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At 8.40pm on Saturday under a teeming night sky, I made my way down to the south end of AAMI Park. From there I had a perfect vantage point to observe the Sydney FC fans who travelled from the harbour city to support their team against Melbourne Heart.
Some 200-odd Sky Blues supporters made the trip down to be greeted by a typical Melbourne welcome of grey skies, bone-chilling rain and a wind so ferocious it made Antarctica seem like a sensible choice of holiday destination.
Many supporters saw flights delayed by the inclement weather, some were cancelled altogether, while others endured long waits on the tarmac as airports struggled to cope with a backlog of flights.
I should know: I was one of those fans, and watching the Sydney supporters from a distance as I made my way around AAMI Park, I began to think about what it is to be a football fan.
Many of my fondest memories share links to ‘the beautiful game.’
I’ve made countless friends thanks to a mutual passion for football, experienced cultures I might never have known had I not been introduced by the round-ball game, my wife and I even tied the knot during a memorable trip to the World Cup in 2006.
More poignant memories are also tinged by shades of football, and not a Socceroos game goes by when I don’t think of my dear, departed friend Nathan Zann – a childhood companion who taught me to value the intricacies of football – that tactics and playing styles are inherently important.
Occasionally I’m asked which A-League team I support, and the answer is obviously Sydney FC: a team I’ve followed since day one, and whom I continue to support despite no longer living in the city.
Some critics argue it’s impossible for journalists to remain objective should they pledge their allegiance to one club or another, but if I can borrow a thought from my writing idol Uli Hesse – a life-long Borussia Dortmund fan and a top bloke in my book – I’d say it’s perfectly normal for journalists to support one particular team.
This week more than most, football fans and journalists alike will keep their fingers crossed for a common cause – on Friday, FIFA will announce which country (or countries) will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup.
I hope Australia wins its bid for a number of reasons.
The World Cup is a month-long party, it generates large sums of revenue, tourism will benefit and participation rates in the sport should increase exponentially.
But most of all, I hope we win hosting rights as a reward for all the genuine football fans out there.
They’re the ones who turn up rain, hail or shine in support of their team, often taking time off work and dipping into their savings to lend vocal support.
Whether it was in the National Soccer League or now in the A-League, in one of the many State leagues or even just supporting the national team, at one time or another millions of Australians have put their hands into their pockets to support football in this country.
And I’d love for those fans to enjoy the opportunity to meet like-minded supporters from all over the globe.
Indeed, I could think of nothing more enjoyable than showcasing the best this country has to offer to those who share a common passion for the round-ball game.
As such, I hope Australia wins the right to host the World Cup, even if my head tells me the United States ought to be considered favourites.
I’ve had so much fun, made so many friends and learned so much about this world we all share by watching football.
That’s the beauty of a truly global sport, one which tells us much about life and death and raw emotions, and it’s the pinnacle of this great game that I hope FIFA brings to Australia in 2022.