The FFA took control of the side to nurse them through to their final match of the 2011/12 season – when they were beaten 2-1 by local rivals Brisbane Roar at Gold Coast’s Robina Stadium home ground.

Plagued by tiny crowds and their renegade mining tycoon owner over its three year existence, they went from finishing third on the ladder in their debut season to the wooden spoon in their final year.

It was a sad end for a club which launched with a star-studded squad full of promise.

Here are the players who started that day and what has happened to them since.

Jerrad Tyson

Goalkeeper Jerrad Tyson made his professional debut for Gold Coast United in a 2-1 defeat to North Queensland Fury halfway through the 2010/11 season.

The following year Tyson became United’s first choice keeper, replacing New Zealander Glen Moss between the sticks midway through the campaign.

Tyson made 14 appearances for United in the 2011/12 campaign but he couldn’t prevent his side from finishing bottom of the A-League, in a year where the club’s off field troubles overshadowed performances on the pitch. 

When United’s licence was revoked by Football Federation Australia in 2012, ending their existence, Tyson joined Western Sydney Wanderers where he made just one appearance in two years.

His chances were also limited at Perth Glory, where Tyson failed to make a single appearance in the 2015/16 season.

Tyson re-joined the Wanderers in 2016 and appeared to be nailing down a first team place. However, he has since lost the number one goalkeeper’s jersey to Croatian veteran Vedran Janjetović.

Dylan McGowan

Born into a Scottish family in Adelaide, McGowan started his career at SPL side Hearts where he made 56 appearances.

The versatile defender joined Gold Coast United on a season-long loan in the 2011/12 season before making his debut in a 1-1 against Wellington Phoenix.

McGowan went on to play 18 times for United in the club’s final season and was involved in all four of their victories that campaign.

In 2014 McGowan returned to the place of his birth when he joined Adelaide United on a two-year deal. 

Since then McGowan has become a key player for The Reds, who surprisingly lifted the A-League title last year. 

Zac Anderson

The giant defender joined the Gold Coast United youth set-up in 2009 and made his professional debut the same year in a 1-1 draw with Adelaide United.

Anderson played 12 times for United in their terminal season, in which he scored his only goal for the club against Perth Glory on March 18, 2012.

Later that year Anderson signed for the Central Coast Mariners, where he enjoyed the best spell of his career, making 67 appearances over three years. 

Anderson’s wasn’t so successful at his next club Sydney FC, however, after joining The Sky Blues in 2015.

He made just four appearances under Graham Arnold and has since moved on to Malaysian Super League side Kedah. Still only 25, who knows if he’ll return to the A-League.