- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Nothing bad seems to have come out of last Saturday’s Newcastle Jets-LA Galaxy match. A packed house, a win to the home side, a week of publicity for Goldbergs on Darby Street, and the continued transformation of an A-League club that was on the brink of extinction just weeks ago.
I texted a former Newcastle team mate of mine and asked if he was at the game. His reply? “No, but my wife is.”
And that is the essence of David Beckham’s visit. His ability to attract new fans, female fans, to football matches makes him the greatest drawcard in world football for countries that are still developing their national competitions.
Let’s face it – Beckham could have been here with Accrington Stanley (with no disrespect intended to all the Accrington followers) and fans would turn up.
He understands his responsibility as a football ambassador and still delivers where it matters on the park. He played a full game despite appearing to be hampered by lower back and groin problems.
He said the right things at media conferences and while some may say that is the Beckham machine being closely controlled and sanitised, he gave the public and the media largely what they wanted.
In a week where potentially the biggest announcement in Australia’s sporting history is to be made, Beckham didn’t forget his American paymasters when discussing the World Cup bid, and was enthusiastic about England’s 2018 credentials. he also hinted that a stint in the A-League might not be the stuff of total pipe dreams.
Now THAT would be a marquee player. Even though his best years are behind him, Beckham would add thousands to any A-League club’s attendance, including my mate’s wife.
A-League clubs have totally mis-managed the concept of a marquee player, with the exception of Dwight Yorke and possibly Robbie Fowler. I understand the financial reasons for some decisions, but Nicky Carle is no more a marquee player for Sydney FC than had they signed Accrington Stanley’s top scorer.
Not because I think Carle should be compared to AS’s striker, but because he (Carle) is not going to draw new or casual fans through the gate.
Football in Australia has a chequered history of the marquee or guest player. It is a role somewhat unique to the game. The other codes already have the best players in the world in their teams, so there is no need for a Collingwood or St George-Illawarra to sign a “big name” guest.
The NSL was littered with guest players throughout its early history. Only two could truly have been proven to make a difference at the turnstiles. Craig Johnston had a couple of guest stints with Newcastle KB United and attracted thousands to the old International Sports Centre at a time when he was unique in the game – an Aussie player making it in the English First Division.
The other huge success was Kevin Keegan, who signed for a short stint with Blacktown City Demons in 1985 and instantly increased the club’s attendance by 600%.
One of the matches Keegan was signed to play in almost fell victim to torrential rain. About the only image of the NSL on commercial TV in 1985 was the sight of a helicopter desperately trying to dry out the Gabbie Stadium pitch.
Keegan-mania?
There is an argument that guest or marquee players cheapen the local product by reducing the team to a sideshow with the guest player as the main attraction.
And the feeling prevails that a former high profile player, in the twilight of his playing days, looking to superanuate his career with a soft gig, is ultimately going to harm the team and their performance. The wrong player can do just that (don’t want to mention names but looking at you, Brian Deane…)
But David Beckham is no such player.
A pipe dream it may be, but what would be a place with similar characteristics to LA, that might really need a boost in crowds? Well, hey, I know a place, but the owner might need to open up the top tier of his club’s stadium. What about it, Clive?
It would bring thousands of new fans to the game and reignite the enthusiasm of many (including my mate’s wife). But I’d still swap a hundred Beckhamesque marquee stars for the majority of FIFA votes on Friday morning.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.