It’s time for celebration and the Gold Coast community should be congratulated and proud of its historic achievement after today being granted the 17th licence to compete in the Australian Football League.

Gold Coast Football Club Advisory Board Chairman John Witheriff said the Gold Coast community had stood up and been counted when asked to support the GC17 bid launched last April. AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou made the announcement that the AFL Commission had approved the Gold Coast’s bid for its very own AFL team at a function in front of the local groups that helped achieve the Gold Coast’s AFL dream.

The attendees were made up of representatives from the community, junior football clubs, local supporters and government organisations including Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke and Gold Coast City Councillors. Witheriff said: “I believe the Gold Coast has been given an incredible opportunity and the successful licence bid was for all of us who know an AFL team can succeed on the Gold Coast. “It is time for celebration but after that it will be business as usual as we continue the hard work required to build the heart and soul of a successful football club. This is another step in our journey to becoming the most exciting sporting club in Australia.

“We intend to repay the faith of the Gold Coast community that helped us prove that we are united in building the foundations required to ensure the long-term viability and success of an AFL team. “This club has been born through the support and love of the people of the Gold Coast community. Our values and our aspirations will reflect this City. “Everyone is just as important as each other, from Chairman and Coach to player and supporter, we just have different roles to play.  “Gold Coasters love the Gold Coast. We believe in our community, we believe in ourselves and what we have to offer.  We will be progressive, innovative, exciting and a little bit cheeky.” Mr Witheriff said a major part of the submission to the AFL last October was the critical element of establishing and maintaining a community connection.

“I believe the Gold Coast has been given an incredible opportunity and the successful licence bid was for all of us who know an AFL team can succeed on the Gold Coast."
“Our promise is to ensure that we will have meaningful engagement with the community and our pathway ensures that the Club will be owned by its members within a few years,” he said. “Membership of the club will be critical in driving our success. I would urge all supporters who backed the GC 17 bid to now commit to membership and continue with us on this journey.  “I’d like to thank the people who have made this a reality. The 42,000 supporters, 114 committed business partners, my fellow bid team members Graeme Downie, Alan McKenzie, Dale Dickson, Bob Gordon and the GC 17 staff.”

Mr Witheriff also thanked Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, local Members of Parliament, the Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke and Gold Coast City Councillors and media partners Hot Tomato, the Gold Coast Bulletin and Prime. He said the guidance of the AFL during the process was outstanding and in particular wanted to thank Andrew Demetriou and the AFL Executive for their support.

“This club has been born through the support and love of the people of the Gold Coast community. Our values and our aspirations will reflect this City."The Gold Coast Football Club can also confirm it has secured a major partnership with leading industry super fund Host Plus as foundation sponsor for the next five years. “Host Plus has committed to join our journey based on the new team’s ability to return significant economic and sporting benefits to the Gold Coast Tourism and Hospitality community,” said Mr Witheriff. “The granting of the AFL license will see an additional $34 million in spending in the Gold Coast region each year, which is equivalent to approximately 430 full-time equivalent jobs. In addition the construction of a new stadium will also create much needed jobs for the Gold Coast. “Local businesses within the hospitality, tourism and sport industries will be major beneficiaries and I would like to applaud Host Plus and our other sponsors for making this commitment.”