The events of the past few weeks have been a bit like living in a dream for Australian football followers.
Or maybe it’s a football nightmare, if we are to believe the writings of world-renowned football expert Rebecca Wilson from Sydney’s own Daily Telegraph.
Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton returning to Australia to play in the A-League and who would have thought it possible, especially after last year.
Unlike the 1974 Socceroos World Cup team where most of the players were born overseas, the current crop of Socceroos are mostly, if not all, born in Australia and proudly consider themselves to be Australians.
Australia is their home and maybe that’s why they have decided to come back to play in the A-League and raise their families in Australia.
And it’s not just Harry and Brett – don’t forget great Australian footballers like Kevin Muscat, Paul Okon, Tony Popovic, Jacob Burns, Danny Tiatto, John McCain, Jason Culina, Bruce Djite, Dario Vidosic and many more who have made that same decision.
“I’ve always wanted to finish my career back in the A-League” Brett Emerton said recently, it was just a matter of when and it seems that now is the right moment.
Not only right for Brett, but one could argue the right time for Sydney FC, the FFA and the A-League, which would really appreciate a lift this season.
Also the fact that Melbourne Victory have had to cap their season memberships to 18,000 to allow walk up punters any chance of seeing Harry play at AAMI Stadium says it’s the right time for Victory too.
The first Sydney v Melbourne clash is still five weeks away and already looks like at least doubling last year’s attendance, and is anticipated right round the country.
Despite all the criticism thrown at Kewell, he did give up the potential to earn a lot more money overseas to come back home, as did Brett in the EPL.
In Emerton’s case he also managed to get a free transfer for his new club in Sydney after the magnificent gesture from Blackburn Rovers, as reward for nearly nine years of loyal service.
Harry Kewell was born 22 September 1978 in the town of Smithfield; well actually, at the nearby local Fairfield hospital in Sydney’s south west.
Despite Harry’s worldwide fame and amassed fortune his parents Rod and Helen still live in the same modest house in Smithfield that Harry grew up in all those years ago.
Harry went to school at Smithfield Primary and Smithfield Public School and then transferred to Westfields Sports High. Harry started out playing football for Smithfield Hotspurs and later for Marconi Fairfield.
Harry had an obvious talent for football, and under Football NSW’s football academy tuition and their Big Brother Football scheme Harry was able to travel to England to trial with EPL football club Leeds United, and the rest is history.
Brett Emerton is known as a Bankstown boy and was born at Bankstown Hospital on 22 February 1979, but in fact Brett actually grew up in the Macquarie Fields-Campbelltown area, also in Sydney’s south-west area.
‘Emmo’ first played the game he loved for the Bensley Road Gunners Football Club, where he was nicknamed ‘the greyhound’ with his speed, dribbling skills and ability to outpace his markers.
In subsequent years he played for Macarthur Rams until he finally moved over to the Marconi-Fairfield Stallions to play junior representative football with Harry Kewell.
Brett then played in the NSL with Sydney Olympic with Nicky Carle as a team-mate, before his talent was spotted and eventually moved overseas to play with Dutch Eredivisie side Feyenoord FC.
In a sense, Brett, Harry and many other fine Australian footballer’s careers have turned full circle to return to their homeland.
A lot has been written about their moves back to the A-League, and not all of it complimentary either.
Even Socceroos ‘keeper Mark Schwarzer has come out in the media to say he thinks Harry and Brett have made the wrong move and he would never play in the A-League himself, especially after the way John Aloisi was treated when he came home.
In a few years we can look back at these events with some wonderful hindsight and hopefully with some great A-League memories.
But at this point in time we can only look forward to the coming A-League seasons with great hope and anticipation.
I’m sure though, whichever side of the A-League fence you sit on, 2011 is certain to be a memorable A-League season in some way or another.
Bondy
Guest
I.C.F. good research . Well blow me down with a feather i didn't know so many of our great footballers pretty much came from what the N.R.L. call there heartland , gee i must have been mislead by a newspaper or something . You wouldn't see an article like this in the rags in Sydney .
sledgeross
Guest
Fussball, can you confirm Sheree will reside in Erinsborough? Ramsey Street to be exact? lol
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Sydney FC are making a big effort to re-engage with the local community too http://www.sydneyfc.com/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=40748 Brett will be a great ambassador for the sport and help boost the growing fan base since his arrival.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Yes was a bit surprising sledgeross for a 30K cpacity ground http://www.melbournevictory.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=40744 One category of memberships has been sold out already and I guess they have to allocate away fan sections and open areas to the general public, which is an issue that Melbourne football fans wanted addressed by the FFA. This only applies to full season memberships, there are still 3 match and 5 match Etihad only memberships still available. And all this before Harry and Emmo are confirmed starters for the first game.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Kewell made it clear it was only going to be Sydney or Melbourne, Victory were more patient and accomodating in the end and Mandic saw greater earning potential in Melbourne based on his % of takings pay model. Early imterest and sales for the opener against Sydney at Etihad look very promising and Kewell will be set for a big first pay cheque, especially when FFA move the Socceroos game and confirms that Harry and Emmo will be playing. I think his wife had a better chance of getting a job in Neighbours if she lived in Melbourne and she thought the shopping was better in Melbourne.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Thanks Fuss, takes me back to my youth and growing up playing League and football in Sydney.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Another nice Victory for Melbourne Redb, but I do wonder what the voting criteria were and where they took the survey. Maybe "availability of live AFL games" was the top scoring question.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
On the day that MVFC announced H's signing with the club, Sheree tweeted @shereemurphy: Just to let you all know my family and I are moving to Australia...Harry has signed for Melbourne victory for 3 years.. I'm going to miss the UK so much but looking forward to experiencing the Aussie life.... yes really looking forward to it,bit nervous though as UK is home. Not going till oct and I'll be back in April..it's a short (season) Aussie baby...my other kids are jealous!! Not going till oct and I'll be back in April so you'll have to put up with me.. moving to Melbourne...I'm really looking forward to it!! X I know....very nervous! X yes baby will be an Aussie and yes I'll keep in touch x x And, today she added @shereemurphy ...can't wait for the Aussie summer...yes Harry is very excited to start playing --------------- So, yeah, I reckon H's wife & family are coming to live here!
Bakkies
Guest
It will be interesting to see what happens with Kewell's family. His wife Sheree has an acting and tv career in the UK and has never lived in Australia. She has no profile here either and her career will regress. She didn't go to Turkey with him. If I was a pro player I wouldn't come back to the A League either unless it was for family reasons. I don't blame Schwarzer if he can pick up work in the Premier League plus goalkeepers have longevity. David Seaman and van der Sar played in to their late 30s/early 40s.
sledgeross
Guest
Yeah, I think alot has to do with the myth (not necessarily endorsed by Harry) that he is a "Westie" ie one of our own, and they feel let down he hasnt gone to Sydney. Its also an indictment that Sydney FC have done very little to engage the "Sokkah" masses of Sydneys west.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
sledgeross I reckon AUFC could sign Leo & Newcastle could sign Ronnie and people would still be whinging about something - "too ethnic, not Strayian". A long time ago I realised some people just love to complain; and, life's too short to waste getting bogged in their negativity.
sledgeross
Guest
Not sure Fussball, speaking to peole at a local match at teh weekend, whilethey admire Harrys acheivements, they just dont connect with him anymore. I think the fact he signed for Melbourne has something to do with it, though it has been corrected somewhat by Emmo signing.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
If anyone can help the FFA & HAL re-engage and embrace those from the football community who, thus far, have felt disenfranchised (totally unintentional pun!) it's our boy, Harry ... http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/213287,harrys-trickle-down-effect.aspx
nordozzz
Roar Guru
Brett was a gun athlete all round, i was a year or two ahead of him at MacFields HS. Never was credited at school as a footballer, more as a state rep athlete from (hazy) memory. I suspect things are changing there which recognition wise can only help our developing players. Especially with the looming introduction of youth age team systems for A-League clubs.
sledgeross
Guest
Qantas, players usually go to the Super League either as a late career paycheck, or because they are not good enough for the NRL. I will ignore your AFL analogy because its neither here nor there. The NRL players generally contribute to the local game before they go. I do see your point though, but it is slightly different. The A League is not the NRL. The NRL is the best competition for Rugby League (from essentially 4 or 5 countries), whereas the A League wouldnt make the top 20 domestic football leagues (out of the hundreds globally). More respect for these players coming back (and indeed for English league players wishing to test themselves in the NRL). Agree about the membership cap too. I would have thought having a guaranteed 25000 members at each home game would be great.
Redb
Roar Guru
The real answer to the question of why Kewell chose Melbourne over Sydney. :idea: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/economics/melbourne-worlds-best-city-says-economist-intelligence-unit-survey/story-e6frg926-1226125384968
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Plenty of NRL players going to the UK and France to count their measly coin and not finishing their careers in Australia. AFL players would have been lost to Ireland and Gaelic Football if there was any money in it.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
ICF-----good work as always. The thing that strikes me the most is this 18k cap in membership for the Victory. I never thought in my live time I would hear of such a thing happening in Australian Football. It only goes to prove how stupid the Victorian State Government was to build such a tiny Football stadium of 30k where it should have realized that building for the future was the way to go----a 50k Melbourne Football Stadium should have been the goal.
sledgeross
Guest
At least Emmo went to his "hometown" club, much respect for that. Harry has been hiding in Turkey getting his paychecks for the last few seasons, so good on him for coming back as well when he could have hid in the Middle East counting his coins like Bresciano and Neill.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
A fantastic insight into our 2 global superstars. Thanks for that, ICF.