The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

FFA's national plan hinges on football reuniting

18th September, 2014
Advertisement
David Gallop and FFA might now want South Melbourne in the comp. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)
Expert
18th September, 2014
78
1278 Reads

Following FFA chief executive David Gallop’s address in Sydney on Thursday, where he announced plans to develop a National Plan for the Whole of Football, it appears FFA are now ready to once again embrace old soccer.

The key goals, in short, are to connect the top tier of football with the grassroots, fix youth development and improve coaching standards, increase commercial opportunities and address the shortage of football facilities.

Over the next six months FFA will develop a document through dialogue with all stakeholders of football in Australia. Following the completion of the 2015 Asian Cup in January, the National Plan for the Whole of Football will be presented to the public.

While there are a number of factors that will determine whether the plan is a success, the main one is improving relations between new football and old soccer. Without that relationship, the plan will not reach its desired outcome.

In 2003 football in Australia embarked on a new adventure. As the National Soccer League crumbled amid the liquidation of Soccer Australia, Frank Lowy emerged with Football Federation Australia and his baby, the A-League, soon followed.

The adventure included a dark and sad necessity – a break away from old soccer.

The introduction of a new governing body and national competition meant a fresh start. Lowy wanted to build an empire, one that would attract and hold respect among the masses, and unfortunately that meant burning a few bridges.

It meant getting fans through the gates and sponsors on advertising boards, which also meant shaking off the negative perception football had developed in mainstream Australia.

Advertisement

Whether the tag was unfair or not, there can be no denying the world game needed a fresh direction. And so, to a degree, tradition and grassroots football took a step backwards.

Old soccer was left out, and although the Socceroos’ qualification for the 2006 World Cup briefly united the footballing community, there is still bitterness in the background. The A-League, despite its success, has constantly had the shadow of old soccer following its every move.

Now, it has a chance to come back into the spotlight. Overall Gallop’s speech should have filled fans with hope.

Not only are FFA ready to reconnect, they have realised it’s an imperative step to fulfilling football’s potential. FFA needed fresh air in 2003 to meet its first goal of bringing football into the mainstream. Now that’s been completed, the governing body needs the old air back in order to progress to the next level.

The FFA Cup, as well as David Gallop’s arrival as CEO, has provided the catalyst for FFA’s change of heart. Gallop told Fairfax Media that the FFA Cup was a “wow” moment.

He said the cup presented a “rare opportunity to unite everyone involved in the game, no matter how they fit in”.

“I think there’s now a mood of cooperation that – let’s be honest – perhaps wasn’t there a few years ago. The time has come to capitalise on that,” he added.

Advertisement

It was a subtle admission that FFA have failed to truly unite football. They made mistakes when shifting away from old soccer, taking a hard-line approach that they felt was for a greater good.

But with the announcement of the National Plan for the Whole of Football, it’s clear dialogue will begin shortly to determine the best way forward. FFA must engage and communicate extensively with all levels involved in the game.

As Gallop said in his speech, “without unity of purpose, we can’t make a difference”.

So the main obstacle is overcoming the past and arriving at a harmonised understanding. Fans often express the need for better coaching and pathways for young footballers, but none of that can be achieved without cooperation.

The FFA Cup and the introduction of the NPL is a fantastic start, but key to national plan’s success is getting everyone on board and on the same wavelength.

This is as close to an olive branch as old soccer will ever get from FFA. It’s important they embrace it. Mistakes were made, bad words exchanged, arguments left unresolved. But both parties need to swallow their pride and get together.

It may be late, but better late than never, right?

Advertisement

There are still hurdles to overcome, though. Fans were not happy with FFA’s active supporter policy, and they were similarly outraged with the National Club Identity Policy, which has caused dramas with Melbourne Knights. Stadium lighting protocol also created confusion during FFA Cup matches.

All is not roses, but hopefully these problems are ironed out and resolved quickly. If they’re not, a national plan will struggle to succeed.

Gallop has said that the plan “will not be an overnight fix” and will take longer than the four years initially targeted. He admitted the game’s governance structures “have been a work-in-progress” since the Crawford report in 2003.

It’s going to be a tough slog, but the first phase in developing the National Plan for the Whole of Football is for FFA to, in Gallop’s words, “listen to the game’s stakeholders”.

Gallop’s comments suggest FFA are willing to reconnect with old soccer. Hopefully they are genuine sentiments.

FFA have kicked off the ball, now it’s up to old soccer to come to the field. Both sides need to compromise, and egos have to be left behind.

This could be a momentous document in football fulfilling its undeniable potential, hopefully it signals the start of old soccer and new football finally getting hitched.

Advertisement
close