Wanderers must show some respect
Roar Pro By Aleks Duric, 14 Jul 2012 Aleks Duric is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- football, Parramatta Eels, Parramatta Stadium, Ray Price, Rugby League, Western Sydney Wanderers
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A message to the Western Sydney Wanderers: show some respect. I know these are crazy times we live in.
The Greek economy balances on a knife’s edge with austerity measures enforced to ensure the Acropolis isn’t sold off to McDonald’s. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have divorced, with little Suri Cruise relocating to the south island of New Zealand. She’s searching for a safe haven from mind controlling Scientologists to seek sole custody of herself.
Eleven time Grand Slam champion Rafa Nadal was bounced out of Wimbledon by little know Lukas Rosol, the biggest upset in tennis since Achilles retired hurt in the inaugural Troy Open.
But this is the craziest story of them all.
The Western Sydney Wanderers would like to cover the statue of Eels great Ray Price to ensure Parramatta Stadium, aka the Gates to Heaven, feels more homely for football fans.
Not on my watch, Wanderers.
Now I’m a Western Suburbs boy born and bred. And football (soccer) is my first sports passion. But you need to respect the turf you’re on, and at Parra Stadium, you’re on Eels territory.
We Eels fans haven’t had too much to celebrate in recent times. Jarryd Hayne was our most productive performer against Manly last weekend, and he was sitting on the bench enjoying a big bag of crisps!
A couple seasons ago Carl Webb and Chris Walker were our marquee recruits. Paul Gallen is an Eels junior playing for the wrong colours. We overpaid Chris Sandow, were strongly considering buying Quade Cooper, and have put our faith in a Morman winger taking time away from league.
It’s not fun being an Eel.
What we do have is a six year window of success between 1981 and 1986 that hasn’t been replicated to date. Five finals including four premierships together with the greatest backline in living memory – Taylor, Grothe, Hunt, Ella, Cronin, Kenny, Sterling and Price.
What a combination, what a time.
And the inspiration behind those glory years was Mr. Perpetual Motion Ray Price. Ray was the original Nathan Hindmarsh when Hindy was but a glint in his father’s eye. Ray hit the line hard, tackled his arse off, bleed for his team and then kept coming back for more. He was a war horse, a work horse a plough horse and just about any other type of horse that just keeps dragging it’s seemingly lame arse forward. Since retirement he’s come across as being a bit of a donkey once in a while, but I’m not going to hold that against him.
Ray is the Eels.
So to the Wanderers, show some respect.
Do you think they cover up the Alex Ferguson stand at Old Trafford when the Theatre of Dreams hosts rugby or league? No chance. Does the SCG rename the Bradman stand when the Swans are in town? No.
Did the United Centre put an afro wig on the Michael Jordan statue during Oprah’s farewell? I bloody well hope not.
Be thankful Wanderers you’re being offered the opportunity to grace the hallowed turf that is Parra Stadium, and hopefully, after years of battles lost and won, a legacy will be born and you can have your own statue at the venue.
But until that day, show some respect.
July 14th 2012 @ 6:39am
michael said | July 14th 2012 @ 6:39am | Report comment
Oh be quiet. Don’t you think that quite a few wanderers supporters are actually parra eels supporters? I’m not sure where this absurd idea even came out of. Some journalist who works for news limited got a hint from some individual in the FFA that the price statue would be covered? Right. I smell a rat and a big one at that. I’m pretty sure you can sleep safe in the knowledge Ray Price won’t be violated by Wanderers fans at least.
July 14th 2012 @ 8:09am
Camori said | July 14th 2012 @ 8:09am | Report comment
Can anyone name the official who actually stated that they wanted to cover this statue at Parramatta stadium? Huge beat up by Rugby journalists with no facts to back them up
July 14th 2012 @ 8:28am
Rabbitz said | July 14th 2012 @ 8:28am | Report comment
Kyle Patterson – FFA’s Head of Communication
July 14th 2012 @ 8:44am
MV Dave said | July 14th 2012 @ 8:44am | Report comment
What was the quote?
July 14th 2012 @ 10:40am
Stevo said | July 14th 2012 @ 10:40am | Report comment
Hahaha. Congratulations must surely go to Seb Hassett at SMH for pulling off a story based on unnamed FFA sources who were only considering some options to make the ground “homely”. Now the anti-football warriors can’t wait to have a dig at WSW for what? And where oh where does Kyle’s name get mentioned???? Time for a cold shower.
July 14th 2012 @ 8:11am
MV Dave said | July 14th 2012 @ 8:11am | Report comment
Can you advise which official or officials from WSW or FFA said the statue would be covered? At this stage it looks like your baseless allegations have come from the baseless article in the Terror yesterday. Or you’re not really interested in the truth and this is a nothing article.
July 14th 2012 @ 8:20am
Aleks Duric said | July 14th 2012 @ 8:20am | Report comment
Hey Dave, don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just responding to unnamed officials and a wsw fan spokesperson. As for truth, it’s definitely high on my priority list. I just haven’t decided if its absolute truth or relative truth I’m interested in!
July 14th 2012 @ 8:31am
Fussball ist unser leben said | July 14th 2012 @ 8:31am | Report comment
Aleks Duric
Respect is something that is earned – it’s not some god-given right based on power, influence, weight of numbers, or some perceived “ownership rights”.
Parramatta Stadium is owned by the Parramatta Stadium Trust, which is an organisation within the State Government of NSW.
Anyone, who uses the stadium – singers, dancers, sporting clubs, etc. – will simply be a tenant and will have all the common law & statutory rights attributable to tenancy.
Maybe, the day that RL shows respect for football, they’ll earn football’s respect.
I hope WSW turns Parramatta Stadium into their home and makes all the changes to the stadium that they are entitled to make, under their lease agreement.
July 14th 2012 @ 8:52am
Aleks Duric said | July 14th 2012 @ 8:52am | Report comment
Fuss…I’ll state straight up I’m a football fan over a league fan first and foremost. And as a Sydney westie I’d love nothing more than for a successful team representing the west to be playing in a successful, well manged league.
Your points re: ownership and tenancy are spot on, but misses the point somewhat. Whilst a piece of paper might say the nsw govt is the official owner, parra stadium and the eels are bonded by far more than paperwork. And that bond has been created by a history with the local community, not something fabricated overnight.
The same way barca and the camp nou got hand in hand, or rangers and ibrox, so too the eels and parra stadium.
The wanderers would be better served embracing their new community and winning their hearts with performances on the field. Filling the stadium with bums on seats and 90 minutes of song will go a lot further than changing the local colors on the grandstands.
Also, I’ve been out to parra stadium for state league football finals hundreds of times, watching the likes of bonnyrigg and blacktown fight it out. There was never any issue with the stadium feeling ‘un-football’ like. The people create the atmosphere…not the statues
July 14th 2012 @ 12:24pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | July 14th 2012 @ 12:24pm | Report comment
Aleks
As you are a local from the Western Sydney region, you know the landscape much better than I, so I accept all the points you make.
However, in relation to your comments about Barca/Camp Nou & Rangers/Ibrox
1. FC Barcelona is the owner of Camp Nou
2. Rangers FC was the owner of Ibrox for over 100 years (I don’t know the structure of the new entity that will take the place of Rangers in Division 3)
And, as I repeat.
3. Parramatta Stadium is owned by the State Government of NSW
July 14th 2012 @ 2:29pm
Simmo said | July 14th 2012 @ 2:29pm | Report comment
If you were a tenant in an apartment would you want your landlord coming in and covering up all your paintings, posters and decorations?
I’m a Sydney FC fan and I think Eels fans should feel disrespected. Parra Stadium has been their home for its entire existence. Only looking at this from the perspective of the stadium’s legal ownership is a bit too narrow and convenient IMO.
I’m glad my club hasn’t done anything that childish at the SFS.
July 14th 2012 @ 2:47pm
Johnno said | July 14th 2012 @ 2:47pm | Report comment
Simmo you go on about Parra stadium.
-Facts
-Parra eels don’t own parra stadium yes they have been the principal tenant but they don’t own it. The state government owns it.
And you can have multiple tenants to a stadium at once. there isa difference between being a tenant(yes that’s right im looking at you parra eels fans and being the owner).
-What about the rights of parramatta Melita taking over eels rights they would hate it.
-Why not put some Melita legends up there at parra stadium.
-Old NSL grandfinals 7 from 1986 too 2004
-Rugby tests have been there ray price was a wallaby to, then went to league not the other way round, put some more wallabies up there.
-But Parra melita legends should put some statues up
-Eels fans are totally arrogant acting like they have contributed most to the stadium and get 1st rights over it when they don’t even own the stadium, the state government owns it.
-Too funny, eels fan go back to your overrated hayne trains and get back in the water you slippery eels.
July 14th 2012 @ 8:54pm
Aleks Duric said | July 14th 2012 @ 8:54pm | Report comment
Johnno…the best reply I have is you’ve got more spelling and grammatical errors than facts in that list. But I agree that Hayne is an overrated git
July 14th 2012 @ 2:57pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | July 14th 2012 @ 2:57pm | Report comment
Simmo
The landlord is the Parramatta Stadium Trust; the tenants are sporting clubs, who use the Stadium.
In most property lease agreements, the tenant will assume the same rights as the landlord/owner, for the term of the lease agreement.
In general, the tenant can do as he pleases provided, at the end of the lease agreement, he returns the property to the landlord in the condition it was at the commencement of the lease.
So, yeah … as a tenant I could remove all the furniture, fittings, paintings, statues, etc. from the property & place them in storage for the term of my lease agreement.
July 14th 2012 @ 8:37pm
Aleks Duric said | July 14th 2012 @ 8:37pm | Report comment
I hate to bang on about the same thing, but I think you’re missing the point. It not an issue whether the stadium is leased, owned, gifted, tenanted, freehold or simply squatted in. There’s an emotional element, and last time I checked emotional bonds are a massive part of being a sports fan. It’s what makes football the most popular sport globally. It’s what the afl has with their cradle to the grave concept. It’s why it’s so important for a father to pass on his colors to his son. Parra stadium was built on the ashes of cumberland oval for the express purpose of housing the local professional rugby league team. Sure it’s played host to a range of other sports/events, but it’s been the eels home since 1986. When the wsw build there own story and bond with their community then their colors will fly high, but you just can’t manufacter legacy out of thin air. It has to be earned.
July 18th 2012 @ 7:45am
Lucan said | July 18th 2012 @ 7:45am | Report comment
Fuss’, I sincerely hope you also rip on HAL fans who consider the side they follow as theirs.
Those franchises are privately or federation owned, and the “members” are actually “season ticket holders” only.
It doesn’t stop people identifying with the team they follow. Same with venues and long term tennants, there’s an accepted affinity.
July 18th 2012 @ 8:29am
Fussball ist unser leben said | July 18th 2012 @ 8:29am | Report comment
@ Lucan
I honestly couldn’t understand what you’re trying to say there – apart from having a dig at HAL clubs.
AFL clubs are also quasi-owned by the governing body – the AFL.
The obvious examples of AFL clubs owned by the AFL are GCS & GWS.
The AFL also owns all the rights to every AFL club’s brand- e.g. the name, the signage, the logo, the trademarks, etc.
I’m pretty sure I read that the AFL is the guarantor for all bank loans taken out by AFL clubs. So, basically, each AFL club is operating as a quasi-subsidiary company of the parent – which is the AFL.
July 18th 2012 @ 12:01pm
Lucan said | July 18th 2012 @ 12:01pm | Report comment
Fuss’, you continue to miss the point like no other.
Do you look at MVFC and see a private entity, a franchise, or something different. On paper, that’s all MVFC are. But in real life, it is so much more. The people, the passion, the short but significant history.
Look beyond the black & white in relation to Parra stadium contracts and consider what the place represents to the people out there.
** for someone who doesn’t watch or read about the AFL, you’re well up on your facts and figures when its time to snipe.
July 18th 2012 @ 1:35pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | July 18th 2012 @ 1:35pm | Report comment
@ Lucan
“for someone who doesn’t watch or read about the AFL, you’re well up on your facts and figures when its time to snipe.”
In the age of click-of-the-button information access, only the laziest people are unable to source basic facts & figures on any topic.
July 14th 2012 @ 8:49pm
Aleks Duric said | July 14th 2012 @ 8:49pm | Report comment
Most fans don’t know or care who officially owns the stadium. The team and fans own the stadium, regardless who holds the physical deed. It’s irrational and illogical, but true. Look at merseyside. It makes perfect sense for everton and livo to play in a shared stadium which would be council owned. in utopia it sounds great. In reality it’ll never happen. The barca and rangers examples could be any teams and their homes in Europe.. It’s the bond of club, fan and home ground that I’m getting at.
July 14th 2012 @ 10:39am
Kasey said | July 14th 2012 @ 10:39am | Report comment
exactly Fuss, Parramatta RLFC are simply co-tennants of the State owned stadium. When the WSW get the keys for the day, they could decide to call the arena the Wanderers FC mega-stadium if they so pleased, I can’t believe how many people have fallen for this tongue in cheek media stunt. I never thought I’d see the day that football would be the one poking the other soprts with little gibes like this, my entire life its been the other way around, then the AFL coach/CEO says: “Ahh you soccer types are so thin skinned – I was just joking!”
July 14th 2012 @ 11:53am
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football said | July 14th 2012 @ 11:53am | Report comment
Fuss & Kasey, I’m just as passionate and determined as you in seeing our game grow in this country but sometimes it’s prudent to extend a little courtesy to our (code) neighbours.
I live in Sydney and I’m with Aleks on this one. There is a lot of mutual respect between league and football at the moment, much more so than AFL and the rest. So why stir the pot like this? There’s more to lose than gain with stunts like these, IF this story is actually basd on facts.
July 14th 2012 @ 4:14pm
Jim said | July 14th 2012 @ 4:14pm | Report comment
You’re kidding aren’t you? – Mutual respect?
Where have YOU been?
Where AND from Whom are you talking about? From the Daily Telegraph OR Ch 7?????? Surely you jest!
It’s only if RL and its media partners get everything they want at Football’s expense AND Football accepts it AND doesn’t complain – that type of “mutual respect” Football can live without my friend!
July 15th 2012 @ 2:54am
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football said | July 15th 2012 @ 2:54am | Report comment
You’re pretty fired up Jim. That’s all good, but one step at a time.The mutual respect I refered to was between the fans of either code not tabloid rags, and I’ve seen plenty of that first hand.
We shouldn’t be aiming for any agressive showboating. We’re doing just fine.The HAL has had its issues in the recent past and it’s all about building solid foundations at the moment. League gets a lot of exposure in the print media, in particular the D. T., for obvious reasons, but what’s the league connection with ch.7 ?
Let’s worry first and foremost about uniting the tribes in our game and forget about what league or AFL are up to. Once we do that the media will no longer be able to push our game into the corner because the numbers will speak for themselves and we will get our share of the cake.
Patience – my friend.
July 18th 2012 @ 5:36pm
Kasey said | July 18th 2012 @ 5:36pm | Report comment
I’m at a loss to understand how this complete BS story is still in the news. A week later and not one official from WSW or the FFA has gone on record and said, yep we are or we were planning to cover up the Price statue. Seems to me to now be a little story the RL types are going to hold on to so they can stick the boot into football for a while yet and hopefully damage the new threat to their cozy little suburban enclave of dominance. .
July 14th 2012 @ 8:57am
Jitter said | July 14th 2012 @ 8:57am | Report comment
Has anyone said this is a possibility? Can’t see a club wanting to alienate potential fans like this!
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July 14th 2012 @ 9:44am
Philip said | July 14th 2012 @ 9:44am | Report comment
If someone draped the Don Bradman statue with a Collingwood jersey on match day, I don’t think anyone would bat an eyelid. And Don Bradman must be Australia’s greatest sporting icon. I have no idea who Ray Price is (hadn’t heard of him till this week) and doubt many people outside NSW or QLD would have any idea either. I think the rugby mob are being a little precious about the whole idea. At the same time, if I was a WSW person, I wouldn’t bother with the statue at all – why create awareness for a third rate sport like rugby.
July 14th 2012 @ 9:53am
asanchez said | July 14th 2012 @ 9:53am | Report comment
I don’t see the point in removing or covering the statue. It may rub too many people up the wrong way.
I have no issue with it personally, but can see where an issue may arise out of this. It’s also a potential banana skin with the NRL loving media ready to pounce on anything that will dirty the Wanderers name. Lets not forget, this club has the potential to be the biggest club in terms of supporter base, in the western suburbs of Sydney, out of any code. So potentially it’s a big player.
Just as the AFL media does with Football in Melbourne. Any chance they get, they blow a story out of proportion to drag our code through the mud. We shouldn’t give them that opportunity. In this case, I haven’t seen any quotes at all from anyone.
The media will grab any little thing, and make a mountain out of a molehill. Lyall Gorman or Tony Popovic should just come out and quash all these rumours! I’m sure for any new company coming into a crowded marketplace, wont want to ruffle any feathers by making statements of this nature.
The renaming of the stands however, should be done, and already happens at grounds all over the country.
At Etihad stadium for example, depending on whether it’s AFL or Cricket seasons, there are different stand names and ends names.
They do it at other grounds also, it’s not a big deal. People shouldn’t be so precious!
I do agree that respect must be shown, but it should be shown by both parties, at the end of the day, Parramatta Stadium is not owned by the Eels!
July 14th 2012 @ 10:48am
Kasey said | July 14th 2012 @ 10:48am | Report comment
To show complete mastery of the PR Spin cycle, WSW should issue a quasi-apology today(in time for tomorrow’s Sunday big papers) stating that the story is a complete beat up based on some out of context quotes, would keep this going into next week nicely as well as placating all the thin skinned Leaguies;) Better stick to the Telegraph in that case to get the point across to the target audience. the DT has been really on the ball with Tom Smithies leading the other reporters in Sydney in getting the info on the new team.
July 14th 2012 @ 4:19pm
Jim said | July 14th 2012 @ 4:19pm | Report comment
asanchez wrote: “It’s also a potential banana skin with the NRL loving media ready to pounce on anything that will dirty the Wanderers name.”
LET ‘EM GO THEIR HARDEST I SAY! – ESPECIALLY NEWS LIMITED, WHICH IS “SKATING” ON VERY THIN ICE AS IT IS, AFTER EVERYTHING IT HAS DONE OVERSEAS.
July 14th 2012 @ 8:44pm
Aleks Duric said | July 14th 2012 @ 8:44pm | Report comment
The difference with etihad stadium as an example is that it was created specially as a stadium to house a variety of teams and sports. The model of the afl is to for a handful of stadia to house multiple teams, which eliminates the concept of a single team ‘owning’ a stadium
July 14th 2012 @ 9:54am
Kevin said | July 14th 2012 @ 9:54am | Report comment
Fussball this is what sucks about this country at present.
Instead of making this a “positive” the FFA and supporters are making it a “negative”.
Why not stop being tight arse’s; pass the hat around , approach the council and unveil a statue of jonny Warren at opening day?
Multi sports venue since day one, has always embraced various rectangle codes, no need to hide from this but instead celebrate it
What lack of respect do you talk about? Stonewalling a world cup bid? No wrong code
Putting a town on the map demands respect surely?
July 14th 2012 @ 10:15am
Bludger said | July 14th 2012 @ 10:15am | Report comment
They should put Johhny Warren’s face mask over the top of this Price bloke. That way the the NRL heads are happy and the soccer aficionados are also pleased.
July 14th 2012 @ 12:43pm
ChrisW said | July 14th 2012 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
Im a massive A-league supporter and NRL hasnt been that bad to us, like the AFL has, so i dont think we should piss them off, i think its a childish decision to cover the statue.