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Just recently, over 40,000 people made their way to ANZ Stadium to watch Liverpool FC Legends defeat the Australian Legends 4-0.
Liverpool’s top goal-scorer of all time Ian Rush found himself on the scoresheet at 54 years of age. Once-lethal striker John Aldridge also added a goal on top of Luis Garcia’s brace. For the long-time Liverpool fan, it was a night of happy memories being re-lived.
Australia’s ‘Legends’ weren’t disgraced by any means. Steve Corica and Jason Culina looked great all game, Zeljko Kalac was sharp in goals and even Robbie Slater showed he still has a neat first touch. As an avid Manchester United and Perth Glory supporter myself, I found the game really entertaining.
So why did the come under so much scrutiny from A-League fans?
The angry answer came in the form of another question – why aren’t these people coming to A-League games and supporting the national league?
It’s true. I love the A-League and it would be amazing if the A-League could gather these supporters week in week out. But we need to put something in perspective.
Over 40,000 people travelled to Sydney’s inner-west to watch old men play a friendly game of football on a Thursday night. To rephrase – a bumper crowd watched one of the slowest, worst games of football on a week night and loved it. These legends games are very clearly a powerful concept.
So what needs to be done to turn these 40,000+ fans into A-League followers?
For starters, make it a fair contest. Liverpool Legends had three standout current players that ran the game – John Arne Riise, Luis Garcia and Stephen Gerrard – while Australia had none. Just look at the moment in the first half when Gerrard skipped past old man Tony Vidmar and struck a low shot for Kalac to save. There was an absolute gulf between the two in fitness.
And while we’re at it, let’s A-League it up! Rather than choose an Australia’s Legends – obviously most of them were nowhere near legendary status – let’s make it an A-League legends team. Imagine bringing back Dwight Yorke, Juninho, Alessandro del Piero and Robbie Fowler mixed with the best Australian A-League players ever – it would be a fantastic spectacle.
I hope most people don’t write off the concept as I believe it could be an integral part of engaging the so-called ‘Eurosnobs’ in Australia and familiarising them with A-League players. Who knows who could visit next; Manchester United’s Class of ’92 or even Real Madrid and Barcelona’s legends.
The possibilities are endless.
It’s proven to be a huge hit with the public; here’s to hoping another group of legends comes to grace our shores once again.
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