On a cold and breezy night at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium, Sydney FC hosted the Newcastle Jets in a trial as preparations ramp up for season nine of the A-League. The Jets took the game 1-0 thanks to a 53rd minute strike from James Virgili.
This was a trial for the two teams as much as it was for the Wollongong area. No doubt the FFA were keen to see how the people of Wollongong would respond to some rare A-League football on the South Coast in light of possible expansion in the seasons to come.
The crowd of 6,500 was fair without being impressive. The game was marketed around Del Piero, which is understandable, the fact that he didn’t play may have drawn the ire of some spectators who turned up to see his silky skills. He was, however, good enough to be there to answer a few questions and address the thrilled crowd which shows the class of the Italian superstar.
While Del Piero was the ultimate drawcard, there could have been more focus put on the local talent which was on display for the two clubs.
Newcastle skipper Ruben Zadkovich played his football in the Illawarra before heading overseas to pursue a career. He is now a huge part of the Newcastle Jets set up and had arguably his best season last year.
Matt Jurman, who played his junior football at local club Dapto and now, in his second stint at Sydney FC, is looking to cement a permanent starting spot in the season.
Corey Gameiro, a new signing for Sydney FC, is another local product who didn’t play on Saturday but could’ve been used to promote the game. Particularly, as he expressed his interest to play for a Wollongong based A-League club in the lead up to the game.
These three are great examples for Illawarra juniors to show that it is possible to come from the area and have a career in football.
With some more promotion based around these three who have made it, Saturday night’s crowd could have pushed up closer to 10,000. This would’ve really made the FFA stand up and think seriously about granting a Wollongong based team an A-League licence.
Wollongong had a fantastic opportunity on Saturday night to vote with their feet and show that they are a viable option should the A-League look to expand in the next couple of years. An opportunity that they let slip through their fingers.
The A-League is set to have its best season yet with squads having more depth and the National Youth League creating more quality players. These players can now come through the system and earn professional contracts if they’re good enough to cut it at A-League level.
As squads get stronger and more quality players are getting limited game time, the A-League will have to start looking at an 11th and 12th team. The questions is, where do they go?
Potential locations for A-League clubs that have been thrown up in the past include Canberra, Tasmania, Geelong and Wollongong. North Queensland and the Gold Coast are still options, although, the first attempts to have clubs in those areas didn’t end well.
When CEO of the FFA, David Gallop, was questioned about expansion for the A-League earlier this year, he said that there were no immediate plans to add to the ten team competition.
There are so many boxes ticked already for a Wollongong A-League club. They’ve got strong grassroots which have produced several Socceroos over the years, including Scott Chipperfield and Luke Wilkshire. A purpose built stadium with an immaculate playing surface that is only used half a dozen times a year.
They have very little competition for memberships, on a national level the region has half an NRL team and an NBL team that always struggles to draw a crowd. With some financial backing and a community model that would engage the people, Wollongong has the potential to be an A-League success if given the chance.
So a message to the football lovers of Wollongong, and for any region who pines for an A-League club to represent them.
The next time an A-League game comes to your town, get out there and support it. Because as much as every club needs to meet several criteria before they are granted an A-League licence, what the FFA really wants to know is whether the club will be supported by their town. If the club is well supported then everything else will fall into place.
Stel P
Guest
I'm from wollongong and i didn't attend the match but the reason i didn't attend was because it wasn't an actual game i think that the intensity wouldn't be as high and i didn't feel excited about it.
Keyless Sky Blues Fan
Guest
Mid, just a couple updates but last season Heart had less than 5k full-season members, from what I hear they have made at least a couple of hundred extra full-season members from last year and this with 3 full weeks left until kick off, they may crack 6k full-season and then add the 2-3k small game memberships and they are looking very good! As for SFC, I have heard that we have already surpassed our largest-ever full season member total and we should hopefully crack 9k within the week (8,750 as of last night), could be a massive season for us! Mariners are absolutely flying, way better than they ever have done and cannot wait to see them crack 5k which would be just incredible for such a small area! Going to be such an amazing season, I know so many people that have suddenly found a far greater interest in the A-league now they know they can watch friday night live Australian football in their own homes, absolute ripper and cannot wait!
SVB
Guest
Kyle We tried the dots on a map theory when we put in Gold Cast and Nth Queensland. Look how well that worked out. Every sport has some kind of a heartland, and Football in this country has NSW and also Melbourne. That is pretty much how it has always been. Putting in a lot of teams into one area also helps create synergies. For example WSW and SFC supporters will help with Wollongong and Central Coast crowds. Canberra will eventually come in also as this is in between Sydney and Melbourne which is perfect. Fish where the fish are as David Gallop would say. Note that NRL crowds are terrible because of the atmosphere at the grounds and the state the game is in.
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
32% of the total population of Australia live in NSW, 7 million people. 5 teams among 7 million people seems pretty fair no matter how you slice it that's not at all over crowding a market. What other market has been successful in the NSL but fails to find themselves represented in the A-League?
Kyle Stewart
Roar Pro
No I don't view the topic of new south wales as a negative and go against it (Amazing how you have never met me yet you assume this) For Example, WSW was definitely something I view as a positive. However four teams in NSW is ridiculous. Why overcrowd a market early when there are so many other markets yet to be reached?
Kyle Stewart
Roar Pro
That heart figure is quite disappointing considering the fuss of HK
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
Plenty of All-Whites though. Face it, you're beaten, that's why you resort to petty insults. Get out of it, all you're doing is being anti-NSW instead of looking at football in an objective manner you see the subject of NSW and instantly work against it. Not a good look for you. Without resorting to your petty views on NSW, tell me why Wollongong shouldn't have an A-League team.
Kyle
Guest
how many socceroos are from wellington
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
How many Socceroos are from Canberra? Not as many as Wollongong I'm betting.
Kyle
Guest
You are a muppet how about we try canberra as the capital of the country with a team in new zealand I think our capital city is freaking option, tasmania as well. And if wollongong are an option whats next bendigo and ballarat?
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
I was wondering when the anti-NSW brigade would march in. Tell me why we should ignore a haven of football? I suppose you want a team in Kalgoorlie and Port Moresby, that wouldn't be copying the NRL.
Kyle
Guest
Why should wollongong get in? We currently have 4 teams in NSW at this rate we are just copying the NRL, which doesn't work I was amazed to watch first week of their finals and see a terrible attendance at the rate the a-league is going we'll be overcrowded in NSW and expansion clubs folding and from there no more expansion as it will be "no no no expansion isn't viable"
AZ_RBB
Guest
there are still lots of good seats left for WSW's first home game. first Derby is no where near sold out.
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Well the third kit has been revealed and it's a bit of a disappointment,of the three finalists It was definatley my least preferred option.I really hope we will always have a black and gold kit in the future whether its the away kit or a limited addition third kit.
asanchez
Roar Guru
Am I one of the only ones here who thinks 6500 for a preseason friendly in the Gong is a cracking figure? Especially when this area has been ignored since the old NSL days and the 2 sides weren't even playing for points. The way I look at it, about 4000 turned up for WSW first official game, a friendly in the western suburbs. That club was already born, representing the people of that area. 4000 was a good starting figure. If I worked at the FFA I'd be very happy win that 6500 figure. I think Wollongong is the best candidate for the next A-league club. The fanbase will keep growing. People keep talking about Tasmania, the place is a hole for Football, and expansion down there would be another GCU like failure. The island doesn't have a big enough population, and our code isn't popular enough down there. But the proof is in the pudding. MV has sponsored their premier state league, now known as the Victory League, they do clinics and spend time down there every year. Now I don't have the stats, but I'm pretty sure we've had worse crowds than 6500 there on both times on the last 2 seasons. And we're talking about a game thats part of the championship, where there's 3 points up for grabs, on TV, with plenty of advertising behind it and everything. Now that's a disappointing figure. Bring Wollongong back into the league!
Robbie
Roar Pro
I was going to comment but this has pretty much summed up everything i was going to say. Well put mate.
Jukes
Guest
The sooner we knock it down the better.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Mid, keep this up and the Central Coast will become another heartland of football ;-)
Johnno
Guest
Youv'e got Homebush 80,000, stop complaining Chris.
Griffo
Roar Guru
I'm hoping the Jets get 10K members by kickoff vs SydneyFC. Memberships have begun arriving in the mail. That and the buzz of the season starting could get us there. My feeling is it is going to be close...