Macarthur FC’s transformation from an exciting bid to an established club will come to an end on December 27, when the Bulls’ inaugural A-League campaign gets underway.
It’s been a whirlwind process for Macarthur since the Campbelltown Council first backed a bid for an A-League side to play out of Campbelltown Stadium in late 2017.
What was to follow was the rapid rise of Macarthur FC, the Bulls of Campbelltown with a deep connection to the local community led by an experienced coaching staff and talented squad capable of becoming a genuine force in the 2020/21 A-League campaign.
Macarthur FC’s inception: a timeline
- December, 2017: Campbelltown Council informs Football Federation Australia of its intention to bid for an A-League club to be based in the region, using Campbelltown Stadium as its home ground
- June, 2018: The ‘United for Macarthur’ bid joins ‘South-West Sydney FC’ and eight others in a ten-club shortlist created by FFA, with all ten bids competing for two A-League licenses
- August, 2018: United for Macarthur and South-West Sydney FC merge to form Macarthur South West United, and the combined bids continue as one
- October, 2018: Macarthur South West United progress to become on of six remaining bids being considered for the two A-League licenses on offer
- December, 2018: FFA grants Macarthur South West United entry into the A-League for the 2020/21 season
With a place in the A-league secured and the 2020/21 season to look forward to, Macarthur South West United went about making the crucial decisions necessary to decide the finer details of the club’s identity going forward.
Online surveys and forums proceeded in the early months of 2019, providing Campbelltown locals with the opportunity to express their opinions on essential club details such as the club’s name, colours and crest.
And on May 16, 2019, after months of canvassing community feedback the club revealed itself as Macarthur FC, announcing the club colours, crest and an inaugural Head Coach to boot on an enormous day in the club’s history.
Black, white and ochre were the colours chosen to represent the area’s diverse cultures; the club explained ochre was chosen ‘to represent one of the traditional colours for the local Dharawal Aboriginal people on whose land the Macarthur region sits’.
Appointed to lead Macarthur’s charge toward the 2020/21 A-League campaign was Ante Milicic – the Westfield Matildas Head Coach at the time of the announcement.
Milicic continued in his role to take Australia to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and oversee a successful qualification run toward the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, before vacating the position in July, 2020 to ramp up preparations for Macarthur’s inaugural A-League campaign.
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As 2020 rolled on the signings continued to make their way through the door, with a raft of top-quality talent eager to become a part of history and join Macarthur’s first A-League squad.
Socceroos winger Tommy Oar was the club’s first signing in January, before the mid-year arrival of marquee signing Mark Milligan signalled Macarthur’s intent to be a force to be reckoned with in their first taste of A-League action.
Milligan, who has featured for Australia at four FIFA World Cups, three AFC Asian Cups, the Confederation Cup, and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will be the club captain throughout their first A-League campaign.
Slowly, but surely, Macarthur’s strength in depth has continued to grow: Socceroos ‘keeper Adam Federici and full-back Ivan Franjic have been joined by a raft of exciting imports, including former Premier League striker Matt Derbyshire, French midfielder Loïc Puyo and Spanish pair Beñat Etxebarria and Markel Susaeta, who join Macarthur’s ranks after a significant stint spent together at hometown club Athletic Bilbao.
The Inaugural squad is set and ready to go! 😍
Who are you looking forward to watch this season?#MFCBulls #RunWithTheHerd pic.twitter.com/y2eAGbTmdc
— Macarthur FC (@mfcbulls) December 20, 2020
It’s a squad more than capable of causing problems for any side in the A-League this season, which will be put to the test for the first time when Milicic takes the Bulls into battle on December 27 against Western Sydney Wanderers.
Beginning as an exciting prospect three years ago with a bid from Campbelltown Council, Macarthur FC have developed into an emerging A-League club with a deep connection to its local community, a strong core of leadership and experience at both playing and coaching level and a genuine opportunity to ruffle feathers around the league in their first A-League campaign.
All that’s left to do now is sit back and watch the Bulls charge.
