In announcing the foundations of Western Sydney Wanderers FC, including kit colours, logo (red, black and white), home ground (Parramatta Stadium) and foundation players, the FFA are no doubt looking to connect football’s history and stakeholders with the game’s future.
It is a sound strategy, and many would say it’s not before time that the governing body has tipped its hat to the game’s history and stakeholders.
Now comes the hard bit, ensuring the Western Sydney Wanderers FC, named after the first team formed in Australia in 1880, are ready for action in 103 days, both on and off the pitch.
That day, Saturday, October 6, is the day the Wanderers take on the Central Coast Mariners in their inaugural game.
It will be played out of Parramatta Stadium, only a few kilometres down the road from the King’s School that played host to the Wanderers first game, inspiring the club’s name.
While there are many hoping for a dedicated football home ground, with the Fairfield Showground mooted as one potential site, for now it’s a base close to Sydney’s centre.
It is also one, some may be surprised to learn, with deep historical connections to the game in Australia.
Many fans of former NSL clubs, for example, should be able to draw a connection with a stadium that played host to many a grand final, including two bumper occasions in 1989 and 1989/90, when Marconi and Sydney Olympic took part in riveting contests, where the likes of Zlatko Nestevski, Abbas Saad and Alistair Edwards became heroes for their respective clubs.
I was fortunate enough to be at both those grand finals, and many others at Parramatta, including the final game of the NSL, between Perth Glory and Parramatta Power.
Here’s hoping the FFA have learnt the lessons of the past, both the good and bad.
Certainly, it appears on the right path.
The irony, of course, is that the administration, which tried hard in the early days to distance itself from the history of the game, is now leaning on this very history, hoping it draws more engagement.
While not everyone will be pleased with the choice of name and venue, it’s impossible to accuse the FFA of not listening to the fans, who clamoured for tradition over gimmicks.
At the two fan forums I attended, and across the online forums, including this one, much of the sentiment was for “Wanderers” and “Parramatta”.
A team with a traditional football name, with historical significance, played from a stadium which has had a long association with the round ball code in Australia, there can’t be too many loud complaints.
Another important element in the success or otherwise of the Wanderers is likely to be how well the FFA continues to engage the many stakeholders that make up the game, as I wrote a couple of months ago.
One of its most important is the local associations that traverse the greater western suburbs; Nepean, Granville, Southern Districts, Bankstown, Campbelltown and Blacktown.
To that end, the FFA have honoured these association through the club colours, red, black and white, combining the various colours of these associations. The logo looks fantastic, and the strip is an exciting “hoop” design, appealing to both old and new, to the traditional football followers and some of the “aspirationalists”, a demographic the FFA targeted in the A-League’s inaugural season.
When they come out against the Mariners, the Wanderers will in part take on the look of the famous Brazilian powerhouse Flamengo.
All up, it is a good start by the FFA, especially given the short time frame to pull it all together.
Now comes the toughest part, selling it to the west and getting them to draw some connection to the club over the next three and a half months.
To that end, the club needs to pitch itself as an affordable entertainment option, with membership packages aimed at attracting families and those currently involved in the game.
These fans want a team they can identify with, both in personnel and playing style. The signing of Tony Popovic and Ante Milicic as manager and assistant is certainly a pointer to this.
At the forums the clear message was that the fans want a team comprising many locals, providing a pathway for youngsters across the western suburbs.
To that end, the FFA have drafted in a few players surplus to requirements elsewhere, including Sydney products Tarek Elrich, Kwabena Appiah-Kubi and Aaron Mooy.
While there is likely to be a recycled feel to some of the impending signings, it is the inclusion of young guns like Mooy and Appiah-Kubi that offer real excitement, and if they can ignite their careers here, it will provide a pathway for other aspiring kids.
After all, the Western Sydney Wanderers should not only tip a hat to the game’s past, but provide a window to its future.
Midfielder
Guest
http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/6541/signaturewz.jpg
Bill
Guest
Sorry matey - you are incorrect! Football was first played in Australia as early as the 1850's 'BEFORE AFL', see here - "History of AFL in Australia" : http://dl.nfsa.gov.au/module/1593/ This production was made by the AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S, 'NATIONAL FILM & SOUND ARCHIVE DEPARTMENT' & therefore is indesputably the truth & the final say on the matter! BELOW ARE EXTRACTED COPIES FROM THEIR WEBSITE TO PROVE IT! FIRSTLY, UNDER 'BACKGROUND INFORMATION': Background Information: The history of the beginnings of Australian Rules football is intertwined with the development of cricket in the colony of mid 19th century Victoria. The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) was the first cricket club in Victoria, formed in 1838. The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) was later established in 1853 when Lieutenant-Governor La Trobe provided 10 acres of land in Yarra Park to the MCC. Originally the Wurundjeri-willam, a clan of the Woiworung and part of the Kulin nation, lived in this area. Historical records indicate many large gatherings of Aborigines in the area during the 1830s and 1840s. In 1858 Tom Wills and other members of the MCC devised the first ten rules of the Melbourne Football Club, which became the first codified rules of Australian Rules football. It has been claimed, but not proven, that in inventing Australian Rules, Wills was influenced by an Aboriginal game called Marn Grook (also known as Marngrook), which he had observed and played when a boy while living in Victoria’s Western District. Australian Rules was played on the MCG for the first time in 1859, a winter game devised for utilising the shape of existing local parks and cricket ovals, unlike the other football sports of rugby and soccer, played on rectangular pitches. Initially, though, a soccer ball was used, but later a spheroid rugby ball was preferred. Since the late nineteenth century the MCG has been the symbolic home of football, first in Victoria, where the Victorian Football League (VFL) was formed in 1896 and, with the establishment of the Australian Football League (AFL) in 1990, in Australia as a whole. The rules of football have altered and considerably expanded since 1858, and are constantly being modified. AND THEN UNDER 'CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES': Classroom Activities: After viewing the program on Rules of AFL, discuss in class then write responses to the following: Who was the man primarily known for devising Australian Rules football? In what year were the first rules of the sport written, and where is the original document of these rules now kept? Explain why the sport of Australian Rules football was invented. Explain why the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has, in the words of the program, always been the ‘spiritual home’ of Australian Rules. British winter sports such as rugby and soccer were already played in Melbourne when Australian Rules football was invented. Carry out research then write a commentary on why Australian Rules developed quickly during the later decades of the 19th century in Melbourne, whereas soccer and particularly rugby, which was popular in Sydney, did not develop. Include a commentary on the history of the type of ball used in Australian Rules in the 19th century, and the reasons for the decision to alter this. Socal history is primarily about the way people lived on a daily basis in the past, and includes a study of their responses to what they witnessed and experienced. Imagine you are a Melbourne newspaper reporter sent out to observe one of the first games of Australian Rules played in Melbourne, either at the MCG or at nearby Yarra Park. Write your report in 300–400 words. (Take into account that the MCG was a much different place from what we would recognise today.)
Kasey
Guest
I saw plenty of coverage on the commercial networks in ADL even*shock horror* Ch7! Was at my folks for dinner, I would not normally watch that tripe.
Kasey
Guest
Surely Canberra has to be next off the rank? They had money and were only pipped at the post by the obvious necessity for a WS team(should have been one from the beginning IMO) I agree on the 'gong, but I am unsure Tassie can overcome the logistics of the deeply rooted N/S divide and relatively small population. With Aussie Rules the predominant sport in the Apple Isle, they are short of a decent rectangular venue in either Hobart or Lonnie.
Midfielder
Guest
Asanchez Copied from wikipedia .... shows part of the history as I said before FL called a huge favour from Sepp Blatter to over rule Mohammed Bin Hammam ... but will need to be re negotiated in 2015 ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington_Phoenix_FC Despite the backing of FIFA, AFC President Mohammed Bin Hammam has stated that due to AFC criteria the Wellington team must move to Australia or disband by 2011.[8] However in an interview aired on SBS on 21 December 2008 FIFA President Sepp Blatter stated unequivocally that "It is not the matter of the Confederation, it is the matter of the FIFA Executive Committee... If Wellington will go on play on in Australian League, then as long as Australian league wants to have them and Wellington wants to stay (and) Both association in this case, New Zealand Soccer and Australian Football are happy with that then we will give them the blessing. The Confederation can not interfere with that.".[9] This happens in other leagues, for example Welsh team Swansea City FC play in the English Premier League On 20 April 2010, the FFA granted the Phoenix a 5-year licence extension, keeping it in the competition until at least the conclusion of the 2015-16 season.[10]
Kasey
Guest
I do love how manic football fans in this country are. Everything is either Doom & Gloom, the world's about to end or Hey, lets just keep expanding! (even if its just pretend dreaming type "one day" musing:) I'd much rather the FFA focus on consolidating and bedding down a stable 10 team league that bleeds less money than right now for the next 5 years and only then think about expansion, with Canberra first to be considered in that scenario. If they aren't still p*ssed off at being ignored for WS. As an outsider, WS has much greater potential than Canberra and was the obvious choice IMO. If the OFC v AFC problem is ever sorted out, one day in the future I'd like to see a Kiwi derby, as long as Auckland isn't set up to fail by being based out at North Harbour.
Kasey
Guest
Canada and the USA are both in the same Confederation(CONCACAF) like Wales and England are both in UEFA. New Zealand are in a completely different confederation to us despite our close geographic links so as far as FIFA is concerned, they might as well be Samoa.
Kasey
Guest
"3 years tops" was the famous battle cry from the bitters/luddites on TWGF. Remind me again Mr Rafferty how many seasons of HAL football have been played if you please.
asanchez
Roar Guru
Mid The part I can't undertand is why or how is the MLS is allowed 3 or 4 Canadian clubs in their league, Cardiff and Swansea are allowed in the English leagues and we're not allowed 2 clubs from New Zealand?? Without 2 clubs from New Zealand I honestly can't work out where we'll come up with 12 to 14 clubs from Oz?? Surely our landscape with only 6 or so major cities probably could do with a couple of clubs from across the Tasman...
Simmo
Guest
Has the CoE not put them in a parlous financial state?
Simmo
Guest
I've forgotten my TWGF log-in and password so I've been spared Chips' moaning for a couple of years. Pity he's spread
Griffo
Roar Guru
Pity, as there is something to be said at the moment for 'derbys' and I would expect if given a chance the FFA would be tempted by a 'Kiwi Derby'. Personally I think, regardless of AFC, Australian based teams will be getting the look in for future expansion. Wellington have their draw managed a bit I think to reduce travel burden (probably Perth as well) so another team across the ditch will only add to that. Long way off big expansion plans, but I don't believe 14 teams will be the upper limit...
Bondy
Guest
Cheers Mid .
nordster
Guest
Hes quiet and does his job is my outside impression ...the tendency to want a salesman media operator as ceo or head of league is misplaced imo. I like how his 'understated' style creates a bit of a media vacuum for players, coachs, club issues
nordster
Guest
Come off it tobacco and alcohol ... a world of difference there on addiction terms ...the definition of addiction is stretched futher by the week. For most it is a choice of overindulgence which is the issue, entirely controllable if the drinking culture changes. Something for the industry to lead on rather than be barked at by govt. And thats from someone who maybe has a beer once a year or two ...personally i think they should open up the legal recreational drug market to more 'competition' :) Doesnt the modern tendency to Blame Others rather than take individual responsibility irk someone like yourself fuss. You strike me as the freer thinking type. Govt dictates on tobacco and even sports betting i can understand ...extending it ever further until no one takes responsibility for their own actions ...dangerous to want govt to intervene everywhere.
Realfootball
Guest
Not that he ever needed much of an invitation.
Midfielder
Guest
Bondy The COE and the youth academy was Gormans dream and he made it happen...
Bondy
Guest
Mid. I know nobodys painting Lyall as Jesus but with the Mariners and the C of exc and the youth setup with the Mariners if Lyall played a strong hand in that well it's probably the best youth setup in the country and from a regional club and to win the premiership with the foundation of youth Amini, Ibini and Rogic "not originally from the region" is great planning for mine. If he can take on board what went well and what didnt with the Mariners and the HAL in general, than he should be sweet.
Realfootball
Guest
No doubt about it, Mid, wherever they come from, the A-League needs two more teams. Now if Canberrra and the Gong can just raise the cash...
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Seems to be very competent. What Todd Greenburg is to the NRL, Gorman is to the A-League.