The Gold Coast SUNS are building a reputation as the most exciting football club in Australia. Strong values and a culture of success both on and off the field are central to achieving
this goal.
We are now undertaking the hard work required to build the heart and soul of a successful football club. We intend to repay the faith of the Gold Coast community that helped us prove that we are united in building the foundations required to ensure the long-term viability and success of an AFL team.
The club was born through the support and love of the people of the Gold Coast community. Our values and our aspirations will reflect this City. Gold Coasters love the Gold Coast. We believe in our community, we believe in ourselves and what we have to offer. We will be progressive, innovative, exciting and a little bit cheeky.
A critical element of building the football club will be establishing and maintaining a community connection. Our promise is to ensure that we will have meaningful engagement with the community and our pathway ensures that the Club will be owned by its members within a few years.
The Club
The Gold Coast SUNS were unofficially born on 31st March 2009, when at the club’s inaugural player launch, AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou took to the stage and announced GC SUNS had been granted a provisional licence to compete in the AFL from 2011. The attendees were made up of representatives from the community, junior football clubs, local supporters and government organisations including Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke and Gold Coast City Councillors.
Gold Coast SUNS Chairman John Witheriff said the Gold Coast community had stood up and been counted when asked to support the GC17 bid launched last April.
“I believe the Gold Coast has been given an incredible opportunity and the successful licence bid was for all of us who know an AFL team can succeed on the Gold Coast,” he said.
“It was a time for celebration but now we continue the hard work required to build the heart and soul of a successful football club. This is another step in our journey to becoming the most exciting sporting club in Australia.”
