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Before you deride me as a deluded football fan preaching to the converted, know that I am chiefly a rugby fan. But Sunday’s A-League grand final was the best atmosphere Suncorp Stadium has ever seen.
I have been to Suncorp many times. I have been when it’s full, half full or close to empty. I have been for Socceroos games, Wallabies games, Origin, Reds, Broncos and Roar games. And for me, Sunday’s game was the loudest of them all.
Over 51,000 fans packed into the cathedral of rectangular football, creating a wall of noise. The Den was loud at the Caxton Street end, willing their team to go further. From the Milton Road end, the RBB were one of the best sets of away fans I have witnessed.
The atmosphere didn’t die down as the game wore on. The first half was predictably tight, but we saw a lot of football played in the second half and extra time.
Matthew Spiranovic’s header to put the Wanderers 1-0 up sent an explosion of plastic beer cups into the air from the RBB, but it was Besart Berisha’s equaliser that went off like Krakatoa.
The Roar pushed forward and earnt themselves a free kick. Thomas Broich’s swirling ball found its way to Berisha’s head, who rammed the ball home to the delirium of the Brisbane fans.
Henrique repeated the feat in extra time to seal the match, producing the same wall of noise. There were about 42,000 Brisbane fans at Suncorp and not one of them was not on their feet.
This was easily louder than the roar of Cooper Cronk’s State of Origin field goal. Even louder than the roar from the British and Irish Lions fans as George North gassed Berrick Barnes for a sensational try in the corner. Even louder than Eric Paartalu’s thunderous 120th minute equaliser in 2011.
And the best part? There was no fan ‘rioting’, seats being torn off or missiles thrown at officials. Apart from the standard booing, which is present at any code, these football fans were harmless.
Rugby loves to spruik about the pub culture that exists, whereby a fan can go and have a yarn with the other team after the game and enjoy a drink without being assaulted by the opposition supporters.
At Hotel LA post-game, I thoroughly enjoyed talking to some Wanderers fans and congratulated them on their amazing support. There was some excellent banter going back and forward.
Perhaps it is time for the mainstream media to ditch the perceptions that exist about football and accept the wonderful atmosphere that fans create at matches. Sunday was a wonderful afternoon.
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