Coast' just as good as goldNick Smart
August 28th, 2008
THE GC17 bid team is set to axe the shortlist of club names and simply call the city's fledgling AFL team The Gold Coast Football Club.
The name of the team, to be announced at a gala function next Thursday night, has been closely guarded.
However, The Gold Coast Bulletin understands the bid team, and especially GC17 leader John Witheriff, is of the opinion there is merit in just calling the team 'Gold Coast' to distinguish themselves from the Titans, Blaze and the incoming A-League team as 'the' football club of the city.
The team will be simply known as the Gold Coast, the Coast or affectionately as the Coasters.
There will still be a mascot designed, which is set to be similar to the Fremantle Dockers mascot -- which is of a blonde-haired surfer with a surfboard under one arm.
As they have for all five shortlisted names -- the Marlins, Stingrays, Ironmen, Guards and the Rays -- the AFL has already registered both the Gold Coast Football Club and Gold Coast FC as a public company.
The bid team has always said it may go with an option other than the five on the shortlist, and it appears Gold Coast FC is that option.
While it would be a first in the AFL, the move is bold, and follows the lead of some of the world's biggest sporting clubs -- such as soccer giants Chelsea FC, Barcelona FC and Real Madrid.
Despite the secrecy surrounding the process, The Bulletin believes the bid team designed logos for all five names on the shortlist, plus a generic 'GC' logo for the Gold Coast Football Club.
There were two designs for each logo -- one in blue and gold colours similar to the Titans and Blaze and the other in red and yellow to follow the surf lifesaving theme.
It has been a close decision, although it is believed the colour scheme was resolved at a GC17 board meeting on Tuesday night.
When asked whether GC17 were considering going with Gold Coast FC without a specific nickname, bid team member Graeme Downie said: "I can't give you any detailed information obviously as it has to be a grand presentation on the night."
"But Gold Coasters won't be disappointed because we are taking into account what they recommended."
GC17 bid team manager Scott Munn yesterday would neither confirm nor deny the name of the team.
"We are still working on a few things," he said.
"I am not going to go through the whole process in where we are at with names.
"At the end of the day, all is going to be revealed next week on Thursday night and we are working towards it."
It has been a strong month for GC17, with the bid team signing up Guy McKenna as coach and Scott Clayton as recruitment and list manager in the past few weeks.
GC17 has signed up close to 30,000 supporters, are on the verge of registering their 100th business supporter and are virtually assured of securing the AFL's 17th national licence in October
August 28th, 2008
THE GC17 bid team is set to axe the shortlist of club names and simply call the city's fledgling AFL team The Gold Coast Football Club.
The name of the team, to be announced at a gala function next Thursday night, has been closely guarded.
However, The Gold Coast Bulletin understands the bid team, and especially GC17 leader John Witheriff, is of the opinion there is merit in just calling the team 'Gold Coast' to distinguish themselves from the Titans, Blaze and the incoming A-League team as 'the' football club of the city.
The team will be simply known as the Gold Coast, the Coast or affectionately as the Coasters.
There will still be a mascot designed, which is set to be similar to the Fremantle Dockers mascot -- which is of a blonde-haired surfer with a surfboard under one arm.
As they have for all five shortlisted names -- the Marlins, Stingrays, Ironmen, Guards and the Rays -- the AFL has already registered both the Gold Coast Football Club and Gold Coast FC as a public company.
The bid team has always said it may go with an option other than the five on the shortlist, and it appears Gold Coast FC is that option.
While it would be a first in the AFL, the move is bold, and follows the lead of some of the world's biggest sporting clubs -- such as soccer giants Chelsea FC, Barcelona FC and Real Madrid.
Despite the secrecy surrounding the process, The Bulletin believes the bid team designed logos for all five names on the shortlist, plus a generic 'GC' logo for the Gold Coast Football Club.
There were two designs for each logo -- one in blue and gold colours similar to the Titans and Blaze and the other in red and yellow to follow the surf lifesaving theme.
It has been a close decision, although it is believed the colour scheme was resolved at a GC17 board meeting on Tuesday night.
When asked whether GC17 were considering going with Gold Coast FC without a specific nickname, bid team member Graeme Downie said: "I can't give you any detailed information obviously as it has to be a grand presentation on the night."
"But Gold Coasters won't be disappointed because we are taking into account what they recommended."
GC17 bid team manager Scott Munn yesterday would neither confirm nor deny the name of the team.
"We are still working on a few things," he said.
"I am not going to go through the whole process in where we are at with names.
"At the end of the day, all is going to be revealed next week on Thursday night and we are working towards it."
It has been a strong month for GC17, with the bid team signing up Guy McKenna as coach and Scott Clayton as recruitment and list manager in the past few weeks.
GC17 has signed up close to 30,000 supporters, are on the verge of registering their 100th business supporter and are virtually assured of securing the AFL's 17th national licence in October
