“The matched was fixed to finish in a draw”. “Why?”. “Because both teams would come out of it honourably”. “What do you mean?”. “Well, both teams are from same city. It would not be a good look if one of them lost”
If you happen to stumble into an Greek kafenion (café), this is the sort of conspiratorial conversation you would come across as the elderly men, between throws of the backgammon dice or as they are waiting for the next move in a card game, vigorously debate the issues that matter between sips of gritty coffee and hits of tsipouro (grappa).
Arguments rage incessantly on subjects like which games of football were fixed on the weekend, to how everything would’ve been better if the dictators were still in power, to what would have happened if the communists had won the civil war.
Eventually the arguments reach a zenith, and the men light up a cigarette, slurp on a coffee or take a hit of the hard stuff and proceed with the game in front of them.
Of course, you only need to give it a few minutes before the cycle is repeated again without fail.
Why am I telling you this?
Well, after the last Melbourne Derby, I was magically transported into the “rigged” world of the kafenion courtesy of the train journey home. Opposite me were three elderly Greek gentlemen, two of whom were responsible for the exchange which began this piece.
“How can you be so sure the game was fixed?” I interjected in my rusty Greek. “Are you going to tell me when Dugandzic hit that rocket of a shot from outside the box in the final minutes of the game that he intentionally hit it straight at Covic. That shot could have gone anywhere, even the back of the net.
“Well, I suppose you’ve got a point there” replied George, the elderly Greek proponent of the fixed match theory.
The ice had been broken and I proceeded to have an enlightening conversation on football and other matters with George until I had to alight at my destination.
George, being from Northern Greece, was a Heidelberg Utd (Fitzroy Utd) supporter in the old NSL. He attended games regularly.
We reminisced about the derbies against South Melbourne and the greats who played in them, like Branko Buljevic, Charlie Yankos and Gary Cole.
This was the first A-League game George had ever attended and he really enjoyed being part of the big crowd at Etihad Stadium. His son, who happened to be a Victory member, could not get to the game and asked his reluctant father to go in his place.
George then dragged some of his old mates along to watch the game with him.
“Don’t you follow the A-League?,” I asked.
“No, I follow the A-League, but I’m too old. I like to stay home and watch it on TV,” George replied.
Well, that does make sense.
Melbourne’s “old soccer” generation is not completely indifferent to the A-League. When I visit my local chippy, I make a point of having a gander at the Greek newspaper on the counter.
What you will not find are articles on the AFL. What you will find is football coverage of the local leagues, the A-League, the Greek League and international football.
It’s not uncommon for papers like Neos Kosmos to break A-League stories.
If a member of the old “soccer generation” can afford Foxtel they would be watching A-League matches.
It’s not just “new football” watching the games.
For example, my retired uncle, who used to take me to South Melbourne Hellas games, would love to watch the A-League games but can’t justify the expense on his pension.
And, just like George and other members of the “old soccer” generation, my uncle just doesn’t attend games anymore, anywhere. The last match he attended was when I bought him a ticket to the World Cup qualifier against Qatar in February 2008.
As I prepared to disembark the train, old George, like a good Greek uncle, made sure he asked me those old chestnuts about marriage and kids.
When I see to my uncle again, I will be asking him to come to a Melbourne derby at AAMI Park.
What I won’t need to ask him is why he doesn’t go to the kafenion.
Jimmy
Guest
Hey Kasey, not quite! Get down to AAMI Park this Friday night for the Melbourne derby and you'll see the Heart supporters have put together a nice little fanzine... It's not dead (yet!).
Trust Me
Roar Rookie
Hit on a good theory there Athas. The other aspect is that as the A-League becomes more mainstream and accepted, then the following grows and they come back. While its being attacked and ridiculed, they keep away from it. Just needed some positive support and good press and the fans are coming back. The contribution by Osieck to restoring confidence to the A-League is immense. And its not just the old soccer, but the Euro snobs as well. I still have some people at work who love football, but still won't go to an A-League game. But they confess they watched Victory because of Harry Kewell and they enjoy watching Brisbane. "If all teams played like Brisbane, I might even go to an A-League game . . . " Small steps, hopefully the growth continues, both in the A-League's standard and in the support.
Thanks for all the great feedback. I enjoy writing about football culture. Great to see it is being appreciated.
asanchez
Roar Guru
Awesome article. It left me reminiscing the good old days. I also used to go along to the South games every week with my mates. I also went to a few Carlton games also. They were great times, and gave a Football lover like myself a weekly fix. I think the line of 'old soccer and new football' is misinterpreted by the wider public. To me it doesn't represent division or hate. Nor should it. In many ways it represents both the past of the sport and it's future, neither negatively but more in an educational way. Everybody used to call it Soccer, which is fine, some still do, but people should be able to call it Football.
Midfielder
Guest
Twas a good read .... and thanks to the many posters many good comments...
buck
Guest
i love the pumpkin seed man. i have seen him at heidleberg games, does he do south ones as well, as i have never seen him there?
Steve if you consider I was on a train coming back from the Melbourne derby then mathematically speaking that is a very unlikely scenario.
Punter
Guest
Great story Art, I loved it.
Punter
Guest
Steve, I don't. I follow Manly United in the state league, I follow Sydney FC in the A-League, Derby County in England, hoping to get into the Premier league next season, Barcelona in the Champions League & of course the Socceroos in the int'l national competitions. But it's good that we are all football fans in this country. United we stand.
Roarchild
Guest
Really good read.
Kasey
Guest
Steve, I know a place just near the river Torrens where football fans with that attitude would be welcomed with open arms:)
Steve
Guest
I wonder if you bumped into the thousands yes thousands of football supporters in Melbourne who despise Victory and Heart.....no of course you didn't
Steve
Guest
MelbCro, i'm with you, i'd never go watch the a-league i only have 1 club Sydney Olympic
Kasey
Guest
Reminds me of that classic old Fulham fanzine "There's only one F in Fulham!" :) Ahh fanzines, one more thing rendered obsolete by t'interwebz:(
Thanks for the great feedback Stevo. I wanted to give people outside Melbourne a feel of what's happening here by using a small example to paint a greater picture and you have helped by relating your own experience. Cheers.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
I think Hellas has a double LL ??
Kasey
Guest
MC, I hope you continue to support the Knights for a long time to come, football in this country needs a strong 2nd tier of clubs. Perhaps if FFA get their fingers out regarding an FFA Cup, we might once again get to see football on the TV live from Somers Street.
Stevo
Guest
Thanks heaps for the story. You've hit on what's really happening in the soccer-minded community of Mlebourne. My recollection of the derby is sitting in level 3 surrrounded by all ages and with the sounds of english and foreign tongues ringing in my ears. There were certainly a groups of people from Croatian background commenting on proceedings and groaning at MV's impotence! I reckon there is no soccer divide between old and new. It's a myth perpetrated by some to serve their own ends or "world view". As for my dad, the person who started me off at Footscray JUST, he came along in the first A-league season but reckons he's too long in the tooth now to come to matches. But still wants to hear whats going on and get's his soccer fix from SBS.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Athas, you have a wonderful gift for telling a story. The fact it is a football story makes it even more enjoyable for me. Thank you.
MelbCro
Guest
"So, can the A-League branding bring the “old soccer” types to the grounds in 2011-12? To coin a phrase, yes it can!" Not me, I'll stick to watching my club in the VPL