DESPITE the name, the new western Sydney A-league side did not just wander into town and set up camp.
It was a calculated manoeuvre orchestrated by Football Federation Australia on the back of a need to fill a 10-team competition.
Granted, the decision to expel Gold Coast United from the A-league from 2012 onwards forced the hand of FFA powerbrokers —which makes the new side’s progress so far even more incredible.
The Western Sydney Wanderers FC team name was announced yesterday, along with three key signings.
Veteran A-league player Tarek Elrich and young guns, Kwabena Appiah-Kubi and Aaron Mooy, were paraded in front of the cameras, signalling the team’s intention to target grassroots football.
Elrich alone epitomises football in western Sydney.
‘‘I grew up in the western Sydney area, born in Westmead, grew up in Auburn and now I’m living in Merrylands with my family,’’ Elrich said.
For more on this story pick up a copy of tomorrow's Blacktown Sun.