Before I begin, some context. I’m an active Perth Glory supporter in The Shed, I have a strong interest in English football – even below the Premier League – and I’m fascinated by supporter culture. Far from prudish, I’m aware that football fans in this country and globally support their teams in different ways to those of other sports.
Yet too often, football supporters in Australia are slated by the mainstream media. This is not news to anybody, but when words like ‘hooligans’, ‘riots’ and the dreaded f-word ‘flares’ occupy headlines in our major newspapers, it is easy to feel we as supporters are fighting a losing battle. A recent article in the Newcastle Herald highlights the tendency of our media to take a cheap shot.
By and large, the sensationalist media do not support the growth of football, and supporters have an ‘us against them’ mentality as a result. But would things not be better if we had the media on our side?
Our supporter culture is one which involves considerable noise, some colourful language, and both travelling to and watching matches in groups. Like it or not, it is foreign to supporters of other Australian sports. Regardless of actual eviction numbers and incidents at football compared to other sports, we will always be perceived more negatively.
For as long as we are perceived this way, there will be elements of Australian society that do not accept football. If we want to become the number one sport in this country, we need to get as many people onside (pardon the pun) as possible.
We need them to embrace the game, and this means creating an environment where we will give the media no reason to print negative headlines. This does not mean abandoning what makes football support great. But the few seconds of enjoyment a fan gets from lighting a flare can lead to sanctions for both them and the FFA, and deliver another blow to football’s reputation.
Personally, my experiences of supporting Glory involve ‘marching’ from the pub to the stadium in a group. We chant as we travel the streets to the match, and some language is generally involved. We are conscious that there is no hint of threatening behaviour from us to any passing persons and the most common reaction to us marching is one of bewilderment.
But conversely, it only takes one person to ruin this in their desire to impress their mates. One foul insult directed at a passer-by, one intoxicated attempt to damage some property, and as we know, negative press spreads quickly and our reputation is tarnished. As a collective, we walk a perilous line, and we must be conscious of how we are perceived.
I am not a Celtic supporter, and am aware the Old Firm derby has an underbelly of sectarianism. But I point to a moment from the recent Celtic v Rangers match as an example of how, if done in the right way, active football support can provide a surreal experience enjoyed by every single patron, and unrivalled by anything else.
Watch the video below. You’ll see an entire stadium chanting and jumping without offensive language, flares or violence, and you’ll see it can be breathtaking. I challenge any football fan (supporters of Celtic’s rivals aside) to honestly say they wouldn’t wish to be part of that.
Enjoyable active football support does not need to be conducted in ways that will lead to negative headlines, and by working towards achieving this will we grow the game in Australia. And what does growing the game mean? It means larger supporter bases, so the atmosphere is only ever going to get better.
louboutin on line
Guest
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PeterK
Guest
Then, nordster, society needs to regain some more useful values!
PeterK
Guest
I agree, langou. Swearing is quite offensive, despite what a few of our fellow Football supporters might say. I guess there are many in OZ who've been brought up in homes where the F word (in particular) is in constant use, and they think it's "normal". Fortunately in my experience it's not normal at Football games, but the occasions when it's yelled for all to hear are disgusting and embarrassing. We can only hope that in time our society's view of these people will improve, and that they will recognise the true cause of their ostracision (Sp?).
PeterK
Guest
Well put, Mark. Cheering the good is magnificent -- jeering or abusing the bad is not on.
PeterK
Guest
Other people's opinions of me (and us) are none of my (and our) business!
PeterK
Guest
Well said, ItsCalledFootball! And I endorse the opinions of Roger and Kasey too.
PeterK
Guest
Well said, Mick.
PeterK
Guest
I think she had a "no news" day, and was trying to help sell her paper.
PeterK
Guest
I agree, AL, and have already said -- each to his own!
PeterK
Guest
Each to his own, Johnno.
PeterK
Guest
GoGWS, I reckon the acivity which is most disconnected from the spectacle is the Mexican Wave -- which incidentally is NOT often seen at Football matches (more often IMO at Cricket matches, but certainly not exclusively). No matter what the sport, you'll get the BEST "chanting" in Wales (SINGING would be a better word) -- RU of course, but also at Football, and even at Cricket! And I doubt you'll hear one swearword. (Swearwords seem to be much more prevalent in England and in OZ, unfortunately.)
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Okay, well, having read further comments, yes obviously you have! Never mind me :) Part of the problem at Glory is that as the down times stretch on into what is starting to lo like a Lost Decade, the core is getting whittled down and ever more frustrated/angry. So some of the displays are getting worse. That said, some of the chants and singing they Glory puts out are, in my opinion, some of the best in the A-League. And there are certainly still plenty of oldies and kids that come along still.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Wait, they saw a few games in Perth but were surprised when the Glory away fans swore? Have you ever listened to the telecast of a Glory home game?
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Dean I'm not confusing anything. I've tried to make it clear in at least two posts that the ABS stats are based on the percentage of the population, i.e. in this case, those born overseas, not as a percentage at games. So yes, more than likely a greater percentage of a 14k crowd at an A-League game will be born overseas than perhaps other sports, but the ABS stats make it very clear that a greater percentage of those born overseas will watch at least one Australian Football game than any other sport, and by a fair margin I might add, that stat applies to both those born in English-speaking countries and non-English speaking countries. The reason for this anomaly is the sheer quantity of numbers going to AFL games. The percentage of foreign born at AFL games might be lower than at A-League games (and we're only guessing there), but the sheer numbers mean that they represent a larger percentage of the whole population of those born overseas.
Dean
Guest
The Special One, why did you choose the highest rating HAL match of the season (MVFC v SFC opening night Harry v Emerton)? If you wish to make your point you should use either the average HAL ratings pre-BBL or at least take figures that are not from either extreme (high or low). Unless, of course, you have a preconceived bias and you are only looking for data that validates your bias?
Dean
Guest
The Cattery, you are confusing a very simple issue. ABS data suggests approx 27% of Australia's population is born overseas. My observation is that if you surveyed the crowd at HAL & AFL matches, the HAL matches would have a higher proportion of overseas born Australians. I reckon the HAL crowd will closely mimic the makeup of Australian society - i.e. 73% Aus born; 27% foreign born. By contrast, my observations are that cricket (test, 1 day, t20) and AFL will not as truly reflect the makeup of Australian society.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
It's too early to conclude whether there will be an effect or not. It's possible that the casual sports fan, i.e. the person just switching and looking for something to watch, will be split.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
That wasn't me that put up the ratings.
The Special One
Guest
Axel, these are the two corresponding A-league v BBL games on Friday 23rd December. Victory v Heart = 93,000 Viewers Thunder v Sixers = 328,000 viewers Melbourne v Syd FC rated 153,000 in the first round as a comparison to early A-league games. Hope that helps.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
AxelV Even if your 17% figure is correct, that 10k is much lower than the total number attending AFL matches, that's precisely what the ABS stats are telling us.