The current media hype surrounding David Beckham’s next move has reached its zenith as the English star this week announced his departure from LA Galaxy.
The A-League has once again become the focus of attention for football columnists from New York to London.
After the local game grabbed its fifteen minutes of fame with the signing of Alessandro Del Piero, this resurgent global interest comes as a welcome déjà vu for Australian football supporters.
Considering that little has been said from Beckham’s management about a move to the A-League, we should be careful not to get ahead of ourselves in predicting where the one-man-brand will end up.
It’s just as likely that Beckham will finish his career in Paris or Dubai, where he owns property.
At present, neither Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar have shown any interest in signing Beckham, preferring to steer clear of the often-disruptive marquee player roller-coaster ride. In truth, neither club particularly needs David Beckham anyway.
Melbourne Heart, Western Sydney Wanderers, Adelaide United and the Central Coast Mariners have reportedly all expressed their interest, with John Singleton even offering his beach house to the Beckham family.
However, playing the pokies at Iguana’s will certainly be a step down for the A-List celebrity couple. And if the Gosford club were to pull off such a coup, it would force Graham Arnold to quickly recontextualise his much-vaunted no marquee players policy.
This article, however, is not interested in what’s on offer for the Beckham family. Of more pressing concern is how the A-League can utilise his presence to grow the competition.
There are two reasons why David Beckham would be a good fit at Perth Glory.
Firstly, with three high-profile players already spread across New South Wales, the Eastern Seaboard is already awash with marquee talent.
Each of these signings have proved a boost for the profile and performance of their respective clubs, perhaps most notably Alessandro Del Piero at Sydney FC.
If the Central Coast were to somehow lure Beckham, the competition would be increasingly New South Wales oriented. While this would make for some cracking derbies, it may be a bit of a celebrity overkill.
Geographically spreading out marquee talent will only benefit the league as a whole.
Secondly, Perth is home to a large British migrant population. In fact, Perth Glory’s ‘Britishness’ has even been the subject of academic inquiry.
Tara Brabazon, in her book Tracking the Jack: A Retracing of the Antipodes, makes the case that Perth Glory were founded at a time when David Hill was ‘Anglicising’ the National Soccer League in order to mobilise “a distinct, Antipodean incription of Englishness to counter what he (Hill) frames as destructive migrant prejudices.”
Similarly, in 1997, NSL general manager Stefan Kamasz commented happily that going to a Perth game was “like being at an English game” while the ‘Studs Up’ fanzine wrote that “recently arrived Poms and Scots come along to enjoy the atmosphere of a game just like ‘Home.’”
Currently, Perth are flying the British banner in the A-League. With Scotsmen Ian Ferguson and Steven McGarry alongside Irishmen Liam Miller and Billy Mehmet, signing an Englishman would round out their British appeal.
While the Glory do have a multicultural support base, they are framed by their Britishness.
In this context, what better way to bring the crowds back than to sign English football royalty? Tony Sage recently complained about the cost and re-construction of NIB Stadium, which has reduced the seating capacity considerably. However, with David Beckham in the team, the Glory could potentially fill Subiaco Oval.
It is ironic that Perth Glory – the club that provided the model for the A-League – have not been able to replicate their NSL success in the new competition.
Sage has already made it a personal ambition to sign Beckham. Boosted by its resource-rich surrounds, the city and the football club are both on the rise.
Beckham-inspired sell-out crowds and international exposure are no less than the club deserves.
Roarfan
Guest
I can't see any economic sense in either Perth, Adelaide or Central Coast signing him. To make it financially viable you'll need to attract a minimum of 10 to 15,000 additional paying customers. Don't forget that you may only have 6 homegames max. Where are the stadiums in either of these three cities that can accomodate the additional bums. Unfortunately not enough seats to match that number, as far as I am aware but please correct me if I am wrong. It is highly unlikely that the clubs can shift to other stadia anyway because of binding agreements with the facilities they use at the moment. I doubt that Singo will back the Mariners' involvement if the games aren't played at Bluetongue. On that basis it seems to make no sense whatsoever. Just a little tip too for those getting there calculators out to see how much increased revenue a club can expect, saleable items like shirts only return a certain margin (say 30%) once you take out the cost of the product. Catering rights at Stadiums generally produce very little return for the clubs themselves. The commisssion, if any, will be quite low. The 'facility's owner' (e.g. Stadiums Queensland) generally gets much more out of it.
Tim
Guest
He won't go to Perth. Melbourne, and maybe Sydney (WSW) are the only places he'd go. I don't buy the 'marquee concentration' argument, Becks at Melbourne would prove a perfect rivalry to ADP at Sydney. The ground issue will be the killer though, (11k max) and they won't get Subi as easy as is reported and certainly not for all the home games, lucky to get them for half.
King Robbo
Guest
Glory can not replicate the crowds of the NSL due to live coverage on fox. I mentioned it in another post a large proportion of fans are British and do have access to Foxtel for the EPL or SPL on Setanta. Most British migrants live near the coast either far north of the city or far south in rockingham. It costs a lot in terms of time and money for these families to make every game, when the alternative is to do fit twice as many things into a day eg go to beach, shop and then watch the game at home in airconditioned comfort for a quarter of the cost. The stadium has very little shade as well and as we know Perth summers are hot. The old days the only way you could see the team play was if you went to the game or listened to 990 information radio and later 6PR. Of course you would not want to go back to the old days with no coverage. Some of the most loyal fans/members of the glory are of italian origin. You see some of the old men doing the same pre game rituals weekly, as they have done since 1996. For me Beckham would be an unbelievable aquisition, but almost too good to be true.
Two Up Front
Guest
Im afraid Becks wont be coming to our fair shores, main reason is the pull of Asia. The basic sums do not add up for him to come here, only 25m people compared with +100m in Japan and even 1-2b in China. Becks isnt after the money, what he craves is the fame.
Ben Ecker
Guest
I am a huge Perth Glory fan and only miss 1 game this year and I don't think Glory need Beck's yeah it would be nice for the club hand football world but we got so far after a poor start to the season last year and coming back to get to the grand final. Personally I would like to see glory make it back to back and win the grand final without buying a big player like Piero, Heskey or Emerton
Cameron
Roar Guru
Melbourne Heart would benefit most.
Joe Gorman
Expert
I think your right, I think he'd want to be in Sydney if he comes at all. But Perth is more appropriate
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
I think out of all the candidates Perth makes the most sense but in reality i can't see it happening.Like many have stated Sydney and Melbourne are probably the only cities than cater for the Beckham brand.The concern with both WSW and Heart is that they both have rookie coaches,but on the flipside theres a steel about Aloisi and Popovich that was sorely lacking in Crook and Durakovic.
steven
Guest
Yeah, I agree. The heavily-British based support of Glory would suit Beckham perfectly. And it is where he would best work for the A-League as a whole. Can't see Posh on Cottesloe Beach though.
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
PSG have ruled themselves out, and Beckham won't go to the Middle East (Posh would be furious). Perth would be perfect.
Tony Hughes
Guest
Glory is the perfect match for both David and Posh. A superb lifestyle for the children with the best beaches and lifestyle you could wish for, an opportunity for Posh to add a bit more 'spice' to Tony Sage's fashion empire and pair up with the other much loved 'new Aussie' Spice Girl Mel B, and of course the adoring and passionate Glory fans who will embrace the superstar himself. Glory is ready for the touch paper to be ignited. They are about to embark on their first season in Asia and are only a short plane trip from many Asian destinations. They have the squad to complete for a final's birth and are definite contender for the flag after missing out in the Grand Final last year in controversial circumstances. They have the most passionate fans in the land with the potential to take the game to the next level. 10 games in the sun, the world press in the West - it would be the perfect scenario for the A-League
Roman
Guest
I read he was to join the ownership of Galaxy, MLS gave him a 25% discount on buying a team, I read he is to buy a stake in the LA ownership.