The dominance of the EPL is hindering A-League growth

Columnist

By Adrian Musolino, 15 Jan 2009 Adrian Musolino is a Roar Expert

Tagged:: A-League, development, English Premier League, football, Manchester United, Portsmouth, Sydney FC

Related coverage

Whether you love or loathe the English Premier League, you have to acknowledge its rise to global prominence from the dark days of hooliganism as truly phenomenal for what is a domestic league. But the popularity of the EPL has overshadowed the development of the A-League, with many football fans sticking with the overseas product.

The majority of us have heard A-League bashing from folks who love the EPL, are fervent in their support for a team, typically one of the big four or less likely one of the perennial middle table teams, and yet don’t support the A-League.

You see them wearing their EPL shirts and at sports bars late at night watching the games. There is nothing wrong with that, you just wish they could also get behind the A-League.

“It’s boring, lacks tradition and skill of the EPL,” they say.

There is no denying the difference in depth and quality between the EPL and the A-League is night and day.

One is an economic powerhouse that attracts the best players from around the world to teams with hundreds of years of tradition in a country and continent in which football rules. The other is a code struggling for mainstream attention in an overcrowded sporting market, with a history of stunted growth and a league still in its infancy.

The comparisons between the two are futile.

But that doesn’t mean the A-League is not a viable, unique and competitive league worthy of recognition and support. We just have to accept the quality is not yet where it should be relative to our Asian neighbours and not even close to the major European leagues.

What does the A-League have over the EPL?

For Aussies, the teams represent our homes, places of birth and residences, and an emotional connection stronger than just picking an EPL team.

This is something the FFA needs to do: win hearts and minds in the local communities.

This phenomenon is not unique to Australia.

The popularity of the pre-season match between Manchester United and Portsmouth in the capital of Nigeria, Abuja, highlighted the global reach of the EPL and, as this BBC News article demonstrates, the effect it has on the domestic league.

As Nigerian Tony Collins told BBC News, “I like Manchester United because they’re winners. Actually I like any club that wins in Europe. Nigerians like winners, we’re simple people. Nigerian clubs? Can you really compare? They’re rubbish, I don’t waste my time with that.”

Sound familiar?

Is there any way for the FFA/A-League to tap into the popularity of the EPL for its own gain?

The fact that both the EPL and A-League are shown on Fox Sports allows for cross promotion between the two and the network has done this well.

But why not arrange pre-season matches down under between A-League teams and visiting EPL sides?

Given the popularity of the EPL, fans would flock to see the matches while the EPL teams already play such preseason tours in far-flung places like the USA and Asia. The key would be making it economically viable for the teams.

As opposed to the Nigerian example, a domestic team would be playing giving Aussies a chance to cheer on our underdogs (we love underdogs remember) against the visitors.

While the LA Galaxy exhibition match was all about one David Beckham, it still showcased Sydney FC to a whole new audience on free to air.

Purists who deride the EPL as a cash cow with a one-dimensional playbook may not like it, but it would be for the benefit of the game locally.

Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.

The Crowd Says (98) | Page 1 of Comments

Slippery Jim said | January 15th 2009 @ 7:32am | Report comment

According to Dick Smith Foods, there are only two brands of Australian owned cola manufacturers – LA Ice Cola and Jolt Cola. Despite this, I can guarantee that 99% of Australians will buy Coke or Pepsi instead.

If a product is of superior quality, it has earned the right to its popularity.

Anyone who comments on this site who buys Coke or Pepsi instead of one of the Australian owned brands is a hypocrite if they criticise Australians who reject A-League clubs and continue to follow their foreign clubs.

You may not like It, but it really is as simple as that.

Why sit through hours of crap when you can watch the cutting edge of the sport?

Besides, we live in a small world, a global marketplace in which you can as easily fly to London or Barcelona to watch a match as you can to Perth or New Zealand.

I am not sure that Wellington, for that matter, really represent my “home, place of birth and residences, and emotional connection”, in fact, I am sure – they do not. Nor would mooted teams from Singapore or Indonesia that some pundits are crying out for inclusion in the A-League. It is not hard to see that ALL Australians are either emmigrants, or are descended from emmigrants. It should be no surprise that they have a stronger connection with a club traditionally supported by their family, for decades, from an area from which their family likely originated.

You simply cannot expect to build a tradition, or a strong and loyal fan base and support, or economic strength, in a few short years, and then whinge that a League which showcases the very best football in the world, and that has been around for more than a hundred years is more popular.

While I agree that matches between EPL clubs and A-League clubs would draw crowds, I believe it would be just like the LA Galaxy friendly with SFC, drawing huge crowds for the one match but not changing the support for the local club significantly.

What we really need is more of what Adelaide have done this season, making A-League clubs a visible presence in world football at the top end of competitions against strong clubs, to show that we are not just a joke league but an up-and-coming league to be taken seriously on its own merits.

Reply
Redb said | January 15th 2009 @ 7:53am | Report comment

SJ,

Your just jokin’ with the coke analogy right A consumable versus the passion of sporting club – nah that’d a very long bow to draw.

I agree you can’t blame people for wanting to watch the best version of a sporting code. The other factor is the sheer brand value of EPL clubs, they have been around for decades and have built up traditional supporter bases, a tough thing for any league to crack.

Redb

Reply
The Bear said | January 15th 2009 @ 8:13am | Report comment

So Redb, who is your EPL team?

Reply
Redb said | January 15th 2009 @ 8:18am | Report comment

Bear,

When I was a kid in the 1970s, it was Man U. if I watch the EPL these days I’m likely to be looking for Toures and Liverpool.

Redb

Reply
The Bear said | January 15th 2009 @ 8:21am | Report comment

IF you watch EPL these days? …do you follow the EPL or not??

Reply
Kazama said | January 15th 2009 @ 8:29am | Report comment

The problem is not only is the EPL easily a better product than the A-League, but that it has been around in the consciousness of Australians for a lot longer than the A-League. I have been a Chelsea supporter for 10 years but Adelaide have only been around since 2003, so which club should I support more passionately? Ok, if Chelsea did play Adelaide I would support Adelaide, but I have the feeling I would be in the minority from those in a similar situation.

Alternatively, what people have to realise is that the A-League will never become a league of reasonable quality if they do not support it. People who ignore the league need to ask themselves if they’d rather Australia had no professional league at all, because if we all had that attitude we most certainly would not have a league. You can’t simply expect a new competition to match the standard of the EPL on day one, as you cannot expect your team to win every single game it plays; else you are inevitably disappointed.

SJ: “Besides, we live in a small world, a global marketplace in which you can as easily fly to London or Barcelona to watch a match as you can to Perth or New Zealand.”

Maybe for you mate, but right now the chances of me going to see Chelsea at Stamford Bridge are about as likely as me getting a date with Natalia Avelon.

Reply
The Answer said | January 15th 2009 @ 8:43am | Report comment

Is Toures any relation to Fernando Torres?

The LA Galaxy game may have showcased the club on free to air but judging by their attendances this season, few thought they would be worth watching sans- Beckham.

Currently the EPL sides tour countries that will be big money spinners, at this point Australia doesn’t have the financial clout. Ask Simon Colosimo if he’d like Man United to tour again, when they did last time it nearly killed his career.

Also,may people who follow the EPL in Aus do so through the one hour goals highlights program, every game condensed into five minutes looks amazing and dramatic. Few could sit through the many 90 minutes slogs on offer.

You are right though Adrian, it is embarassing how many Australian football fans claim to ‘love’ one of the club in the big four.

I wonder how many so called Leeds fans who loved them with Kewell and Viduka are still following their exploits in League One.

Reply
Redb said | January 15th 2009 @ 8:44am | Report comment

bear,

Wake up with a sore head, splinter in the claw

I’ll watch the EPl on Foxtel at various times but when I notice it is far superior to the A League.

Redb

Reply
Redb said | January 15th 2009 @ 8:45am | Report comment

err.. that what I meant Torres.

Reply
The Bear said | January 15th 2009 @ 8:53am | Report comment

Meh, maybe, Redb. I just wonder how much you have to contribute to the discussion when you don’t even follow either league that is in comparison… in fact, why bother posting when you have little or no connection to the actual code being discussed?

Odd, don’t you think?

I mean… from someone who doesn’t even know how to spell the name of his “favourite” EPL player… why should anyone take what you have to say on this subject seriously?

The posts you contribute on this tab is looking more like Spam everyday.

Reply