing Melbourne Heart wouldn’t affect the council’s hopes of gaining Federal Government funding to build world-class soccer facilities at Casey Fields.
The council has a $15.4 million application with the government to create a Casey Soccer Centre of Excellence at Casey Fields, which would include a main turf pitch and stadium and four synthetic pitches.
“While securing the Melbourne Heart component would have given the project a greater profile, the economic stimulus and community benefits of the components forming the application to the Federal Government are not diminished at all by not having the A-League soccer team at Casey Fields,” Mr Tyler said.
Melbourne Heart will begin training at La Trobe University next week.