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"Old soccer" invading "new football"

Roar Guru
25th June, 2011
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Roar Guru
25th June, 2011
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2427 Reads

Okay, so the title is tongue-in-cheek. While I realise that the birth of the A-League certainly signalled a fresh and at times innovative approach to the game at club level, there were perhaps better ways to leave behind the era of the National Soccer League than by labelling it “old soccer”.

Two appointments this week illustrate that the links between the NSL and the A-League continue to get stronger and hopefully lead to progress for the individuals and clubs involved.

Both Francis Awaritefe and Paul Trimbole won NSL titles and shone as what the A-League might now term “marquee” players.

Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar have added respectively, the two to their coaching staff. “New football” analyst Robbie Slater, a player of “old soccer” with Northern Spirit, couldn’t understand the appointment of Awaritefe, who joined new “old soccer” stalwart Mehmet Durakovic at the Victory.

“Old soccer’s” Paul Trimbole has joined fellow “old soccer” warrior and total “new football” convert Ange Postecoglou at the new-age, new football pin-up boys at the Roar.

It’s all a bit dumb, isn’t it?

I mean, “old soccer” identities have been part of “new football” since the A-League’s inception.

John Kosmina, Branko Culina, Miron Bleiberg, Frank Farina, Lawrie McKinna, Alex Tobin, Ian Ferguson, David Mitchell, Graham Arnold – just to name a few – have had or have coaching positions with A-League clubs.

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I’m not even going to try and go into the players, who have straddled both sides of the mythical divide for they are numerous.

Off the pitch, Andy Harper, Nick Meredith and Ross Aloisi draw on their considerable experience at those “old soccer” venues like Middle Park, Perry Park, Schintler Reserve, Marconi Stadium and St George Stadium to provide commentary on players treading the “new football” turf at A-League venues around the country.

Even some of the clubs are “old soccer”-inspired.

Adelaide United and Perth Glory played in the NSL. The Brisbane Roar were originally to be known as the Queensland Lions in a nod to their heritage link to the Brisbane Lions, until the AFL club of the same name stepped in (like football fans would ever confuse the two).

The Newcastle Jets were run by Con Constantine until this season when Nathan Tinkler bought them and just about every other sporting franchise in the Hunter.

Without doubt, Sydney and Melbourne is where the greatest change occurred.

Six seasons on, regardless of what their off-field perils may be, the Victory and Sydney FC are the two most successful clubs in the A-League.

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There can be no doubt that “old soccer” laid the foundation for the rise of both clubs, just as it is true that the eventual mismanagement and insurmountable restrictions of those former NSL clubs led to the existence of the A-League’s two fiercest rivals.

However, let’s not deny history or ignore the harsh lessons learned from the formative years of club football for the NSL was truly a pioneering competition.

And stalwarts from those pioneering days are making contributions to the still-young A-League in greater numbers each season.

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