Having sat through many miserable hours in the bowels of the SFS watching Sydney FC demonstrate their own unique interpretation of the beautiful game, I was not surprised to hear of flares being set off in the recent Sydney derby.
Many a time, during moments of extreme distress, I wished I had brought along some flares so I could get myself airlifted to the roof garden of the local tap house. There among the hipsters in a refreshingly TV-less environment I could take instagram pictures of my feet and discuss facial hair.
However, according to police reports the flares were not set off by a panic-induced Sydney FC supporter but one of our western neighbours.
As someone who rarely travels west of the David Jones food court, I have to say this was entirely predictable.
I have long been an ardent admirer of both the A-League and AFL for ignoring the cultural wasteland that lies at the end of the Parramatta Road. I openly boycotted this game, knowing full well that one of their supporters would probably key my Merc on their way home from the game.
Sure enough, the sinisterly named Red and Black Bloc – showing the passion that only three months’ of loyal support could bring – came to Moore Park and recklessly hurled dangerous flares onto our hallowed pitch.
The result? It created a light fluffy pink cloud that enveloped the savages for about a minute.
The press howled. The police issued stern statements.
Meanwhile, my mind was transfixed. A pink cloud? What did it mean? Was it a post-modernist take on cultural perceptions that perpetuate ethnic stereotypes? A bold statement juxtaposing the raw savage violence of the hooligan against a canvas of pink candy floss?
Or maybe I’m overthinking this one. I think it’s time for a craft beer and a lie down.
Guerrera
Guest
"By the start of next season, WSW will seriously challenge MVFC for the biggest football supporter base in Australia." You were doing SO well. I was ALMOST ready to overlook the lackluster crowd figures you seem to have an excuse for week after week, but honestly.. your kidding no one but yourself if you think WSW we'll ever come close to MVFC.
Izzy
Guest
Is this supposed to be a troll or a tongue in cheek? If its serious than it is one of the worst posts Ive ever seen about Australian football.
mahonjt
Guest
Great article!
mahonjt
Guest
Make no mistake - WSW will be challenging my MVFC for the bigges club in the A-League within 5 years. Sydny FC and eart have a lot of hard thinking to do - a lot!
Gurudoright
Guest
"I openly boycotted this game, knowing full well that one of their supporters would probably key my Merc on their way home from the game." Bahahaha Great article. It was great walking around Penrith Plaza(westfields) on Friday and seeing so many Wanderers jerseys being worn. Western Sydney really are seeing the Wanderers as "their" team, unlike that other new "Western Sydney" AFL team. Keep it up Wanderers
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
The coherency of the chants was good - most of the supporter groups make a lot of noise but for a lot of them it comes out as white noise, but the RBB seemed to be doing a good job at remaining understood.
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
Johnno, I think that's overly optimistic. Sydney will never have a third team (that is, Northern Spirit), and Brisbane and Adelaide can't cater for two clubs. When expansion recommences in five years, we should be looking at bringing in Wollongong, Canberra, Auckland and Tassie. Any clubs beyond that are a long, long way off.
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
It was really impressive when the RBB started getting the rest of the crowd involved, the RBB's "Who do we sing for?" chants were continually met with "We sing for Wanderers" from supporters in the main stands.
Steve from Sydney
Guest
Fuss, was a special experience last night at Parra. I'm a long time Sydney FC fan but can't help venturing out to see the Wanderers as well. The parochialism is on another level our there, the 'who do we sign for' chant lifted the whole stadium last night. The momentum between the RBB and the rest of us just grew and grew, even the oldies were joining in. Great stuff full credit
Hardwick
Guest
Great article! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Johnno
Guest
Now it's time to "Build the base": Consolidation and Expansion: NSW first to discuss of course call it sydney centric but , have your Vienna apple strudel and Danish, and coffee for breakfast, and enjoy : -NSW: Sydney FC, WSW, , Northern Spirit, Central coast Mariners,Newcastle Jets, Woolongong- All bases built and geographically covered. -Vic: Melb Victory, STH Melb FC, Geelong, QLD: Brisbane Roar, STH Brisabne, Gold Coast United, Townsville Fury, STH Australia: Adelaide United, West Adelaide Perth: Perth Glory Tasmania: Hobart Tassie Devils ACT: Canberra Deakin, NZ: Auckland city, Welliington Phoenix 20 teams basically all bases covered: And an FFA cup to align all the top state division teams to compete in the FFA cup: "Build the Base": We are Football:
Titus
Guest
I think Wanderers just have more Gangnam style than Sydney, Johnno....................maybe Sydney needs to get some Gangnam style. Then the crowds will flock in like they do at West Sydney.
striker
Guest
Fuss i know from speaking to alot of people here in the western sydney that this club have people talking about them and thats a good start, i reckon there not far off getting as massive crowd soon they way there going, like you said fuss people bond with teams especially after nights like last night, going to WSW games are a experiance no other code can produce and this is something people will want to come back week in week out.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
9k, 12k, 21k ... who cares. Those figures mean nothing if the watchers aren't real fan. If they've been enticed by "hype & publicity", then they'll move to the next circus event when that rolls into town. The 90 minutes of football served by WSW last night is the "hype & publicity" that creates a long-term, loyal supporter base. Every WSW fan, who attended last night, now has a permanent bond with the team; and, you can bet, each fan will be telling 10 of his/her mates about what they witnessed last night. That's how clubs' supporter bases should evolve. For me, my bond with MVFC was cemented on a sunny afternoon in 2005, when high-flying Sydney FC - with ex-EPL star, Dwight Yorke - came to Olympic Park & MVFC, who were near the bottom of the table, smashed them 5-0. By the start of next season, WSW will seriously challenge MVFC for the biggest football supporter base in Australia.
striker
Guest
Christo give it time the west of sydney especailly the old NSL are yet to embrace this club in mass, but they are definately awake and watching this club for the first time, what WSW are producing on the park and the atmosphere is the closest thing alot of these fans remember for the old league,the atmosphere at there grounds with only 9000 is the best of any code in Australia, WSW have a long term plan and are building nicely to be a major force in this league.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
After all the hype and publicity, there were still only 9,000 at the Wanderers game last night. I was very surprised it wasn't about 12k.
Johnno
Guest
The true believers are getting louder. Are the wests sydney wanderers old football NSL style mergers? (Apia Liechardht/Marconi/Parramatta Melita/ Sdney unitedi/?, or new football?. I think they are a culture of both. 2ND generation real football people, sons of parents who followed the NSL, Branko Culina-Jason Culina type combos as examples, and the people whose parent grew up with SBS and Les and Johnny Warren and Andy Pascalides. And also the new west sydney, people who moved to west sydney after the NSL ended, and just the neutrals like em just lovers of football who like both the old NSL and the A-league, and want togetherness. This club will be huge west sydney wanderers, . Mark RUdan ex sydney FC captain, and now 1st grade coach of sydney united made a good point about identity. He said an this is the ex-sydeny FC captain , he said he doesn't know what they Sydney FC even stand for aa a culture, or identify with. Are Sydney FC lost then.. I wouldn't say lost., but i would say having problems to define themselves. where as west sydney wanderers, Melb Victory, Perth Glory, maybe Adellaie united, central coast, brisbane roar, really know where they stand, as do newcastle jets. Not so sure totally about sydney FC and Melb Heart. But west sydney are just going to grow, . A full pre-season, a full preseason marketing campaign there just going to get bigger and bigger. http://www.news.com.au/top-stories/former-sydney-fc-captain-mark-rudan-asks-whats-the-club-philosophy-and-what-does-it-stand-for/story-e6frfkp9-1226541581909