Brisbane Roar secured a 2-1 win over North Queensland Fury on Tuesday night that was played in front of the smallest crowd in A-League history. There were extenuating circumstances, but just 1003 die-hard fans gathered at Skilled Park.
The previous worst was 1632 when the now-defunct New Zealand Knights hosted the Central Coast Mariners in Auckland in September 2006.
The Fury’s home match was transferred to Skilled Park because Dairy Farmers Stadium was a casualty of Cyclone Yasi.
Skilled Park, which is the A-League home of Gold Coast United, has hosted three of the four worst ever A-League crowds following attendances of 1658 and 1714 at two United matches this season.
For the Roar, they extended their record unbeaten run to 24 matches.
They were made to work hard for their chances because of the Fury’s defensive flooding tactics which meant as many as eight or nine players would be camped inside the penalty box.
It resulted in the ‘home’ side being light on in attack, leaving striker David Williams to carry the bulk of the work-load.
The Roar’s opening goal came in the 14th minute, with Socceroos midfielder Matt McKay setting up Mitch Nichols, who scored from directly in front.
Substitute Henrique intelligently chipped the ball over the head of hard working Fury goal keeper Michael Theokilitos from about seven metres to score the Roar’s second goal in the 58th minute.
The Fury got a goal back in the 65th minute when Chris Grossman’s cross deflected off the head of Milan Susak and lobbed over the outstretched hand of Roar goal keeper Justin Pasfield, but that was the end of the scoring.
Roar coach Ange Postecoglou said it was a “weird night” and his side failed to play with any real intensity.
“We got the job done,” Postecoglou said.
“It was just a weird night. It’s Tuesday night, both teams are playing away from home.
“The intensity wasn’t there and it almost becomes like a training run.
“…we didn’t play anywhere near where we can.”
He said the small attendance was the result of a unique set of circumstances and while it created a strange atmosphere at the game, where player’s calls echoed around the stadium, they had a bigger picture outlook.
“We’ve had three games here for three wins which is a good little run,” Postecoglou said referring to the Roar’s two ‘home’ matches transferred from Suncorp after the venue was flooded last month.
Fury coach Franz Straka said his players were thankful to be playing after a tough week in which in Townsville copped the fringe of Cyclone Yasi.
“We’re just happy to play after last week. It was very emotional after the horror,” Straka said.
“We played against the best team in the A-League and I think we did very well.”
Betty B
Guest
yes - they could have played this at Cairns. Townsville was obviously out - water, power and roads cluttered still. Suncorp still out. Ballymore - no good as not set up for TV evidently. But Cairns would at least still be in NQ and offer something for the north. If Fury are to survive, which apparently is unlikely, they've got to spread their fan base and games wider than Townsville, to Cairns and even Mackay or Darwin. What a tragic way to end, if indeed this is it, for the Fury.
Twatter
Guest
Where have the football media and general media been, was that crowd a great deal different to what is generaly recieved at skilled park CHEAP SHOT i say.
Realfootball
Guest
Unfortunately, for all my great respect for what Frank Lowy has achieved in the past, this past year has been a disaster of epic proportions. I had hoped that Frank would move quickly to steady the ship, but what did he do? Reappoint Ben Buckley, a walking leadership vacuum. If Buckley was working for Westfield and presided over this kind of market loss, would he still be in the job? I think not.
RedOrDead
Roar Guru
How about that everyone from Brisbane was affected by the floods and don't have the money to travel for an hour and buy a ticket to a game because it's not their home game? You are so insensitive! I'd like to see you cop a hurricane and go for a 17 hour drive from Townsville to Gold Coast! To show you how much of an ignoramus you really are with your "the season would be overlapping the NRL and AFL seasons" comment, this was not a 'mid-week' match - this was a postponed match from a Saturday night. It was originally scheduled for Saturday 8:15pm on the 2nd of Feb! Why didn't you go to the game vin?
Fil
Guest
Empty stadiums and no World Cup hopefully spells the end for Lowy & Buckley. How do the FFA now hope to negotiate a new TV deal . Those two should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.
Jon
Guest
Remember it was a Fury home match. Using your suggestion it may as well have been played in neutral Melbourne. At least the Fury could have relied on the Victory members to come out in support and in hope we knocked off the Roar.
Jon
Guest
Actually it wasnt a dead-rubber at all. The Roar had the opportunity to set a new Australian club record if they won - something their supporters should have flocked to see. The Fury needed to win to keep alive thier chances of not being awarded the wooden spoon. Fury/Roar matches have always been close with the two teams drawing in their last encounter. This was always going to be a tight match and had it been played on home turf the Fury may have walked off the field winners - but you can only speculate on that now...
Jon
Guest
The situation in which this match was played highlights some of the concerns supporters have raised in reference to the 'Fan Made' advertising campaign. This match could not have been more removed from being about 'the fan'. Around the World, football is renound for bringing communities together and giving people hope. This was the Fury's last home game of the season but was played at a venue that even Roar supporters apparently find difficult to get to. This match should have been played in Townsville to offer a distraction from the hardships the people of North Queensland have faced over the last few weeks. I honestly dont care that Fox would not be able to telecast it if it were not played at DFS. This should have been a game solely for the people of North Queensland. That would have made a news-worthy article, instead fans cop more rubbish. If the FFA continues down this path of profits before people then there will be no A-League for Fox to telecast.
TK
Guest
I'm opposed to both these ideas that are being considered - they don't appear to have much merit and offer more chance of criticism of the A league being unable to get a crowd. As discussed previously the A league needs to settle on standard fixtures, with a regular rotation of home and away and time slots to create some certainty around when games are played - this year has been an absolute debacle on this front for the Roar (and I'm sure all other clubs) with games at 4.30 (1), 5.00 (1), 5.15 (1), 6.15 (1), 7.30 (2), 7.45 (2), 8.00 (2) and 8.15 (2), games mainly on Saturday (9), with Friday (2) and Wednesday (2) and on top of that a sporadic home game schedule i.e no home game until week 3 followed by a mish mash of home and away scheduling including not playing home games for a couple of weeks, then having 2 games in the space of 3 days. I don't believe we should condense the season just to fit in with other football leagues.The FFA and the league need to have the balls to do their best to set a regular home and away schedule with regular times and a regular season calender so a decent fan base can be built around something constant..
Titus
Guest
Its not an excuse KoG, it's just a reality. But the fact that Rugby can't put together a national domestic competitition while football can, is evidence that football is lightyears ahead of Rugby in interest and participation. Believe me, I wish they could because the lack of player development in Rugby is becoming a national embarassment. The standard of the a-league is certainly hindering it's growth, but as player development and money to retain and import talent grows, so will the crowds. You coming on here and claiming that no one in Australia is interested in football is a joke. How much do you want to bet that the a-league will be around next year? By the way I think you are getting me mixed up with titus.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
so titus, sounds like you work for the FFA - full of excuses. the tahs are extremely sydney centric. very few people would travel inter-state to see them. so please explain why they get bigger crowds then FC. as i take it, your excuses for rugby getting bigger crowds then the HAL is due to rugby having better atheletes that people actually want to see. sounds like the major problem for the HAL and why it wont be around soon.
Jon
Guest
Well read. I think Justin would have something to say about this also.
Golden Boy
Guest
There was a Professional National Club Rugby competition I believe some 3-4 years ago that was abandon after only one season. Can anyone remember that National Club Rugby comp?
vin
Guest
either way, it is a poor excuse and a poor effort from roar fans especially, a state league game out in sydneys west attracts more than 1000 people, and we are talking about very small clubs here. cant blame midweek games, cant blame an hours drives or even two hours drive. especially when your team is top and charging towards the finals. if you didnt have midweek games then the season would be overlapping the NRL and AFL seasons and then you will be whingeing about that too.
Titus
Guest
Oh, and Waratahs are one team per state. NSW has 3 a-league teams and it really needs another team in it's heartland.
The Bush
Guest
40km... Not from Queensland aye mate? If you don't know what your talking about, don't comment...
The Bush
Guest
It would have got more than 1003 if it was at Ballymore, as Ballymore is in Brisbane. As a Brisbane resident and Roar fan, I'm sorry but travelling to the Gold Coast on a Tuesday night is a bit of a hassell...
Titus
Guest
There are 3 nations involved, yes? It is the best players from those countries playing in an international regional competition. Its not an Australian competition, though Australian teams are certainly involved. Its a bit like bringing all the best Aussie footballers home and then playing a competition with Brazilian and Argentinian teams with all their best players. Wonder how that would rate. What ever happened to the Australian Club Rugby competition? It didn't work.
Roarchild
Roar Guru
I honestly don't know....and I'm a Roar season ticket holder. So even if we could it wasn't well advertised.
Futbanous
Guest
Overall considering where football was at immediately post NSL, For me the FFA were doing a good job till the WC bid focus. But we know in that period they took the eye off the A-League ball. One of the areas they cocked up is scheduling. If there is a minor revolt going on from MV fans ,then for me their should be a major revolt by all A-League fans regarding fixture scheduling. In a way we have a revolt by default which affects the clubs. That is by way of not being able to get to midweek matches easily or being able to afford 2 home matches within a few days. Unfortunately the club suffers at the gate & I dont believe the current Fox TV deal will cover losses due to scheduling designed to cater for TV & not fans. No different really than the fan complaints by MV. We the fans are treated as second class citizens.