I can still remember when it all began. On that Saturday morning many years ago I had played for my local club Churches United. As a young boy I had been enjoying this football thing and thought it might be something I could get interested in.
Then, on the TV, I happened to see the highlights of a match involving Aston Villa and asked my parents why they were showing the game my team had just played in on TV.
I was informed that despite the colours of the uniform being the same as my team (sky blue and claret), this team was a different one to mine and was directed to the fact that the players were men, the crowd substantially larger and the canteen at the ground probably did not sell Redskins or Spearmints.
From that day I was hooked.
It wasn’t like Nick Hornby described, in his book Fever Pitch, about his love for Arsenal “I fell in love with football as I was later to fall in love with women: suddenly, inexplicitly, uncritically, giving no thought to the pain or disruption it would bring with it” (in my opinion, one of the best lines ever written about football).
Ours was a slower courtship.
In the early years I followed Villa simply because of the connection with my childhood club’s colours. But as I grew up, the reasons for my allegiance to the club also matured.
I learnt about the feeling behind the derby with City. I learnt about the great Villa dynasties of the past. I grew to understand the importance of Villa not only to Birmingham but also to football in Britain.
After a sufficiently long courtship, we made it official, a lifelong commitment. By this stage we knew each other well enough to know what we were getting ourselves into.
We knew that there would be plenty of up and downs. Villa’s little quirks would frustrate the hell out of me over the years, but all would be forgiven because that is what you needed to do to make a relationship work.
I was prepared for the love affair to be one conducted from afar. I knew it would be a rare occasion where we would see each other in person, but with more efficient communication methods developing, the distance could be made smaller.
Despite this, there would be many a late night/early morning sacrificed to make sure that at least the big moments were celebrated.
All was going swimmingly for a number of years.
My head wasn’t turned by the titles being won by Man Utd. I didn’t have any time for the revolution happening at Arsenal. I wasn’t the least bit attracted to the “My Fair Lady” scenario at Chelsea backed by Abramovich’s billions.
I had been aware of the game next door, but the old NSL had never held any real appeal to me. I didn’t live in an area that had had a local team to support, so I had focussed on the game at the national level.
The Socceroos were like my mates, the people I would hang out with when I needed some space from Villa. The Socceroos and I might not have seen each other every week and it might have been months between times when we caught up, but when we did it was epic.
The last couple of times in Germany and South Africa were massive.
But one day, I ran into the game next door. It had grown up and it certainly looked better then I remembered it. It was more open and friendly. It seemed to care less about where my family was from and more about reconnecting with people.
And with it, it bought some new friends I hadn’t met before: the A-League clubs.
They offered something fresh and exciting. The potential to start something was there, but could I leave my beloved Villa for one of these new young things; the bling of Sydney, the passion of Melbourne or the whimsical over-enthusiasm of the Central Coast?
I thought about it for a long time. Just because I had books on the shelf at home, did that mean I couldn’t go to the library?
Yesterday I had my most recent in-depth catch-up with the A-League clubs. If I had thought they looked promising before, then the display from the Roar and the Mariners last night made them look even better.
But I still haven’t felt that feeling for any of them that I felt when I first laid eyes on Aston Villa. There still isn’t an A-League club for the city I live in and so I remain unable to dive in the deep end to start from scratch again with a new club.
I have invested a hell of a lot in the Villans. I’ve seen Yorke, Bosnich, Southgate, Dublin, Angel, Hendrie, Mellberg, Barry, Laursen and Milner all come and go.
And I’ve seen the kids like Delph, Albrighton and the young Australian defender Lowry come through the ranks.
So you see, I can’t leave Villa. We have to stay together for the sake of the kids.
But I might ask them how they feel about an open relationship.
mintox
Guest
The money spent on the world cup bid came from the Government not from FFA coffers. Additionally many of the AFL teams have been running at losses or are in debt and have been relying on TV redistribution money from the AFL for years. Sports has become an inherently unprofitable business, it's only with TV deals and sponsorship that clubs and leagues make any money.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Did you watch the A-League grand final? Manchester United, one of the greatest football teams in the world, are 330 million pounds in debt. The NRL make a huge loss every year and are only propped up by News Limited cash injections. The FFA had to run a very long, expensive and unsuccessful WC bid. With fans like you, the A-League will surely fold.
OMG
Guest
negative, negative, negative, negative, the grass is greener over there, the grass is greener over there, the grass is greener over there, the grass is greener over there. And you say you love football. Support teams you can't go and watch live and not in this country but put crap on the local product!!!! Well, the biggest enemy of football in Australia IS NOT the AFL, NRL or any other code. It's the apathetic so called football supporters who sit back, throw stones and can't wait for the A-league to fail
mintox
Guest
I interviewed Lyall Gorman (FFA Head of A-League) for a radio show in Perth and he said the same thing, it's the kids that we need to make into the fans of the future. I agreed with him on this point as the MLS and J-League have shown that these kids grow up into fans that feel a connection with the league. What I disagreed with him on was the lack of effort spent on trying to connect with football fans who don't have an affinity with the A-League. I for one have been a passionate Liverpool fan since I first kicked a football in 1986 and I still follow them with a passion through the highs and (many recent) lows. But this doesn't stop me being passionate for Perth Glory, a team I love just as much because they are my home team, and I would say that my passion for them grows and continues to over time. I can understand that you may not have a local team to be passionate about but should that stop you being passionate about watching games as a neutral. I watch many local State League games (something I recently took up) but have no affinity to any of the teams because my local club doesn't play at that level. It hasn't stopped me looking up the results, going to many of the games just to enjoy the football and atmosphere. You dont have to support a team to support Australian Football.
Guido
Guest
I understand that if there isn't a club in your city than it's hard to commit to one. However I can't understand why following an overseas club would preclude following and A-League one. My family has followed AC Milan for generations but I also follow Melbourne Victory.
Holden
Guest
It's a first-generation league. It's simply going to take time for today's kids to grow up with their team. In real terms it'll be 20 years before the league really has a solid fan base; but until then every year can be a small step forward. Matt McKay has become a legend for the kids playing grassroots football around Brisbane, Qld and Australia.
Tifosi
Guest
Yep they are run by them to the tune of a $6 million dollar loss..............In a World Cup year as well. Next year its going to be even worse. Still think its well run ?
Bludger
Guest
Sounds like most of the people writing on here are foreigners.
French Fries
Guest
Mate, since you're into European style, you should know it's OK to have a wife and a mistress. Enjoy both.
Moonface
Roar Guru
Well said gawa. A real football fan follows the game of football wherever it is played. Not watching any football in Australia because you watch some EPL team on the idiot box every now and then is ridiculous. I rarely miss a chance to see my kids play.
gawa
Guest
I just have so much irritation when reading this comment above. Yep buddy keep that remote control handy and don't forget the spare batteries so that may never have to get up from that sofa. After six fustrating years following Brisbane I along with a bunch of my mates got the type of reward that no tv can ever provide.
Brian
Guest
When you are in your late teens, 20s or 30s it is extremely difficult to form an affinity with a new club as possible when one is 5. My favourite sport by far is football but my favourite club is probably Hawthorn in the AFL. Sure I love the EPL, follow the HAL and live for World Cups but I did not grow up with Melbourne Victory like I did with Hawthorn. Further I prefer Arsenal, Inter, Stuttgart & Barca to their rivals but I am not from those countries nor do I have heritage there. Watching the Victory v Heart derby last year I couldn't help notice how many in the crowd were simply hoping for a good game rather than follwing one team or the other fervently. I hope that this is not the case in 20 years. My kids will grow up with the Victory and I hope they share the passion for it that my dad has for his team in the old country.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Tifosi, do you like the Socceroos? Holger Osieck? Do you like the Matilda's, the Joeys, the Young Socceroos, the U20s or the Olyroos? The Youth League or Westfield Women's League? They're all run by the FFA too.
Robbo
Guest
Great article especially because I can relate to a lot of it. I have liked the Villa since I was a boy, club colours were the reason as well. APIA Tigers wore a similar claret and blue strip and were my team in the old NSL. They played around the time that our league actually had some proper flavour. Unfortunately I seem to think that this might have had a lot to do with the clubs being associated with the 'where your family was from' part that you mention in your article. It bought some fierce rivalries and passion to the grounds both local and interstate. At times, yes there was some violence but not any more than you see at any of the european games lets be honest about that. Flares are dangerous but fun and colourful. To Tifosi.. Seria A has always been #1 for me as well but I'm watching less and less of it these days and interest is slowly fading. This might have a lot to do with Juve's poor form along with foxsports excellent coverage and dedication to the premier league. Aston Villa look amazing in HD but much better when they are winning. Once again thanks for writing the article, good to know there is other Villa support out there in Oz. Our young lions will be much better next season. Hoping all the home grown talent in the youth academy will encourage the team to come visit our shores sometime soon (vs A-League All Star team maybe??) Lastly, to anyone interested in a good read about hooligans and the Villa. Check this out.. Villains: The Inside Story of Aston Villa's Hooligan Gangs. Got the book sent over from the UK.
Mahony
Guest
My story is similar to Brad above. But with two championships, two premierships and three ACL qualifications tucked away, it was only this time last year that I acknoledged that the A-League had won my heart after years of two-timing and being stabbed inthe back by the NLS and all the heartbreak its failure caused me. Liverpool will always have a special place in my heart, but my team is Melbourne Victory. It is the only team my 1yo son will know and my wife as an AFL captive in her childhood cannot imagine doing anything else in the summer but singing for the VIctory - OLE!
Tifosi
Guest
There is no doubt that Serie A has slipped and needs to address many facets of their game, however the FFA make Serie A look like they are the best run sports league on the planet. At least with Serie A i have an emotional connection. I have none with the A-league as i live in Canberra.
Brad
Guest
My father raised me on Liverpool, I had next to no exposure to the NSL and I don't support Australia. It probably took me a good 3 seasons of following Brisbane before I really started to feel like they were 'my' club. That being said I still consider Liverpool to hold the stronger bond because I have twenty years of sleepless nights, hunting down UK newspapers, having video replays sent over from family etc, and that's not something you suddenly relegate to second place. In time I'm sure that I'll hold Brisbane in equal esteem, mostly because it is a team that I can regularly go and see in person
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Well the NSL was run by business fraudsters, crooks and amateurs ... and it lasted nearly 30 years! Do you also find The Serie A has been mis-managed? The Serie A was the most prestigious club competition 20 years ago and was the 1st choice for the highest-paid elite footballers. Now, the Serie A is the 4th-best league in Europe and has just lost one "automatic UCL spot" to the Bundesliga and continues to live with an over-powering stench of "match-fixing", corrupt referees and "shady" club owners.
Tifosi
Guest
Very good article. I remember starting to support Villa as a kid back in the eighties because of the colour of their shirts ! Even though I'm a bigger Serie A fan due to my Italian heritage, I still keep an eye on Villa and their exploits in the premier league. As for the a-league, it's getting harder to keep interest in it for me. The way it's run by the FFA is quite frankly a joke. Unless the FFA make some major changes the a-league won't even be around long enough to have support. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
whiskeymac
Guest
Have supported Arsenal for a long time (grew up near there) but the local scene has much to offer, if not more if you cant handle the tyranny of distance, and for me, at least, my preference (club wise) is the HAL first, the EPL second. You may not get the fancy names but games like last nights are every bit as good as anything on at 1am =)