- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
On Sunday the third of March 2013, Round 23, Melbourne Victory played Newcastle Jets at AAMI Park, in what would turn out to be walk in the park for Victory and a day to forget for the Jets.
Five to zero was the final result in which Victory were aiming to re-stamp their authority in a quest to win a third Championship.
What went unnoticed that day was an achievement Football Federation Australia, the A-League and football supporters in Australia should be proud of – a new overall regular season attendance record of 1,429,207 was set and only in 23 rounds.
Prior to season eight of the A-League, the highest overall regular season attendance was 1,417,084 in season 2011-2012.
The conclusion of 2011-2012 season would also bring with it another record, for the A-League would surpass 1.5 million fans for only the second time, reaching a total of 1,536,231 in the grand final between Brisbane Roar versus Perth Glory.
In the process, the 2011-2012 grand final would also break the 2010-2011 full season record of 1,512,479, the first year where the league achieved over 1.5 million spectators.
With three rounds left to go before the conclusion of season 2012-2013, the new overall regular season attendance record currently sits at 1,489,995.
The A-League will look to crack the 1.5 million spectators mark for a third year in a row, in either the Adelaide United versus Newcastle Jets or Melbourne Heart versus Western Sydney Wanderers fixtures this weekend.
Based on the average attendances of Adelaide United, Melbourne Heart, Sydney FC, Central Coast Mariners and Perth Glory, the 2011-2012 full season record of 1,536,231 will be surpassed and two rounds will remain.
Upon the conclusion of A-League season 2012-2013, we could potentially reach 1.7 – 1.8 million fans to have graced our stadiums.
Although a lot of this may be attributed to the arrival of Alessandro Del Piero and the Western Sydney Wanderers, it needs to be noted that these extra fans that have been brought into our game are now fans, regardless of whether they own a full season membership or are a bandwagon supporter.
The future and continual growth of Australian football relies heavily on the passionate support of our football society and core supporter groups.
However, without our clubs’ continual efforts to develop community engagement and strive for bigger and better achievements football would not be hitting the heights we are currently experiencing.
A legacy of numerous failed World Cup attempts, a national competition left to dissipate in the minds of the wider Australian community, Socceroos deterred from playing in Australia and not enough money on offer has always stood in the way of football in Australia.
It would seem 2005, the year in which the Socceroos qualified for their first World Cup in since 1974 and the new setup of the national competition, the A-League, would once again shine a bright light on the future of Australian football.
Close to a decade has passed and it is the rich history of Australian football that fans should be proud of and live to remember.
These moments and occasions will go far in telling the story of Australian football for there may come a day when you can say “I played my part in the rise of football in Australia.”
The overwhelming support the A-League as received will always be remembered. Season 2012-2013, with the arrival of Alessandro Del Piero and the Western Sydney Wanderers, will be seen as the opportunity to continue moving forward.
In 2013-2014 we will see free-to-air coverage which will take the A-League to the next level.
So for the future of football in Australia, sing loud and be counted in the terraces. March together united for we are football!
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.