A-League administrators have been the subject of some deserved criticism over the years, but as we approach the most anticipated final in the competition’s history, credit needs to be given where it is due.
Considering the on-field success of both clubs this season, the A-League Grand Final will be a showcase of the two best sides in the competition, the Western Sydney Wanderers and the Central Coast Mariners.
Between them, the Wanderers and the Mariners have by far the best goal difference in the league, building their success on a solid defense and high levels of tactical organisation.
But as we approach the final match of the 2012-13 season, it’s a good time to reflect on the behind the scenes work of inaugural Mariners CEO and current Wanderers CEO Lyall Gorman, who has done more than anybody to build the culture of both clubs.
This season, the Western Sydney Wanderers have captured the imagination of Australia’s most important sporting market with their careful approach to fan engagement and community integration. What began as an idea in the middle of last year quickly became a reality through a series of fans forums and canny off-field work by Wanderers management.
Rather than relying on the ‘build it and they’ll come’ mentality that has characterised most other A-League clubs, the Wanderers management have attempted to create a club identity based on the desires of the people of Western Sydney.
While there might be a pinch of hubris that accompanies this strategy – not to mention the enormous challenges ahead to ensure that engagement continues – few could argue with the approach.
Interestingly, the Wanderers have taken much of their inspiration from the community model at the Central Coast Mariners, borne out of the vision of Gorman.
Back in 2004, when Gorman became the Central Coast Mariners’ inaugural CEO, he set about on the task of engaging the community on the coast to back the fledgling A-League club, which had one of the smallest catchment areas in the league to draw upon.
Gorman’s decisions at the Mariners were based on sustainability and creating a healthy club culture, not simply appealing to the big end of town. Players and sponsors were selected based on their suitability to the area, and to this day, the Mariners still spend only a fraction on wages compared to the rest of the competition, prioritising local talent over imports.
It’s an approach that has been criticised by many over the past eight seasons, but the Mariners have successfully become a focal point of the Central Coast. While attendances may not break any records, the Mariners academy provides a direct and integrated pathway for juniors in the region, and the club has a close and fruitful relationship with local politics and business.
Back in 2006, Gorman spoke of the Mariners becoming the “silent achievers” of the A-League. “We are putting brick after brick after brick into the foundations” he explained, “That way we’ll eventually build a very strong wall.”
There have been signs of more than a few cracks in that wall this season with ownership dramas and late player payments, but the Mariners have survived, and remain an example to the rest of the competition.
In this regard, it is little surprise that Lyall Gorman has taken a similar approach at his new job in Western Sydney, signing a local coach, local players and building relationships with important stakeholders in the region.
A product of the western suburbs, Gorman has grandiose plans for his new club. He’ll talk to anybody who cares to listen about his vision for the Western Sydney Wanderers to become the biggest club in any code of football, to rival the Brisbane Broncos or Collingwood.
He’ll want to be careful not to get ahead of himself, but Gorman has made no secret of his desire for the Wanderers to become a powerhouse of Australian sport.
And for anybody who caught the pre-game crowd march to Parramatta Stadium on Friday night, it is clear that the Wanderers fans have already become a show in their own right with their tremendous vocal and visual displays.
But while a few are nervous of the sight of the throbbing mass of fans, the Red and Black Bloc have attracted a cross-section of the community, with women and children all invited to march. Wanderers colours have been draped over Church Street and the Council chambers, and close observers will have noticed Parramatta’s Deputy Mayor, Steven Issa, acting as a marshal for the RBB march.
With this kind of community goodwill and involvement, any potential investors will want to keep Gorman and the existing management close by to ensure that the Wanderers aren’t simply a flash in the pan. Like the Mariners on the Central Coast, brick by brick, the A-League’s newest club are building solid foundations.
No matter who wins this weekend, Lyall Gorman will rest easy with the knowledge that both clubs he’s been involved with have set the standard for how a club should engage with the community.
Editor’s note: Lyall Gorman is no relation to the author
Midfielder
Guest
MVD Going to the game ..... counting the minutes as they go by... but fair is fair and the media and general support coming out of WS ... it well WOW and I remember you and I and some others praising putting a team in WS and letting the Gold Coast go... have not heard from all those noisy voices folk.... As I mentioned earlier the Drive Byes are such a good team this is going to be a huge battle and losing Monty has been a big blow ... maybe Caceres will start because that if the position he plays best ie. a DM...
j binnie
Guest
Towser - My sincere apologies but believe it or not I had just finished viewing a program on TV about a huge elephant called Jumbo, who had been killed in a railroad accident in USA. Must have been subliminal suggestion or maybe sheer stupidity, I'll leave the answer to you.(Could be age too I suppose??) jb
Post_hoc
Guest
Stavros I replied because thei wer factual error by Australian Rules So what was your point again?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
And, if you thought the WSW bandwagon is full & a few may drop off next year, think again ... .. Twitter is abuzz with news that a bloke called Timmy Cahill is going to be playing at Parramatta Stadium next season. Yes, it's only a "Twitter rumour", but Twitter has been uncanny for being on-the-money, when it comes to A-League gossip. Got to keep pinching myself ... the AUS football landscape keeps getting rosier ... and, for once, the red hue is not produced by blood splattered everywhere, but a bouquet of the genus Rosa
Bondy
Is that you TC !!!
MV Dave
Guest
I'll let that one through to the keeper Mid...it's a big week for ya and pressure must be mounting...can your boys break the GF hoodoo?? I've tipped against WSW a few times already and see no need to change now...my tip of death is for CCM to win 1-0...hopefully a cracking game. Are you going to the game Mid?
Stavros
Guest
That reply takes the cake. You reckon you live in a globalised world, but it seems like your biggest concern is GWS expenditure.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@Stavros Mate, I live in a globalised world. Whether we are discussing commercial supply of good & services, or watching football ... ... the customer market is the entire 7 billion people on this planet. 23 million Aussies ... come on you've got to think bigger than that?
Stavros
Guest
Not in Australia they won't Fussball. You know Australia, the country we all live in. I think its great that we are just about to play the biggest soccer match of the year, and all you guys want to talk about it the AFL. I wonder if during the lead up to the AFL grand final, their supporters will be fixated on WSW?
Midfielder
Guest
MVD Yep in the W-League.... COYY.... Question Why do Melbourne teams have the lowest insurance costs. Answer They don't have to play in the finals and therefore have less away trips>>>>> Midfielder Goes and hides now .... Cheers MVD
MV Dave
Guest
Great to see a sell out...lets hope they break the ground attendance record. There will be a new name on the Championship Trophy no matter who wins...looking forward to seeing a tight match with a 1-0 result most likely or penalties. It will be the best atmosphere of any domestic final this year. Enjoy your moment in the sun Sydeneesiders because next year the final will be in Melbourne. :)
Australian Rules
Guest
Fuss "several MCG upgrades have been possible because of money set aside – quite rightly – for the Melbourne Olympics & Melbourne Commonwealth Games" - wow, that's just completely wrong. The Fed Govt has been famously stingy with its MCG funding. The 2002 development was rescued by the Vic Govt and the MCC...after the Fed Govt withdrew their funding due to workplace conditions which the Bracks Govt opposed. Google it and learn something. The next refurb of the Southern Stand is being funded by the Vic Govt and by the MCC. The *only* reason the MCG enjoys a capacity of 100,000 (it's not bc of the 1956 Olympics) is because the AFL crowds, in effect, "pay" for it year in year out. Where do you think the MCC gets the lionshare of its cash reserve from?
Punter
Guest
Funny you should say that Starvos, I attended the World Cup 06 in Germany. I managed to get tickets to the Aussie games & also try to some of the bigger matches, all sold out mjssed out, so I went for Trinidad v Paraguay & got tickets, one of the least sort after games. 45K stadium full & great atmosphere.
Titus
Guest
Dear old TC......he can still be found n 442 as "Mister Football" if anyone misses him.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@Stavros More people will watch a World Cup match Honduras v Togo, than will watch the next 60 AFL Grand Finals! PS: Is that you, TC. Have you resurrected yourself as Stavros? Will keep monitoring your posts.
Stavros
Guest
"like having 60 grand finals in the space of 6 weeks". Only if you consider blockbusters like Honduras v Togo to be as keenly anticipated as a grand final.
Jukes
Guest
They really need to look at fixing the stadium. Bring the stands closer to the ground and reduce the capacity anywhere between 60-70k.
Jukes
Guest
All I can say if the SFS members think they will see a better domestic sporting atmosphere/contest anytime this year they would be sadly mistaken. This is going to rival anything we have seen in Australia. It will be MASSIVE. They should get out of their rocking chairs and into the stadium because it will be unbelievable. I am sooooo pumped for this game. Come on you Wanderers.
Post_hoc
Guest
No confusion over the direction of the funding. The $45 million from the State Government for Skoda, was for the AFL to play there, no one else is playing there, this is not a 'community' ground, no other sports play from the facility, so it is being used solely by the Giants (btw there is a perfectly good ground for them to play out of at the SCG, why can't they play there?) but they received $45million to redevelop it for AFL. Can I take my WSW football and go for a kick on Skoda when I feel like? The $85million is as has been explained by others is what the AFL are funding the Giants from 2010-16. Yes that is AFL money, why I am using it, is to illustrate a point, despite giving $85million over 6 years, they still require the government to throw in another $45million for a new ground, another $2million from the feds for a training facility, and other $1.15million this year alone in Government grants. And that is what i found in 3 minutes of google, their could be more. And you were trying to have a go at the FFA asking for money to start the WSW ($4million over 4 years and not $8 as you claimed) I haven't touched on your World Cup issue, because we were comparing 1 western sydney club with another. So from my 3 minutes worth of research you had a go at $4million worth of Fed Govt funding for the Wanderers but took umbrage when it was pointed out the Giants received almost $50million worth of government money. BTW AAMI Park is shared between 2 Football Clubs and NRL Club and an Super Rugby Club, Skoda is for the Giants, they could easily have played at the SCG after all it is only used by the Swans in Winter.
Punter
Guest
I'll repeat, this is not re-locating a local internal GF. This was bidding for the greatest event on the planet to Australia, this is like having 60 Grand finals in the space of 6 weeks. As mentioned, this event attracted some of the biggest & most powerful countries in the world & they too failed. If there was NO BID, there was NO MONEY!!! Not that hard to understand. the government fully understood it was not a gimme, as a matter of fact at fairly long odds.