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The most recent victory by the Western Sydney Wanderers saw them leapfrog opponents Central Coast Mariners into first place in the A-League ladder.
This is an amazing achievement in their debut season. They are now favourites to take out the competition, a feat, which at the start of the year seemed unthinkable.
This unprecedented on-field success illustrated by their results is not the only triumph the young club have enjoyed. Off the field, there are signs the club can enjoy many more years of achievements.
This incredible rise to the top from the Wanderers, comes in a season which has seen the A-League, and the sport of football, rise to prominence in Australia more than ever before.
The signing of legendary Italian Alessandro Del Piero to Sydney FC, along with other big name imports such as Emile Heskey and Shinji Ono has helped to raise the standard of the league. Great attendances and a new TV deal have also been factors in this season being a “breakout” year for the league.
The Western Sydney Wanderers though, would have to be the largest success story of them all.
A fairytale which has captured the hearts of Western Sydney.
It took far too long for the A-League to establish a professional team in the west, but the patience of thousands of football-lovers in the area has paid off.
In a region where the code is the most popular in terms of players registered, it could be said that the move to create a team in Sydney’s west was always going to pay dividends, but the way the club has been able to single-handedly transform the sport in the city and country has taken everyone by surprise.
A large part of this prosperous maiden campaign must be attributed to the Wanderers’ loyal group of supporters. The “Red and Black Bloc” or “RBB”, have been with the team since the beginning and have quickly become the stand out supporter group in Australia.
We only have to go back to last Saturday Night, when the die-hard Wanderers fans were able to sell out nine away bays at Gosford’s Bluetongue Stadium.
The RBB was in full voice all night despite a deluge of rain and were able to provide the team with an atmosphere normally enjoyed at their home ground.
The efforts of the players and coaches associated with the club is also implausible. It is quite extraordinary to think that these players and coaches, with minimal experience in each other’s company, have been able to forge connections so quickly and provide unbelievable results.
Perhaps the largest testament must be paid to coach Tony Popovic. A former defender in his playing days, has been able to instil a great culture within the squad.
If the Wanderers are able to maintain their strangle-hold on the competition and clinch a title in their inaugural season, it would be a fitting reward for the work done by the players and coaching staff.
It would also be a deserved honour for the thousands of fans who have embraced the club and transformed it into one of Australia’s great sporting tales.
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