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As a youngster knocking about in the NSW state leagues, one of the big highlights of any season was when we stepped up to take on one of the teams from a higher division in the NSW knock-out Waratah Cup.
It was our own little FA Cup moment, an opportunity to step up and make an impression against players and teams from bigger clubs in the top division or two in the state.
Further, as anyone who has played or coached in such a competition will attest, it was an opportunity to get noticed.
While I don’t recall taking any significant scalps in my two or three attempts at the Waratah Cup, I at least recall the excitement of getting the opportunity to travel midweek to the headquarters of what was then called Soccer NSW in a suburb then known as Parklea.
This, to me, is what makes the announcement yesterday the FFA Cup will take off in late July via a round of 32 featuring the 10 A-League clubs an exciting one.
There is much still to nut-out to make the competition a viable one, and less NSW-centric, but the opportunity for coaches and players to pit themselves against those higher up the hierarchy is the most exciting aspect.
Though much of the early rounds will go unnoticed, as teams from Association level through to the National Premier Leagues work their way down to 22 teams across the land, the dangled carrot of a potential home shot at an A-League club should ensure everyone takes their participation seriously.
While there appears to be disproportionally less incentive for teams from Western Australia (two teams), Canberra, South Australia and Tasmania (one team each), the FFA cites its allocation is based on the proportion of registered players.
Still, one can’t help but shake the perception the FFA remain Sydney and NSW-centric.
With four A-League clubs and nine state or Association teams from NSW (seven from Football NSW, two from Northern NSW), 13 of the final 32 (41%) will be representing NSW.
Certainly this will help the FFA manage the logistics and costs, and they are to be applauded for picking up the costs of travel and accommodation for travelling sides.
But the hope is as the concept matures as more finances are found in the coming years, there will be a greater spread of opportunities among states like South Australia (two teams in the final 32), Western Australia (three) and Queensland (five).
As well, the focus mustn’t be limited to the cities, and FFA would do well to ensure they have a plan to make it as inclusive to all the regional centres.
Right across the country there is talent awaiting their chance, and the FFA has to look for a way of giving each footballer, coach and club an equal opportunity.
Last year I filled much of the A-League off-season watching the Premier League games in my local Granville Association, and the football dished up was often of a very decent standard.
Playing some games under lights on a Saturday evening, the season even featured Sydney FC’s Terry McFlynn taking the step into first team management at Castle Hill RSL Rockets.
Some of the football produced by the eventual champions, Auburn FC, in the finals, was a joy to see, full of tactical and technical quality.
Step up into the state leagues one and two and there is much ambition. Take, for example, one of my former state league clubs Rydalmere Lions FC, now climbing the mountain again.
In the past year or so they have gone from featuring two Premier League sides in the Granville Association to fielding an additional two in the NSW state league two. The local council is supporting their plans for growth, recently erecting a perimeter fence.
Among the future plans include a grandstand, and growth through the state leagues.
Apart from helping fill what has been a long A-League off-season (the round of 32 starts a fortnight after the World Cup final), the FFA Cup will provide a further carrot for clubs of Rydalmere’s stature to keep seeking growth.
With gate receipts going to the home sides, the hope is football fans the country over go along and support any Association, state league or NPL teams that progresses to the final 32.
Indeed, hopefully there’s a bit of interest as the respective state competitions (FFA Cup qualifiers) come to a climax.
The fact that at least one will progress to the semi-finals is admirable. Yet, with A-League clubs ostensibly still in their off-season, there is potential for other upsets.
Yet, for the sake of the credibility of the competition, it’s imperative A-League clubs take it seriously and not just as part of their pre-season preparation.
This shouldn’t be so much about uniting old soccer with new football, or whatever the line is, but about giving talent the country over an opportunity to shine and connect with the top tier.
I’ve long suggested there is much talent waiting to be uncorked, and if the FFA Cup does one thing well for the game down-under, it will be to give the best players, coaches and clubs below the top tier their moment.
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