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Hasn’t the wheel turned full circle? In 1983, the England national team toured Australia for three matches. They were, by coincidence, the first games Socceroos coach Frank Arok took charge of.
The games, broadcast by Channel Seven and commentated on by rugby league legend Rex Mossop, resulted in two draws and a narrow 1-0 win for England.
While the results were far better than the then- Soccer Australia board would have hoped for, the truth was that it was a watered-down English team that toured.
The following year, a big tour was organised bringing the likes of Manchester United, Juventus, Glasgow Rangers and Greek outfit Iraklis to Australia to tackle the Socceroos.
The marquee game was a clash between Juventus and Manchester United at a close-to-capacity Sydney Cricket Ground. However, once again, the big stars of these sides stayed home rather than taking part in an off-season tour. You got the sense they were here under sufferance.
Back in the 1980s, it was inconceivable that a big European side would make the trip to Australia to play an NSL team and so the Socceroos continued to play club teams who toured down under.
As the Australian game grew and local players began to make their mark on the European stage, pressure was put on players by their clubs to not make themselves available for Socceroos games. The Australian football fans were outraged.
Fortunately, as Australia’s status grew, players seized more power and put their country commitments first, and managers like David Moyes could moan about it all they wanted – Tim Cahill’s veins pumped green and gold.
Let’s fast forward to the present, and the upcoming A-League All Stars match against the Moyes-led Manchester United.
The last time United were out here, they played the Socceroos, and Andy Cole put Simon Colossimo’s career in jeopardy with an awful tackle.
This time, the current English champions are taking part in a new concept, which, if promoted correctly, could become a fantastic permanent pre-season addition to the domestic football calendar.
While it isn’t set in stone, it appears that Moyes and United are taking the tour seriously, with all their stars making the trip.
Unfortunately, it seems the locally-based players and clubs are not of the same mindset. Already, the A-League’s biggest star, Alessandro Del Piero, will miss the match, despite being the player to receive most of the votes from the football public who got to help Ange Postecoglou choose his All Star team.
Shinji Ono is also out due to concerns over his fitness. Irrespective of whether Emile Heskey was in the original ballot, reports today indicate he will not be available either.
It’s not a good look, and it smacks of hypocrisy.
For so many years, the Australian football fraternity felt slighted by the cold shoulder presented by the touring sides, club or country.
And yet after a memorable A-League season, the Socceroos’ qualification for the 2014 World Cup finals and a great wave of momentum, a concept that has been embraced enthusiastically by the general public is being shunned by sections of the A-League.
Injuries are understandable, but July 20 has been a date set in stone for the game against Manchester United for almost twelve months.
Casual croquet players at the local club with just a peripheral interest in football knew Del Piero was a lock to be voted into the All Star game, so it should have been a priority for all the A-League clubs when planning their pre-season schedules.
Instead, it looks suspiciously like the A-League is thumbing its nose at the biggest club in the world.
Australian football doesn’t need to kowtow to the likes of United any more, but the local game should not put itself above the desires of its most important asset – the fans.
This is my 100th article for The Roar. Thanks to the Editors for giving me a voice, and to you readers whose comments, positive and critical, are always appreciated.
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