New beginnings - 25% Truth, 80% Bollocks

[Mooneyraker]

‘ Australian-owned League Two side @Official_STFC have signed a partnership with the Nepean Football Association! 🤝

The NFA is the grassroots & community level of football that stretches from Penrith (NSW) to the Blue Mountains, a huge catchment area for football interest and football talent in Sydney.

Clem Morfuni - the Aussie owner - has repeatedly said he wants to establish a relationship between young talent in Australia and having experience in a professional environment in England.’

At least they seem to exist, so it is an improvement on Karachi already!

[Posh Red]

At least they seem to exist, so it is an improvement on Karachi already!

It also seems a sensible & logical thing to do, very un Swindon like

[tans]

All seems a bit of a waste of time to me to be honest.

[Audrey]

It also seems a sensible & logical thing to do, very un Swindon like

Well, I can see why Clem might fancy it, but would many Young Aussies want to move half way round the world to take a chance on STFC. A Prem club, sure, but us?

[Posh Red]

Well, I can see why Clem might fancy it, but would many Young Aussies want to move half way round the world to take a chance on STFC. A Prem club, sure, but us?

A chance to get into English football and more chances of getting scouted, probably.

[Legends-Lounge]

Well, I can see why Clem might fancy it, but would many Young Aussies want to move half way round the world to take a chance on STFC. A Prem club, sure, but us?

Remeber Craig Jonhston? Came from nowhere, ended up at Liverpool and is credited with being the inventor of the predator football boot. So why not?

Yes, it is a long way from home but you’d be surprised at the numbers of young Sheila’s & Bruce’s that come to this country in search of a better life career wise. All you hear about is the ‘brain drain’ of the medical profession going the other way. A more cerebral version of the £10 POMS, like my cousins and my ex wife’s uncles back in the 60’s, 70’s. It is not all it is cracked up to be over there and the attrition rate of people going and coming back is quite high.  

We only need a few a season to make a name for themselves to make it work. I’m sure they’ve done their homework. 🤞

[Jimmy Quinn]

Harry Kewell

[Costanza]

Remeber Craig Jonhston? Came from nowhere, ended up at Liverpool and is credited with being the inventor of the predator football boot. So why not?

Craig Johnston joined Liverpool from Middlesbrough so hardly from 'nowhere' (petty dig at Middlesbrough the place notwithstanding).

I think this is very much more of a long-term Clem Morfuni business venture than to a long-term Swindon Town one. Could they go hand-in-hand? Maybe but I doubt we'll ever be inundated with Australian talent (happy to be wrong).

The fact that they're not using our current club badge as the international academy logo says that this is more of a Morfuni thing (I am cynical).  Maybe that's why that haven't really promoted it, so far, on official STFC comms? Meh.

To me it looks like Morfuni is linking up with an established football organisation where he will charge participants a decent fee to be part of a soccer school with trusted local ties and also definitive links (and set-up by people) within the English football pyramid.

This could therefore generate a fair whack of money for Morfuni (with the Nepean FA getting a %) regardless of the ability of the participant and if there's a genuine prospect then maybe Swindon Town get first dibs but even then you have to think that there are much better options for talented footballers within a country with a good structure and reputation in youth sport?

In conclusion: A businessman is trying to make money closer to home and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

[Mooneyraker]

Remeber Craig Jonhston? Came from nowhere, ended up at Liverpool and is credited with being the inventor of the predator football boot. So why not?

Yes, it is a long way from home but you’d be surprised at the numbers of young Sheila’s & Bruce’s that come to this country in search of a better life career wise. All you hear about is the ‘brain drain’ of the medical profession going the other way. A more cerebral version of the £10 POMS, like my cousins and my ex wife’s uncles back in the 60’s, 70’s. It is not all it is cracked up to be over there and the attrition rate of people going and coming back is quite high.  

We only need a few a season to make a name for themselves to make it work. I’m sure they’ve done their homework. 🤞

I'm sure they haven't! This is STFC.

[Legends-Lounge]

I'm sure they haven't! This is STFC.

We’ll see.

[Batch]

do we know if this will benefit STFC financially, or Clem, or is that basically the same thing (no it isn't).

if it's not self funding it seems like another thing that isn't a priority until we get our finances straight

[Bogus Dave]

We’re a company that sponsors work visa’s and co-incidentally has a football team

[JanAirplaneMan]

As well as naturally trying to find Oz football talent to play for STFC it's also a very good revenue opportunity for the club to the tune of 6 figures per season if they get it right.

[Mooneyraker]

As well as naturally trying to find Oz football talent to play for STFC it's also a very good revenue opportunity for the club to the tune of 6 figures per season if they get it right.

Please can you explain how?

[JanAirplaneMan]

Sure. In Oz (and US and some other countries), parents pay an annual fee for their kids/teens/young adults to be part of a well respected football (or other sporting academy) , so to be part of a STFC branded academy  in Oz will be a big pull and attract great interest and paid signups.