As I watched yet another superb performance from the Wanderers this weekend – this time in Melbourne against the Victory – there was obviously nothing but good signs for the league’s newest club.
On the park they were excellent, securing a 2-1 win. Off the park, their fans were equally sublime, as they have been all year.
A corner of AAMI Park was completely Red and Black, an away day infiltration into Melbourne that even Sydney F.C fans would have been proud of.
Which brings me to my point, and I’m sure I’m going cop some flak for this…but how long is this support going to last?
I don’t question the passion of Wanderers fans. I do sort of get confused when I think about why these people have not been attending Sydney games all this time (and yes, I’m from Western Sydney).
Had the Wanderers existed at the start of the A-League, I probably would have supported them. Why I never jumped ship is a story for another time…
I was wondering why, after ignoring a 40 minute commute to the Sydney Football Stadium for seven years, they could so passionately support a football club that was plucked out of thin air less than 12 months ago.
Anyway, interesting questions, but it is not my place to judge.
My point is that in every game this season that end of Parramatta Stadium has looked excellent, regardless of what the rest of the stadium looks like. It’s been an absolutely great advertisement for the A-League having such a passionate and loud presence at every single Wanderers game.
You know, it sort of reminds me of a different football supporters group from Sydney…
I’ve been a Sydney fan since inception. I’ve watched the crowds get lower inexplicably, as the standard of football has improved.
The one thing that’s been a constant is the presence of The Cove, in full voice…just as the Red and Black Bloc sing for the Wanderers, The Cove has always been there to sing for Sydney.
And the place is always rocking for marquee fixtures. When the Victory, Wanderers or even the Central Coast come to town, bays 23-27 are rocking. You usually can’t get standing room unless you get there early. The problem comes when there’s a less glamorous opponent in town.
To make my point, this is a photo from a game against Adelaide in the 2006-07 season.
And this is from a game against the same opponents in 2010.
And just to hammer home my point, this is from a game against the Gold Coast in 2012.
This sharp decline in attendance has nothing to do with the fortunes of the team. People get older and don’t want to stand and jump around at football games anymore.
Some have families and don’t want to subject small children to the swearing and drunkenness that comes with standing in the Cove or RBB (which is absolutely not a bad thing, by the way).
And some just get bored. It’s a sad reality. I know since I started going to games with a few of my more ‘casual supporter’ friends, it’s been a lot less Cove, and a lot more sitting on the sidelines at Allianz Stadium.
By no means am I saying people aren’t allowed to move on – the fans sitting and watching the game quietly buy their tickets just like the Cove-ites – and there’s nothing wrong with that.
But I’m sure I’ll offend not one, but two fan-bases if I don’t address the fact that the RBB are NOT The Cove.
For the purposes of this article I spoke with my friend Matt who has been at every Wanderers home game this season, in the RBB of course. He said “The RBB will sing for 90 minutes, before the 90 minutes and after the 90 minutes. It’s like a cult they’ve created.”
He makes a pretty compelling point. Perhaps my memory is just clearer now than it was when I was 15 but I cannot remember the Cove being quite this boisterous.
Or it was, it was a different kind of atmosphere. A little less grittiness and a little more flash. Seems appropriate given the clubs that each supporter group represents.
Considering that active support groups like this simply don’t continue forever, it’s difficult to see the RBB being quite as omnipresent at Wanderers games in five years time as they are now. I hope I’m wrong. I hope that everyone there now is here to stay, and that the number continues to grow.
I just hope all the Bulldogs and Eels fans that composite a fair share of the RBB don’t forget about them again once the NRL season starts.
Twitter: @TheMattBungard
Buddy
Guest
Distance and cost and time spent trying to exit both the car parks and then the city generally are pertinent points for embracing a more local club but don't overlook the whole identity issue. Sydney Is a large city and one team based in the Eastern Suburbs cannot possibly hope to engage with the whole of the urban sprawl. Although WSW may have appeared to have sprouted overnight, the consultation program had gone on for months and the birth of the club, its home, its colours, most of the values being espoused came from Mr Gorman and colleagues putting in some hard yards, meeting with potential fans, local associations and other potential interest groups. Some may prefer to believe that it is window dressing and that either FFA or some other corporate body simply calls the shots. Believe what you like but the name, the colours, the values of the entity are shared and supported by the footballing community that has embraced the club in year one. Whilst collectively the supporters do not want to be seen as poor cousins or battlers or any other cliche that you can label the fan base with, there is a clear regional and tribal following that follows the traditional and historical growth of a club no matter where it is located in the world. The club has a very different feel from SFC and whilst it may be difficult to define what the differences are (off the field) - it could just be a feeling, but as a supporter and follower you get the sense that the new club will not be changing manager every season, that the club will look after the players if they are doing the right thing by the club and that this is really a football family (however you perceive that). The club across town appears to have used and spat out so many players that collectively are so much better than the current offering on show and when you combine that with boardroom/ownership issues, you are left shaking your head and wondering what it is you belong to or want to belong to. That is just not the case with WSW - and if it changes and goes the same way, you would expect the same result. Whilst the club has a marquee player I would be willing to bet heavily that the vast majority of supporters would not want a Del Piero at the club. Whilst he is a fantastic player and a drawcard, he reflects the value and ambitions of the blue team but would be a fish out of water in red and black - purely from a fan point of view. So, it is region, it is engagement, team style, club attitude and engagement with the community and the feeling is good, the formula is working and most fans would have been there if the results had not been so positive. All that's needed now is to bring the season to a climax with the battle for top spot.............. Forget the play offs and finals fiasco, acknowledge the top team after 27 games!
Wicked Ninja
Guest
Most people who live in western Sydney would be lucky to get to the SFS within 40 minutes. Sure, I can do it, but it costs me $15 in road tolls, and then there's the issue of parking the car. And I live in the Hills Shire (north-west Sydney). It's not like I live in the outer reaches of western Sydney e.g. Penrith or Campbelltown.
Wicked Ninja
Guest
QSAF - did you really miss NY's sarcasm? And by the way, there's a reason the top selective high school in NSW is in western Sydney.
danno
Guest
Just thought i'd say my reason for supporting the Wanderers without having ever supported SFC. It takes me about 2 hours by public transport to get to Sydney Football Stadium. That makes it very difficult to actively support a club. It takes me 30 mins on public transport to get to Parra.
ELP
Guest
Love the myths that Wanderers supporters use to justify choosing Wanderers over Sydney FC. Sydney FC players have been doing some of the most community work out of any sporting team in Australia for many years now, they're out in the commuity whenever they get the opportunity. Engagement isn't an excuse. Even though we're known as the bling club, we have brought through many players from our youth team and bar a few players almost all of them are Sydney born and raised, then a couple more from country NSW. The team is a great representative of this city. Don't get me wrong I love having the Wanderers in but don't go spouting rubbish about what Sydney doesn't do when a quick search would show they've done a lot more then many people give the club credit for.
Matt Bungard
Roar Guru
Whilst I have maintained throughout my time here that Sydney fans are fickle celebrity chasers (http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/12/11/manchester-united-coming-down-under-and-i-dont-care/ & http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/08/27/emerton-comes-home-but-id-rather-have-harry/) the core SFC fanbase is still bigger than that of the Wanderers. For now.
AVictory
Guest
Your fans aren't intimidating to other active fans. When you marched to the stadium, there were families in front of the gates,as you approached them you threatened and spat on them. One mother who was with her children was left in tears. You let off a few flares before the match begun, you let off more flares after your first goal, and you let off more flares after your second goal. Being in the middle of it you might not be able to tell where the smoke is coming from, but from a distance you can see it clearly, as that's what flares are designed for. The North Terrace were singing before WSW scored, they were singing immediately after WSW scored, they sung constantly when they were down and they sung for the whole match until the police decided to invade their bay and spray into the crowd. Traveling interstate once per year is not passion, it's bandwagoning. Real football fans follow their club wherever it goes, not just when they play the biggest team.
Dizza
Guest
In terms of adding to the atmosphere by way of noise and visual presence, it's hard to argue against the Wanderers fans being superior when compared to other visiting teams, even if that club does attract the "lowest common denominator".
NY
Guest
Oh dear. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Considering your behaviour on this site, you shouldn't be throwing stones at glass houses.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
The lowest common denominator is superior in your eyes ? :(lol)
Dizza
Guest
Wanderers fans are impressive. They're loud, they're colourful, they're passionate. Their support at Swan St on Saturday night was far superior to anything that Heart, Sydney or Adelaide fans have been able to muster up of late. On NYD at Parramatta, as an away fan, I saw just how well they've captured the imagination of Western Sydney. However, calling them "the best" grossly understimates the support of Melbourne Victory and the consistency of both the North and South terraces in still giving their all for Melbourne after 8 seasons. The nature of the RBB's passionate support resembles a lot of what Melbourne's active fans displayed before they outgrew Olympic Park. However, the way people have a tendency to favour the newest toy the most means that for now, the Wanderers are the club that not only their own fans but also many fans of the A-League are fawning over. The challenge for the Wanderers is to make that support strong and consistent once the novelty and the intrigue that surrounds the new kids on the block inevitably goes away. I'm sure they're up for that challenge, but let's not jump the gun and call them the best just yet.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Oh silly Billy GCU folded... Don't tell me you're still on carrier pigeons West of Strathfield? Bad news travels slow out there eh. Most people who live that far West, I swear if they had their brain examined by a cat scan, the doc would see Tweedy Bird swinging back and forth on his perch. ;)
NY
Guest
Well maybe they should bring Gold Coast into the competition. Oh wait a sec.. :)
NY
Guest
I think you are being a bit kind with the Sydney FC descriptions Towser. We give them much worse than that ;)
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
"Wait until WSWFC get’s an owner" The FFA have already made 3 approaches to prospective owners, who all turned their backs on you.. Can't imagine why? Maybe they hate flares.. Of course Parramatta RL club might be approached again for a second stint..
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Zenger vs Stubbies
Ian
Guest
+1. WSW's RBB are becoming known as very vocal and that's a great thing if they add to the atmosphere, and they are sitting in 2nd. so hard to argue with that. but also SFC said above sydney's crowds are bigger and that is a massive factor in their favour, apart from WSW being higher on the ladder the crowds are one of the most important assets of the club. . sydney have garnered AdP's signature, which was massive, and scored lucas just now - which is no small signing in itself. there are positivies on both sides.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Well you see, I'm not an informed Italian and we can see you're an informed Italian; an AC Milan supporter, have a cigar... And you know the history of SFC wearing the Sky Blue represent Sydney/NSW give the man another cigar... We are Sydney FC, Sydney's premier NSW football club... You will only be another Parramatta Power Football Club, FFA's barnacle wearing AC Milan colours... Enjoy your fantasy until they cut you loose to swim with the fishes (as they say) Sorry just had to put that last line in now we know who you are really representing... ;)
WSW
Guest
Yep the same thing in Portugal with FC Porto being created first and then a club called BENFICA took over the nation! So what if you where the first and have the boring NSW colors, couldn't care less, ugly jersey to be honest, boring supporters and unorganized club. It's just all wrong! Wait until WSWFC get's an owner...
NY
Guest
Take it easy buddy. I'm a WSW supporter. But I'm not going to lie you about what I think. Try and be a bit more creative if you get my drift..