By Molly Magennis
Western United has announced a new partnership with Essendon Football Club that will see United’s staff and A-league team move to the Essendon NEC Hangar in Tullamarine.
United will be based there for the next two years, where it will utilise the Hangar’s community oval and some of the new performance and office areas.
Western United chief executive Chris Pehlivanis said the enormous growth of the club meant he needed to explore options that would benefit both the staff and players.
“To be able to utilise the world-class facilities at The Hangar and bring our team together was a really attractive solution for us while we build our permanent home in Tarneit,” he said.
“Our core values at Western United are togetherness, effort and growth and this partnership speaks to those values in every way.”
Despite the move the club will remain committed to the existing partnership with the George Cross Football Club.
“We’ve been with George Cross from the beginning – many fans will fondly remember being at this venue for our first practice match – and we will continue to have a presence there long into the future,” Pehlivanis said.
Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell welcomed Western United and assured fans that while the club will be sharing many of the same training facilities, it will not directly impact the football program.
“We welcome Western United as partners at the NEC Hangar and look forward to a strong partnership between the cross-code organisations over the years to come,” Campbell said.
“We expect the partnership over time to provide a range of opportunities for growth as our staff and players develop relationships and identify and leverage opportunities for mutual benefit.”
The move will allow Western United Academy teams to play home games at George Cross during the NPL competition.
