Sydney Rovers FC launched as twelfth A-League club
Roar Pro
By The Roar, 3 Oct 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- A-League, football, Sydney Rovers FC
140 Have your say
Sydney Rovers FC - 12th A-League team
Twelfth A-League license holders, Sydney Rovers have made significant strides this week by selecting their club name, colours and logo.
The team will be decked out in red, white, and black, similar to the old Blacktown City colours (in respect to the Sydney Rover’s Chairman, who had close ties with the club), to be worn in a vertical pattern.
As part of an over-riding philosophy to consult fans at a grassroots level, market research undertaken by the club suggested that fans did not a prefix with ‘West’ or ‘Western’ it. As they note: “You’ve told us you want the club to represent all of Sydney and that you know that the club is going to be based in the West of Sydney.”
The club has asked the FFA to register the name, colours and logo. So the big decisions have been made.
What do you think about their choices?
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.
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Football articles
- Phoenix need more than flash in the pan crowds (133)
- ‘New football’ fans may help save the game in Australia (124)
- Does Tasmania have a case for A-League inclusion? (119)
- What happened in Port Said was not a football riot (118)
- Magilton struggling to make a mark (68)
- Does the A-League need an injection of humour? (44)
- Socceroos screwed over by FIFA, again (41)
- Sydney and Perth eye A-League crunch game
- Melbourne Victory vs Central Coast Mariners: A-League live scores, blog (97)
- Liam Miller: Bargain buy of the A-League season? (9)
- Zambia plays Cup of Nations final in memory of their fallen (7)
- Capello’s resignation ends an awkward marriage (8)
- Does the A-League need an injection of humour? (46)
- Redknapp the best bet to clean up Capello’s England mess (2)
- Melbourne Victory vs Central Coast Mariners: A-League live scores, blog (97)
- Liam Miller: Bargain buy of the A-League season? (9)
- Zambia plays Cup of Nations final in memory of their fallen (7)
- Capello’s resignation ends an awkward marriage (8)
- Redknapp the best bet to clean up Capello’s England mess (2)
- Melbourne derby reveals tale of two journeys (3)
- O’ so close for John: How JON almost landed the biggest job in sport (16)
- Explore:
- A-League, football, Sydney Rovers FC
ABCDEFG said | October 3rd 2009 @ 2:32am | Report comment
I know the fans say they don’t like it but I prefer in all honesty if they added the West part, West Sydney Rovers, sounds better to me.
cab711 said | October 6th 2009 @ 10:05am | Report comment
I think the whole idea around the A-League has been to invite everyone to watch and enjoy. By naming your team West or East or whatever area you are narrowing your audience. Best to be open to all and not exclude anyone.
Val Faz said | October 7th 2009 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
I think having West or Western is important as it gives it a point of difference…Sydney Rovers is a bit bland.
I would prefer a name like Western Sydney Wonderers…it’s a good sounding name i think.
albe said | October 3rd 2009 @ 7:17am | Report comment
colours are fantastic… the West part i’m glad they left it off. The only people who call it “West Sydney” are from the eastern half of the city.
It’ll mean both clubs are claiming to be the ‘real Sydney’ so it’ll probably fuel the rivalry more.
I like Sydney Wanderers or just Wanderers FC over Rovers though. Either way, its my new 2nd team as i’m from Penrith originally.
matt said | February 20th 2010 @ 6:29am | Report comment
so am i lol im from penrith
Jeff Baxter said | October 3rd 2009 @ 8:12am | Report comment
Why rover?
Dogs Of War said | October 3rd 2009 @ 8:51am | Report comment
Yeah, I was hearing West Sydney Wanderers, I thought that would be an awesome name for the club.
col the bear said | October 3rd 2009 @ 8:39am | Report comment
impressive power colours similar to a RL club I know…
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rocket said | February 22nd 2010 @ 3:14am | Report comment
More like the St Kilda Football Club!
Why couldn’t they be original?
Freud of Football said | October 3rd 2009 @ 8:44am | Report comment
Typical Marketing rubbish. Who did they do market research on? “Fans”? What fans? Who consituted the fan base? People from Sydney who liked football but not Sydney FC? How can anyone be a fan of a club that doesn’t exist, has no colours, no emblem, no name, no history?
Anyone who has any experience with MR knows that the companies give them the results they want to find and the MR analysts find a way to independently come to the same conclusion so “West” was obviously never going to come into it, probably because it coincides with some “less wealthy” suburbs more than anything some so-called fan had to say.
They’re just keeping the gravy-train rolling, keeping the hype up and hoping it will bring some long term success.
Expect to read some revelations in the coming weeks as they try and get “Sydney Rovers FC” all the publicity it can, whether it be prospective Marquee signings or the arrangements for home games, unfortunately we’ve just released another news story when the public interest is already lower than it should be, the focus should be on securing the A-League as it stands and then a second tier comp, not just entering markets because the AFL is.
AndyRoo said | October 3rd 2009 @ 10:01am | Report comment
Just read no MR company was involved, Rowden chose the colors based on the clubs he used to play for and then just determined the rest from conversations he had with football fans…assumedly at the pub or at state league games. No need for sampling, data or surveys…. that’s just over rated big city stuff
gadget33 said | October 4th 2009 @ 5:42pm | Report comment
So I take it you wont be supporting the new team?
I love the colours, the name and the area it will play it’s games. I think it sounds a shit load better than “Wanderers”.
And yes, us out here in the “west” of Sydney really do hate the term “West”.
thinker said | October 3rd 2009 @ 8:49am | Report comment
why no, Aston Villawood or LiverpoolFC or Fairfeild Wednesday ?
Brett McKay said | October 3rd 2009 @ 9:59am | Report comment
I though Real Mt Druitt was a lay-down mizere….
LewDub said | November 13th 2009 @ 3:26pm | Report comment
Very creative thinker. I would’ve had a real soft spot for Fairfield Wednesday, being born in the area. Anyways, I reckon the colours are ‘super’ and the Rover moniker is pretty decent. I can see Emmo coming back to finish his career with the real Rovers.
Firestarter Bob said | October 3rd 2009 @ 8:55am | Report comment
Well if the right strategy for the Sydney’s west is NOT to use the words “West” or “Western”, then the AFL have pulled a dud with the “Western Sydney” whatevers.
My money is on the A-League strategy connecting better with the SYdney public than the AFL’s.
Pippinu said | October 3rd 2009 @ 8:56am | Report comment
I actually thought I was looking at the St KIlda logo when I logged on.
So is the shirt design going to be identical to the St Kilda jumper?
It’s interesting that Melbourne Heartless has come up with nothing, and enters next year, while West Sydney has come up with everything within a couple of weeks, but it doesn’t inlcude a mention of the West bit, and enters the following year.
But for all that – I don’t mind the moniker “Rovers”, even if it is a little bit unoriginal.
The name, Sydney Rovers, doesn’t sound too bad.
But that logo and design looks absolutely dead set like a St Kilda rip off.
In fact, i wonder whether there are copyright implications.
Tifosi said | October 3rd 2009 @ 9:05am | Report comment
pip, i would doubt this will be the final logo.
If you look at the current a-league logos they all have a certain look to them, this doesnt follow that “look”
Dont mind the name or colours, it looks like st kilda but the logos are different enough
EDIT: Just to add though, the logo looks like the St kilda shirt !!
gadget133 said | October 4th 2009 @ 5:45pm | Report comment
As far as I know, this is the logo. It has been full registered and patented.
AndyRoo said | October 4th 2009 @ 6:38pm | Report comment
Ian Rowden was on tv today it’s one of a number they have submitted with the FFA. They are still doing the fan consulting thing and apparently there will be a vote on the website.
Others he mentioned were Wanderers and Rangers.
Pippinu said | October 3rd 2009 @ 9:19am | Report comment
Tifosi
there is a chance that the FFA is starting to wind back their tight control on shirt designs, logos, etc.
Mr cheese said | October 3rd 2009 @ 10:30am | Report comment
What does ‘Pippinu’ mean ?
Some sort of reference to Aussie Rules ? I’d like to see that.
How does one play Aussie Rules ?
melbvictory87 said | October 3rd 2009 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
wow with a logo like that they should make nick reiwoldt their marquee
BigAl said | October 3rd 2009 @ 3:26pm | Report comment
With balls Mr cheese, with balls !
. . . and if Sydney Rovers go with those colours, they’re setting themselves up for 100 years of failure !
Mr cheese said | October 6th 2009 @ 4:30am | Report comment
I’ve just been watching Aussie No Rules on t’internet.
Do I not like that !!!
DO I NOT LIKE THAT !!!
It’s garbage !
Redb said | October 6th 2009 @ 6:49am | Report comment
Excellent. We can count then on not having to suffer your insipid posts on AFL posts/articles.
Somehow I doubt it.
AndyRoo said | October 3rd 2009 @ 9:36am | Report comment
Freud
Your points are generally agreeable as a rule but however they did their research they came up with a better result than the AFL (although I am not sure if GWS is the real name). A lot of people don’t want to branded “West Sydney” a lot wouldn’t care but the name “West Sydney” doesn’t win anyone over either. While personally I like the name “wests” I don’t live in the region anymore but would have a soft sot for any team based their. I normally hate generic marketing brand 101 but it’s such a wide area in terms of demographics that going with something inoffensive and traditional but still has some novelty in the Hal because there is no other team called the Rovers seems a safe bet (Wanderers sounds better though) . If they had of called themselves West Sydney United, West Sydney Killer Tomatoes or West Sydney FC I would know they didn’t really get it. Not that those names would be available anyway seeing there is already a Sydney united, Sydney FC and the Wests name has all its brand equity tied up with the Magpies.
Let’s face it that area is predominantly working class and wants to support a working class team, not have to travel to the city.
I support the Eels and during the regular season the games against the Tigers, Bulldogs and Panthers (West Sydney based teams) are all big games rivalry wise as is Manly but come the finals if Parramatta aren’t there I feel no guilt if I support the Tigers and Panthers (Bulldogs depends on the year) but no way would I go for Manly.
SFC or Bling FC are pretty much the HAL version of the Roosters/Manly and finally having a team in the area that people will be comfortable supporting that used to support 4 NSL teams and was the birth place of 6 of the Socceroos first 11 is exciting. Oh not to mention the birth place of crowd favorite Holmino (and Nicky Carle)!
Current 1st 11
Schwarzer (West Sydney)
Chipperfield (Wollongong area?)
Neil (Nth Sydney)
Moore (West Sydney)
Luke Wilkshire (Wollongong)
Cullina (West Sydney)
Grella (Melbourne)
Kewell (west Sydney)
Emerton (West Sydney)
Kennedy (Albury)
Cahill (west sydney)
They haven’t release their methodology, but for all we know they might have done it properly (door knocked after business hours and asked non leading questions) but like you I haven’t seen a survey in Australia where the bias isn’t apparent in the questions. Just glad whatever voodoo they used to come up with a name got them something which won’t hurt their chances of success
melbvictory87 said | October 3rd 2009 @ 1:55pm | Report comment
LOL holminho, yes definate cult hero
Brian said | October 3rd 2009 @ 5:53pm | Report comment
Youv’e rather conveniently left out some non-NSW players – Bresc, Dukes, McDonald, Vidosic, Spiranovic, but certainly most of the team is NSW
AndyRoo said | October 3rd 2009 @ 7:29pm | Report comment
Conveniently? I didn’t choose the 11 though took it of the world games “likely starters” for the Holland game.
Dukes is gone, Spiranovic not in the 23, Vidosic didn’t start any of the qualifiers in my memory. If it was abiased sample I would have put Holmino in
Macdonlad would require Pim to start with two strikers (that’s crazy talk). He did get a start in Korea but cahill was out.
Breciano vs Emerton is the only conjecture I had with their team but Bresc is having a pretty tough time of late so think their 11 is fair.
Brian said | October 5th 2009 @ 8:57am | Report comment
Ahh but the crew at SBS are NSW-centric themselves. The game is also a friendly in Sydney. Anyway irrespective of where anyone comes from I would like to see Macca given more of a go than the lanky Kennedy who was very unconvincing against the Japanese in Melbourne.
AndyRoo said | October 5th 2009 @ 9:21am | Report comment
I think that’s a pretty likely team though. Kennedy for Macdonald is non West Sydney Player for Non West Sydney player so doesn’t change the stats.
I would actually like too see both or Vidosic. It’s a friendly at home so 2 strikers would be nice but well, Pim prefers attacking Midfielders.
Most of those Westy’s are in the older Bracket though so there will be more of a spread in coming years. Lowry and Williams the young fullbacks are both from WA. Milligan is a Parramatta boy who will hopefully partner Spiranovic (Geelong) in 2014
Mr cheese said | October 3rd 2009 @ 9:49am | Report comment
Why don’t they name the teams after animals ?
The Cairns Kookaburras
The Adelaide Badgers
The Wollongong Wolf-rabbits
Seriously, we don’t have this stuff in English football but it could work over in Aussie.
Robbie McEwen, the famous cyclist, wrote on his Twitter that ne never normally watches football. As I understand it, he is a Brisbonian ( or whatever you call someone from that city ).
McEwen would turn out to watch the team if it was called The Brisbane Otters.
It’s just a thought.
Sydney Rovers FC sounds about as appealing as a mud sandwich,
melbvictory87 said | October 3rd 2009 @ 1:57pm | Report comment
na na the idea isnt bad, i have to admit the names in this league are just stupid. i would rather go for a traditional name too ie athletic, wanderers, rovers, united etc. real, sporting and atletico sound great but might not suit australia too much lol
Gibbo said | October 5th 2009 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
i’m not sure the FFA should make important decisions based on anything written on twitter…