Most Australians who follow Major League Soccer don’t do it for the football. They do it because of a hope that, one day soon, that’s where the A-League will be.
We’re so jealous of where the United States is at, and how their professional league has gone from strength to strength.
Once the A-League rides out these recent years of turbulence, the plan is to follow their lead almost exactly. For now, we’re living vicariously through them.
They have 19 clubs – soon to be 20. Not all are perfect, but there’s direction and momentum. We’ve got 10, following the death of three. The latest is an exciting contingency plan.
They have Beckham, Keane, Henry and now Nesta. We’ve got Flores, Carle, van Dijk and Fred. No disrespect to those last four names, but for the A-League at the moment, the marquee ruling is just a salary cap loophole.
They have an organised, structured football pyramid, with their professional league on top and the grassroots on the bottom. The North American Soccer League (NASL) sits underneath the MLS and, while there’s no promotion or relegation, it underpins the top tier brilliantly.
Fortunately, at least here, Australia isn’t far behind.
One of the most important stories to come out of the off-season is the news that there is a second tier restructure on the way, which will give birth to the Australian Premier League (APL).
We won’t get a national second division, which is what the NASL is. Australia is far too big, travelling costs far too much, and it’s hard enough trying to keep the A-League afloat. The US is a little bit ahead.
What the APL is supposed to do is to make sure all the state leagues are on the same level. It’s about ensuring that no club slips behind certain benchmarks in professionalism and administration.
It’s a good move. But that can’t be just it.
The APL has to give Australian football more than just better state-level football, or else this is another missed opportunity.
Looking back to America, the last four teams to join the MLS – Vancouver Whitecaps, Portland Timbers, Montreal Impact and Seattle Sounders – all started out in USL First Division, the predecessor to the new NASL. Interestingly, three can trace their roots back to the old NASL (we’re talking back in the Pele days).
You can bet your bottom dollar that, aside from a proposed New York City franchise and possibly Orlando, the NASL will be MLS commissioner Don Garber’s first port of call when it comes to expansion.
The San Antonio Scorpions are in their first NASL season. They’re currently top of the table and average 8000 fans per game. They’re also building a new stadium, thanks to the generosity and determination of real estate millionaire Gordon Hartman.
Give them time and an incentive to develop, and they will surely become capable of becoming an MLS team, following in the footsteps of the ‘Caps, the Timbers, the Impact and the Sounders. They’re just one example.
The NASL is a springboard for the MLS – a level where aspiring cities can have football while building for the future.
That’s what the APL should aspire to be.
The next round of A-League expansion is a while away yet, but the groundwork should start now. Any forward-thinking organisation has at least a five-year plan.
Australia obviously can’t do as the US has done – we will have no national second division. And they’re a much bigger country, far more advanced in football terms than we are.
But we will have new state leagues, under the one banner, which are being built for the sole purpose of improvement.
The A-League simply can’t approach the next round of expansion the same way it has done in the past – that is to say, pick a new city or region, give them a license and just throw them the keys.
That proved a disaster for Townsville, and I’m still not sure the full story has been told when it comes to Clive Palmer and the Gold Coast.
Learning from these mistakes is paramount – as is learning from what has worked abroad.
It can’t be a closed shop approach anymore, particularly given the complaints of those behind the Canberra bid after their claims they were completely ignored for western Sydney.
Eventually, Townsville and Gold Coast will want to have their A-League teams back, and the APL should be the way to do it.
Both will almost certainly get APL Queensland licenses, but they should be granted to parties that, at bare minimum, share the desire to get back into the A-League. If it can be done, involve potential investors. There is talk of this happening on the Gold Coast already.
This would also be a terrific way for Canberra and the NSW South Coast A-League bids – if they’re still around, that is – to channel their energy. Build a fan-base. Start preparing a youth development network.
Create an identity, and let it sink in for a few years. Then go to the A-League. Don’t just expect it to happen in year one.
Don’t forget South Melbourne, Sydney Olympic or Marconi – these and the rest of the former NSL clubs still harbour aspirations to play at the highest level possible.
The APL benchmarks are for what clubs must do at a bare minimum. But every club should also be told that if they want to do more, the sky is the limit. Bring your ambition to life.
A club like South Melbourne – four-time national champions, by the way – is already doing that, by tackling digital media and promotional activities in a way that no other state-level football club is. Why stop them?
They have a terrific home in Lakeside Stadium – indeed, some of these old NSL clubs own their own stadiums. That’s going to be key going forward. So dangle the carrot, provide the incentive.
If they’re still around in 15 or 20 years, and if we’re all over the old soccer/new football divide, and if they can present a compelling enough case for them to become a small but sustainable A-League club with a living, breathing fan-base, then let them in. The same goes for the rest.
If they never make it, then where is the loss? All we will have are better state-level clubs.
Like the NASL, the Australian Premier League simply has to be more than just another brick in the football pyramid. Otherwise, we may be doomed to repeat history. We can’t afford that.
xiong
Guest
very nice posts... i've just check the ffv website and registration for 18+ is $180 per player. that's not cheap if you're running a club, add in team entry fees, referee fees, games day costs, disciplinary fees, insurance costs, and so on....and a club would need to spend about $50k per season. how many people out there would want to throw away $50k a year to run a club? and usually most sponsors do not pay attention to lower level teams that are still under the state premier teams, so you better know some wealthy business people to support or start your own club or yourself needs to be wealthy. thinking about, if an A-League club was available to buy ownership shares, i might rather throw in that $50k in the hope that someday i might get it back or get more than $50k back? if any one know how to run/start a club with less than $50k a year, please share.
Mark
Guest
AGO74 - I have 3 boys 17, 15, and 12. It cost $520 for the 17 year old to play. It costed $850 plus $10 in ref fees each game for the 15 year old to play and the same for the 12 year old. with 22 rounds that is $850 + $220 = $1070. so for my boys to play for their club it costed me $2660. The 15 and 12 year olds played for Met north through the school sports which costed another $2000 + and accommodation in Hervery Bay and Mackay. and my 12 year old played for Queensland under 12 school boys in Darwin which was another $1200 dollars plus more accommodation in Darwin for Parents. $150 for training camps. Thats $6010 with out accommodation cost and equipment cost. So $300 for kids is a little under the actual cost. In ten years it has cost me $35,000 to $45,000 if not more in fees training camps and Rep teams. We need the APL and we need the governing body to be one that is from the FFA down and not have side by side comps taking the best players away from the objective of have a code of football that is about training the children and not helping addministrators egos. For the Children and the Future of the Game in Australia should be the moto.
ShayanAFG
Guest
APL is the acronym for Afghanistan's first professional league to be kicked off in early September. Afghan Premier League will have 8 teams represented from 8 regional zones of the country.
Nick
Guest
Population, population, population
PeterK
Guest
A pity, Sports Candy, that you don't have a reply to this (yet) -- I too was rather looking forward to finding out that answer.
PeterK
Guest
Sorry to be so far behind in my reading of these articles on The Roar, but to us in NQ it seems that one of the biggest structural problems with football in the State of Qld is the confusion in many minds between Football Qld and Football Brisbane. We have no issue with Football Brisbane "looking after" Brisbane (and surrounds), but we expect a wider focus from FQ -- though there have been some wonderful advances in this at times, notably FQ's efforts at retaining Fury and GCU. Mind you, I live outside of Townsville (where Football NQ is based) and see FNQ treating Townsville City differently from its treatment of the surrounding districts! It seems to be a very human thing! TM11, I think your idea of splitting the State is certainly worth exploring, but somehow I don't feel that it would work under the current FQ. Perhaps it might be made to work if FQ was replaced by two separate bodies -- Football SQ and Football NQ. Oh dear, who would then "look after" the South=West. Finally I simply must add that it saddens me to think that Brisbane clubs don't much like or can't be persuaded to like the idea of a State-wide comp, and want to turn inwards, and as they draw up the ladder, announce "We're aboard. Who cares about anyone else," though I do understand the financial constraints which lead to this. Perhaps the general thrust of the APL in Qld, which I believe is to have a larger number of Brisbane clubs in the State League cum APL, might help in that it would cut down the number of long-distance trips for them. One spin-off would have to be that a club from outside Brisbane would have to be that much more ready for the expenses of HAL involvement having had the experience of underpinning the expenses of multitudinous trips to Brisbane. How do our cousins in the West of the country fare with their State League?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Con The times they are a changin' ... just follow the money trail and, for corporate America is finally waking up to the power of football. No greater evidence of how the times are changin' in US sport than to have iconic US motor company, General Motors, dumping its Super Bowl advertising for a 5-year sponsorship of Man United. As GM's Executive Director, Paul Edwards observed: ".. global football presented us with a significant opportunity to spread Chevrolet around the world. We recognized that it’s not only the world’s biggest sport but also the world’s most engaged fans." Football is seeping into the fabric of USA society and, as we know with fußball ... once we invade the host organism, we spread, conquer & no rivals can compete. You may not like it, but that's the reality. Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-31/gm-goes-from-super-bowl-to-soccer-with-manchester-united.html
Con
Guest
Lol. I forgot about this. Seriously though, you guys are incredibly naive if you believe the spin about the MLS. Step out of your echo chamber for a minute. MLS has not made one genuine operating profit in its entire existence. Average crowds have barely budged since 1996 and have gone backwards for most of the original clubs. Total attendances would have fallen if they didn't keep adding clubs. Ratings are terrible and have also been trending backwards. I missed one of the TV deals but revenue is still pathetic, tiny even for Australian sport, in comparison to major US sports it's like an ant to an elephant. A huge chunk of MLS players make less money than the average Australian. That's right, there's a good chance your mum makes more money than a "star" in the MLS. There is no real growth in MLS, it's an illusion they've spun by adding new franchises. Words can't describe how crazy it is to compare MLS to the NBA. The NBA plays in small stadiums and ticket prices are through the roof. The NBA makes a billion a year from TV rights and ratings are over 100 times MLS. The spin in the article above claims the MLS is the fastest growing professional sport in the US. Ummm... what about the LFL? The WNBA also beats MLS in ratings. Even the netball in Australia gets better ratings than MLS. How does the MLS look when you consider the massive difference in market size? LA has 13 million people and Galaxy only have 7,500 season ticket holders. 7,500 out of 13,000,000 people. If that doesn't tell you what MLS means to Americans, then nothing will get through to you. Honestly, stop living in a fantasy world kids. The MLS is a personal hobby subsidized by billionaires, it has no hope of standing on its own legs let alone ever rivaling the serious players in US sports. PS: You can do your own google work.
APL Future
Guest
Would love to know how much the people on here actually know? BPL clubs not interested? I beg to differ. Wait until the clubs are announced and then criticise. Stop the pissing contest on what league is better. Because it's not about that, it's about developing the pathway and building clubs! For Fury and GCU it could be a springboard back to the A-League. Imagine clubs in the A-League like the aforementioned plus Wollongong and Canberra that have APL clubs also. Under 12's right through to Men's APL, NYL and A-League!
chris p
Guest
@Tigranes the Mls average wage is about on par with A-league aside from the marquees i think it's more to do with there being no other strong wealthy leagues in the North American region
Vince Rugari
Expert
No, it's not mate. Read the article. What do you think 'APL Queensland' means?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
For a bloke, whose commitment to football has been questioned by many - including myself - Nathan Tinkler is certainly putting his heart & soul into football in the Hunter. The Newcastle Herald is reporting that: "NORTHERN NSW Football chief executive David Eland is in talks with the Jets about fielding a second team in the State League that would play in the under-23 competition from next season. The team would be made up of under-18 players and would bridge the gap between the Northern NSW Institute program squad, who play in the under 19s, and the Jets under 20s, who compete in first grade." Full report: http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/jets-aim-for-second-state-league-team/2618748.aspx?storypage=0 --- This is a fantastic initiative that will build a real club culture. Things are starting to evolve in the HAL. Our motto this year should be: "Get involved or get out of the way"
MelbCro
Guest
Your whole article is about the 'APL' being a national second tier league and making comparisson's to the NASL. There is nothing to compare, as they are not remotely similar. Talk about about writing something with no relevance
Evan Askew
Guest
Yes it was Ljubo playing in that game. You see some lovely touches in the highlights when they are interviewing him. It is an amazing crowd. My guess is about 3 to 4k which in this day and age is amazing for state league. Few remember that in the period of the A league between 2005 and 2007 which saw the noontide of Australian crowds in domestic football, we also saw record crowds in the VPL and the NSWPL as old rivalries not seen for 10 years were renewed. I don't think they would get that big a crowd in AAMI though. Someone from Victoria would be better able to comment than I am but in my opinion I think there are a lot of people who used to support these club side who now support Victory and Heart. which is why we no longer see regular 4 figure attendences in these premier state competitions. Oakleighs ground was packed out for this game but what would the crowd be like if they weren't playing South Melbourne?
jbinnie
Guest
philk -Have you ever,anywhere ,anytime, seen a building project started with the finished construction of the penthouse. Of course you haven't and neither has anyone elsewhere. "Pyramids" are only as good as the foundations upon which they are built & if this simple analogy is accepted one has to look at what are our real foundations?????. State Federations, City groups,& Junior Councils come & go with political manoevering every 2 - 4 years so can hardly be classed as a "rock solid" foundation,more of a "shifting sands" support. If you accept this then we have to look at what could be established as a good,lasting foundation & in my opinion we should look no further than the football education of our younger youngsters,for,if you get that right ,only good things can follow,you will have better players progressing year by year to higher standards, from Under 6 (or whatever), right up the the Socceroo standard that we need in the HAL.This would be a solid,never changing base for the good construction of our "pyramid" but will it happen?.That remains to be seen. Now before the supporters of the "great leap forward" begun 3 or 4 years ago, (but had beenanother 3 in the planning), start to bombard us,let's remember that is an elitist programme trying to shortcut what I am describing, for if you introduce proper football education "across the board" at the lowest level, nature will take it's course & the cream will rise to the top, ultimately giving a much larger base of talent than what is being achieved at the moment. Before you hammer me with a cost factor on this program just sit back & add the money being spent on the elitist program at the moment then weigh it up against the returns shown. I haven't completed this exercise myself but it does not take an Einstein to add a coaching salary bill (for only 5 coaches) that would now stand at over $1.500,000 per annum & that is for salary only, it does not include ancillary costs such as travel,accomodation, etc which could easily add another $1,000,000. Are we getting value for money,I'll leave that to you.Remember, that is only coaches ,we have physios,gear stewards,trainers,et.al. to be added to those expenditure figure I have given you. With only recent results by our under age teams to be used as a yardstick perhaps it would be better,& quicker,to start at the bottom of our pyramid & rather than throw good money after bad,spend where we will be guaranteed success in the future.jb
Tigranes
Guest
1) They are probably well paid at home. 2) Labour costs are far cheaper in US than Australia and I dare say the real estate is far cheaper as well. Probably makes for cheaper stadiums.
Tigranes
Guest
Fussball the 20/20 league got some good crowds this year, not that I watched any of it. I wasnt actually referring to the Sheffield Shield - I was referring to general interest in summer, and obviously there is a lot of interest in the national cricket team.
pete4
Guest
Kasey - The King returns!! NY Cosmos to return in 2013 NASL season http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/usa/story/new-york-cosmos-set-to-return-in-2013-season-nasl-071212
Kasey
Guest
Timely that today I received an email from the New York Cosmos stating that they intend to feild a team in the NASL in 2013 - they haven't been shy in thier ambition to get up to MLS eventually for the 20th franchise(the Guardian states its between them and a team in Florida(Orlando City). http://cosmos.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/r/CAC5B8B4853CBE23/73E1CE1E2FB9EFAB44D0DD5392A9C75A
Sports Candy
Roar Pro
Nice quality video there and a good entertaining game. Amazing crowd given the facilities and that it was at the Cannons' ground and not a SM home game. Imagine if they played at AAMI stadium, they would get 10-15K. Was that Ljubo Milicivic playing for South Melbourne?