Sydney FC is taking games to the city's football heartlands with friendlies against sides based north, south and west of the harbour bridge.

Branko Culina's exciting team will warm up for the Hyundai A-League 2007/08 Season by playing matches against Sutherland Shire Sharks at Seymour Shaw Park on July 25, Manly United at Cromer Park on August 8 and Penrith Nepean United at CUA Stadium on August 15. All three games are scheduled for 7.30pm kick offs.

"Engaging with Sydney's football community is the club's primary off-the-field objective. Playing matches all over the city is part of the club's strategy to tap into the extraordinary number of Sydneysiders who play the game regularly," said Sydney FC chief executive officer George Perry.

"More Sydneysiders - 180,000 at the last count - play football than any other sport. Sydney FC has to reach out to these people and taking the team to suburban grounds is just one way of doing it," added Perry.

Sydney FC will kick off the Hyundai A-League 2007/08 Season when it tackles Gosford-based Central Coast Mariners at Sydney Football Stadium on August 24.