February 5th, 2010
A-League side Melbourne Heart is set to launch a PR offensive to woo Geelong soccer fans with plans to stage matches at Skilled Stadium and at local clubs.
Set to join the competition next summer, the Heart - which officially unveiled its name and logo this week - said it was looking to reach out to fans beyond Melbourne, with Geelong a key target market.
Heart's CEO Scott Munn revealed that the club has held talks with AFL premier Geelong over the use of Skilled Stadium for a glamour friendly fixture.
"We are planning activities in regional Victoria and we want a practice match in the Geelong area," Munn said.
"We've had dialogue with (Geelong Cats CEO) Brian Cook about that. It would be an international friendly against Celtic or someone like that. It won't necessarily be this season, but it will definitely be something we will explore."
Munn added the club was committed to a practice match against a representative Geelong side in the city during the middle of the year.
"We've had conversations with the FFV about a friendly against a regional Geelong team," he said. "The match would probably be held at North Geelong Warriors' ground. "It would be a fantastic opportunity for fans to see A-League players in action.
"We want to make sure, though, that when we come into Geelong, we're not fly-by-nights. We will spend three or four days in Geelong to engage with the local community, businesses and fans."
The Heart's cause to woo fans away from A-League rivals Melbourne Victory should be boosted if they can sign Geelong soccer star Josip Skoko as its marquee player.
Skoko, the former Socceroo, is poised to end his contract with Croatian heavyweight Hajduk Split and has indicated his desire to return to Melbourne after 15 years in Europe.
The 33-year-old has met with Heart coach John van't Schip to discuss the possibility of ending his career with the A-League newcomers.
Melbourne Heart's knowledge of the Geelong area will undoubtedly be boosted by the presence of John Didulica, who has been appointed football operations manager of the club.
Didulica, who played in the NSL for Sydney United and Melbourne Knights, has a law practice in Geelong and was a former soccer columnist for the Geelong Advertiser. In recent years, he has acted as legal counsel for the FFA.
"John in a Geelong boy and we are delighted that we have him as an ambassador," Munn said.
Munn said that Melbourne Heart had a target of at least 7500 members when it joins the A-League next season.
A-League side Melbourne Heart is set to launch a PR offensive to woo Geelong soccer fans with plans to stage matches at Skilled Stadium and at local clubs.
Set to join the competition next summer, the Heart - which officially unveiled its name and logo this week - said it was looking to reach out to fans beyond Melbourne, with Geelong a key target market.
Heart's CEO Scott Munn revealed that the club has held talks with AFL premier Geelong over the use of Skilled Stadium for a glamour friendly fixture.
"We are planning activities in regional Victoria and we want a practice match in the Geelong area," Munn said.
"We've had dialogue with (Geelong Cats CEO) Brian Cook about that. It would be an international friendly against Celtic or someone like that. It won't necessarily be this season, but it will definitely be something we will explore."
Munn added the club was committed to a practice match against a representative Geelong side in the city during the middle of the year.
"We've had conversations with the FFV about a friendly against a regional Geelong team," he said. "The match would probably be held at North Geelong Warriors' ground. "It would be a fantastic opportunity for fans to see A-League players in action.
"We want to make sure, though, that when we come into Geelong, we're not fly-by-nights. We will spend three or four days in Geelong to engage with the local community, businesses and fans."
The Heart's cause to woo fans away from A-League rivals Melbourne Victory should be boosted if they can sign Geelong soccer star Josip Skoko as its marquee player.
Skoko, the former Socceroo, is poised to end his contract with Croatian heavyweight Hajduk Split and has indicated his desire to return to Melbourne after 15 years in Europe.
The 33-year-old has met with Heart coach John van't Schip to discuss the possibility of ending his career with the A-League newcomers.
Melbourne Heart's knowledge of the Geelong area will undoubtedly be boosted by the presence of John Didulica, who has been appointed football operations manager of the club.
Didulica, who played in the NSL for Sydney United and Melbourne Knights, has a law practice in Geelong and was a former soccer columnist for the Geelong Advertiser. In recent years, he has acted as legal counsel for the FFA.
"John in a Geelong boy and we are delighted that we have him as an ambassador," Munn said.
Munn said that Melbourne Heart had a target of at least 7500 members when it joins the A-League next season.
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2010/02/05/143611_geelong_sports.html
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