After only a few months into the Western Sydney Wanderer’s existence, the A-League’s newest team has also become it’s most talked about team.
The hype surrounding the club from before it’s existence has not diminished in the slightest and in terms of public interest alone people would be forgiven for thinking the club had been around for years.
In many ways the Wanderers have always been a part of Western Sydney but only now is the Australian public seeing the spirit of Western Sydney football find a unified physical body and one that all of Western Sydney can be proud of, no less.
Even the old NSL representatives of the region have something to look forward as the Wanderers begin their prime objective of connecting with the region’s football community.
In the weeks to come the Wanderers will face a number of local teams, at local grounds and give true fans the opportunity to watch the club build itself from the ground up in a way many argue football is meant to be watched, at grassroots level.
Strong ties with the community are essential if Western Sydney wants to be successful and unlike other A-League clubs the Wanderers must acknowledge and embrace the rich history and knowledge of the fallen NSL giants.
Early signs look positive but for long term success long-term programs are needed to track youth development and maintain communication with local clubs to ensure that the Wanderers don’t lose focus and continue to truly represent Western Sydney.
For now though, in terms of engaging with the community few can argue the Wanderers have failed. The club name, logo and colours have all received overwhelming public support.
However, arguably the clubs biggest and most successful move in regards to fan relations was the announcement of all home games at Parramatta Stadium.
Even in the days of the Western Sydney Rovers fans protested against the possible staging of home games at ANZ stadium. By rejecting the easy money on offer from playing games at ANZ stadium, the Wanderers will provide their fans what few other A-League clubs can in providing a truly local and intimate match-day experience.
Like the NSL clubs before them the Wanderers are working for their community and are making up for a decade of lost time.
Only by staying true to their values and honouring their region’s history will the Wanderers be successful in the decades to come.
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Not fan of flares at all and definatley not a fan of flares being thrown around,what a stupid thing for a player to come out and say.If the odd flare gets lit at a big game then so be it,one was set off at the Shed end against the Heart in the Finals last season,fizzled out in a minute and no harm done but if they are being brought in week in week out it only needs to get in the wrong hands and before you know it ones getting chucked at the opposition keeper,game gets called off and on the front page of the paper it goes,will be classed as a riot and then parents don't take their kids to the football.I don't care about what the media thinks anymore but if something like that happened we football fans can't cry foul about it.
Sports Candy
Roar Pro
Personally I don't care either way, but I can't see how lighting a flare improves the game. Most A-League games I've seen there have been no flares and no trouble. The point is they are illegal and the police and security guards will surround you and start throwing people out. Mixed with a bit of alchohol and the violence and trouble starts. At an MV v Sydney game at SFS every thing was going great, then an MV fan lit a flare and threw it into the crowd. They thought it was great and started singing and dancing around it. Suddenly the MV fans were surrounded by about a hundred police and security guards who were taunted and the fans started throwing things at them. The police charged at the MV fans and started kicking and punching them. The MV fans retaliated and fights broke out everywhere and the police started dragging out the MV fans one by one in headlocks and handcuffs some of them bloodied and bruised. Then the MV fans started lighting fires under the seats and the plastic seats started burning and sent up plumes of black smoke. All this trouble started because of one flare thrown in the crowd. This was in front of a group of friends, families and their kids who I was trying to convert and for most of them it was their first A-League game. They were disgusted and have never been back to an A-League game. So its ok for the boys to have fun, but look at the potential consequences. The FFA and the league are working very hard to clean up the game and the image, and in the main they have been successful, but there are still incidents that will give the A-League a bad name and lighting flares isn't going to help.
Midfielder
Guest
Well said Cpaa and totally agree
nordster
Guest
sounds gweat to me Hey if they want to let me run match days we'd have some 'competitors' to alcohol in the recreational substance market tolerated at the ground too. And rasta flags! :) ...would certainly reduce the security and policing bills, perfect for these austere times...
Gwils
Guest
We don't just want a good time, we want a gweat time
Cpaaa
Guest
Cant people just except that the ocasional flare goes up in Australian Football? The anti-sokha brigade loves it when they can write stories of flares related to football hooliganism. Actually i think fitzy and wilson have already got an article ready to go to damage the WSW brand, watch this space They have never given us a positive article, for decades, maybe forever, and as far as they are concerned, football is the anti-christ sport anyway. So i dont give a hoot what the anti-media say, especially when flares go up in the hard nut supporters end. Dad dont purchase tickets for the family in the supporters end for gods sake, leave these bays for the boys. WSW supporters are going to come from NSL back bone support. Marconi, Sydney Croatia,Parra Malita, Bonnyrig, budapest and everything else, and they come from a culture where flares are the norm. If we are going to make a big deal about it, then it will be, lets just let boys be boys, take a chill pill and relax. If you are against flares then you might as well be against graffiti in the inner city as well. Both illegal, but something quite unique, extraordinary, appealing and beautiful. A rose is a beautiful flower, but we just except that it has thorns as well. A-League, FFA and its supporters have to except that its going to happen, dont punish the people that do, just say nothing at all.
nordster
Guest
Its a nice neat black and white world u live in there kasey ...you're ex military right? :P People arent perfect and think of basic fun and some safety sure, not media or PR safety. There is no real logical reason for banning them, the opposite in fact ...fear of being caught in possession means more thrown objects. Lets at least be consistent and ban alcohol at the ground too. Far more of a threat to safety than flares.
Gwils
Guest
It's about having a good time. Let everyone have a good time, and people will go to games.
Kasey
Guest
It is undeniable that flares are a tool that is used against the sport though by the media. My firm opinion is that if you love football, you should be doing your best not to harm it. and call me crazy - that means not btrreaking the law in an A-League venue, just because you think you're too cool for school.
nordster
Guest
:) oh kasey u girl! Kids dont think of the eggball media implications, they want to have Fun....i am 35 too and have not forgotten that! As far as turning new people off, out in the terraces ive only ever heard them cheered.
nordster
Guest
'not a good look' babies lol...the consumption of alcohol or fatty foods at the ground poses more of a threat than flares. Banning them just means more people throwing them...allow them in the active areas. Banning them just decreases safety in fact! :) And SportsCandy i am sorry but they certainly DO help with cheering and chanting. The punters love them even if there is much tut-tutting from the media box and gold seats
Kasey
Guest
Mid..is the game v Sydney United at King Tom? Geez, if I lived in Sydney, I'd consider packing the thermals and the thermos into the car for the long trek inland for that one, a precursor to one an day FFA Cup perhaps?;)
Bondy
Guest
Thats what happens Mahony when boredom sets in. Wiki.
Kasey
Guest
Gwils....bollocks, How do flares add to the atmosphere? Singing, drumming and and chanting adds to the atmosphere. If you cant make noise because your lungs are filled with smoke, then there is no atmosphere.
Kasey
Guest
I notice you didn’t mention the Italian SerieA, which is notorious for being considered a blokes day out and not really a family event. I would hate for that image to be developed around the a-League. Pyrotechnics and large Choreo’s are a part of what I would consider the best run football league in the world though, the Bundesliga.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Gwils It's no different to having pyrotechnics at any event, smoke machines & laser displays at concerts, etc. It's part of "the theatre"; not part of the sport.
Tigranes
Guest
Flares dont seem to be a big part of the English Premier League, nor the J-League. And it hasnt hurt either league.
Gwils
Guest
You have to remember that atmosphere at the soccer is very important. It's a far less satisfactory experience if the game lacks atmosphere. Flares add a lot to the atmosphere.
mahony
Guest
They will be back - dont worry about it. You should see the war they are waging on WikiPedia lately. And they call us zelots.....
mahony
Guest
We do need the competition and we welcome it. It will take us to the next elvel while ensuring Sydney FC are lost to eternity. As to the Jakarta FC - the comment from the dullard below shows us their relevance deprivation syndrome is starting to nag at them....