AFTER a week of intense speculation, the Gold Coast Football Club (GCFC) finally unveiled their nickname, and will be known as the Gold Coast Suns when they enter their official AFL season next year.

At a gala function at Southport on Thursday night, with about 600 people in attendance, including AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou, the GCFC also unveiled their home, away and clash jerseys for 2011.

They also proudly belted out a rendition of their club song which they will be hoping to sing on several occasions next season.

GCFC chairman John Witheriff was full of pride as two years of hard work by all involved saw the dream of an AFL team on the Gold Coast become a reality.

“Next year is going to be an exciting year for us and tonight to announce a name, song and identity brings to life the dream that many of us have had for a long time,” he said.

“To see it actually come alive and take form is a great thing.”

GCFC CEO Travis Auld said he believed the unveiling of a nickname would allow the club to secure even more support from the community.

“We’ve been able to secure 7000 members without a name, without a jumper and without a song, which is a major feat,” he said.

“Now we have a platform to build more support for this footy club.”

The final decision to go with the Suns as the club’s official nickname was made to reflect a bold and fresh sporting club as well as reflect the spirit and values of the club.

Demetriou said he supported the nickname and believed Gold Coast would be a successful outfit sooner rather than later.

“I think everyone associated with the Gold Coast Football Club should be very proud,” he said.

“I love the song, and I love the jumper and I love the nickname the Suns.

“We have got no doubt they are going to be a key part of the AFL family and they are going to be a successful club very quickly.”

Karmichael Hunt and Daniel Harris have followed very different paths to wind up at the Gold Coast, Harris playing 149 games for North Melbourne before being handed a lifeline by Gold Coast via the rookie draft last year, opposed to Hunt who had a much-publicised code swap.

The journey has brought them together and as they modelled the club’s new jerseys and revved up the crowd to join in the new team song, they were absolutely delighted to be part of an historic night.