When it was announced in January 2014 that Melbourne Heart would be bought by Manchester City, the red and white half of Melbourne could barely contain their glee.
They were getting a true world power in football on their side, with the promise of shared resources, player exchange and development opportunities.
But like buying Fernando Torres, there’s often a sting in the tail of these things. The details are out in the open now.
There has been a request made to Football Federation Australia (FFA) by the new owners to change every aspect of the club. The first and most obvious is the name, which is to be changed to Melbourne City Football Club.
The red and white candy cane stripes are also gone, replaced by a sky blue strip.
And that’s where the problems north of the border started.
Sydney spits the dummy
It’s the colour change that has the Sydneysiders, particularly Chairman Scott Barlow, angrier than a Western Sydney pub owner who has sold out of beer after a Wanderers win.
It’s not clear how serious he is, but Barlow has come out swinging in the press, with an impassioned plea that the sky blue colour “is central to our identity” and “represents our club, our harbour city and is the traditional colour of NSW”.
Perhaps Sydney FC supporters could chip in and get Barlow a Fox Sports subscription or perhaps even a newspaper. It might be helpful for him to see that Manchester United, Liverpool, Cardiff City and Southampton (and Middlesbrough for those playing along at home) have all played in red this year without the sky falling in.
More to the point, supporters have not deserted any of these teams in droves, and crowds aren’t wandering the streets confused after turning up to the wrong stadium on Saturday.
And someone might also have a quiet word to him that the Auckland Blues and Brisbane Heat are also running around in light blue, despite it being representative of the Harbour City and the traditional colour of NSW.
Taking the Heart out of Melbourne
A vocal section of Heart fans are also dead against the change, with protest banners around the ground during the last game of the season. In truth however, a poll of Heart fans showed strong support for a name change, with over 80 per cent in favour.
Apart from having the neat side effect of the Melbourne Club and their Manchester parent being able to use the same stationary because they’ll be sharing initials, there are other benefits.
The name and colour change would bring the club into line with Manchester City and to soon be launched New York City FC, a club also in the City football family. Details like as this can have the very real effect of making the “City” clubs aspirational places to play, as the lure of a worldwide network beckons young and experienced talent alike.
The Heart’s lack of success to date in also works in favour of the change. Fans have no sentimental attachment to the colours they associated with a glorious first premiership or winning streak.
Without this emotional connection, a switch to sky blue is much more palatable to the wider supporter base.
But apart from all of that, if the FFA has any smarts they will fall over themselves to grant all of the changes.
Why?
Because letting the Heart take the foundation colours of Sydney FC would guarantee a new, volatile and passionate rivalry between the two.
The clubs would be two of the best supported and funded in the league, but with a new mutual hatred that never previously existed. Imagine the passion and animosity as the two met for the first time, each backed by an army of supporters, for the right to wear the sky blue.
Rivalries like that are what the great leagues are built on.
James
Guest
Hehe - New York City City, I like it! Very interesting read Raj.
JonJax
Guest
Mr AR. you really are quite tiresome- you have done nothing but "death ride" Melbourne Heart since day 1, the sale was announced. Do you really fear the resurgence of a second Melbourne football team? The involvement of Man City is nothing but positive. It will give Melbourne's second team every opportunity to fly. Surely the worlds, nay the universe's- sporting capital, can sustain another successful football team without impacting the sanctity of your aussie rules? Presumably you're also one of those that have issues with various sheiks bringing their nags down to the "arse end of the world", every first Tuesday in November and impacting the sanctity of the Melbourne Cup?
Raj Padarath
Roar Pro
Thanks for making the point about the name versus the colours distinction. Ultimately, if the fans get into a dialogue with the club and owners that is well reasoned and constructive I'm sure a compromise could be reached, City would be crazy to not look after their loyal fans and bring them with them. However, in terms of bargaining table position, I think it's important to realise that the new owners hold the majority of the chips, and any agreement would likely be closer to their wishes than anyone elses.
Franko
Guest
The comp is 10 years old, Heart less than that, you can't expect pistols at dawn.
Alex Mulholland
Roar Rookie
That 80% figure is about the name, not the colours. The vast majority want to keep the red and white. I think you're drawing the wrong conclusions. Most of us are reasonable in trading a change in the name for the new investment. But you change the colours as well and it's no longer our club. The only thing recognisable is that we are the Melbourne club that's not the victory.
Ian
Guest
After the Mariners' successful implementation of their game plan against Brisbane last Saturday I was hoping Adelaide can knock them out. Unless we learn to deal with it in the next week or so. Definitely a tight affair come Saturday.
Daenerys Targaryen
Guest
Whereas for me the name change would be the bigger of the two issues. History is littered with teams who have changed colours. Melbourne City Heart is a bit of a mouthful. If the badge said "Melbourne City FC" and below the emblem "the Heart of Melbourne" I could accept that as a Heart fan (which I'm not!). Yes, there needs to be red in the kit, and a red and white stripe as the change
Raj Padarath
Roar Pro
There's already an even weirder one with heart fans against the change + Sydney FC vs Man City + those fans for the change. Civil war anyone?
Raj Padarath
Roar Pro
Not belittling in the slightest Alex, passion is a great thing and you've shown that in your article. The point I was making is that an overly vocal 20% should not be allowed to drown out the majority 80%, no matter how passionate they are.
Kasey
Guest
My tip for Saturday is the Mariners: 2-1. We have a poor record not only in Finals but in particular at Etihad(p14 for 1 win) and at Gosford, played 13 for only 3 wins. I don't think our defence is solid eough to deal well with the pressure of finals football. Maybe next season when we're playing 3-4-3 regularly and have brought in a couple of new CBs? Still football is a funny old game and I’ll go into the game as I do any AU game….with a healthy dose of hope that we can flick the switch and turn on the shexxy foodbahl we all know the Reds are capable of but only see on rare occasions. No idea why its at 1630…that time actually suits me perfectly as the only free time I have on Saturday is an hour at 4pm SA time: ) its like the Football Gods wanted me to watch this game or something ;-) COYR!!
Ian
Guest
I recall something along those lines Kasey. But the specifics escape me. On second thought we've had some blue in our design before so i shouldn't speak too soon - we had blue shorts for a while. What's your tip for Saturday's game at Bluetongue? Do you know why its at 4.30pm as I thought an evening game would have been preferred. Is that fox being involved for scheduling purposes?
AR
Guest
So the rivalry could be "now who's the REAL Bling FC"..? Double Hmm.
Franko
Guest
Agree AR, but this could be the start of a rivalry, a challenger to the "Bling" title that SFC have held since inception??? What would be even more interesting (though really only happens in Europe and won't happen here) is if SFC and MCFC fans formed an alliance against the cross-town rivals WSW and MV.
Kasey
Guest
wasn't there a fan inspired design that had Roar in Roma inspired half & half kits of maroon and Orange with black? shorts? I thought it was a very clever and slick use of Qlds traditional colour with the roar's traditional orange
Kasey
Guest
I guess we're just going to have to wait until after the A-League GF to find out. At least the football will disract us. If the MHT fans that stick around have any sense of humour left by the start of next season, how about a Simpsons inspired tifo to kick off the new season?...a picture of Kent Brockman..."I for one welcome our new football overlords" ;)
LX
Guest
Let's hope so! Melbourne City H.F.C. would be a respectful compromise that is in line with some club mergers around the world. I believe that combine this with a sky blue top, white shorts and a red and white sash/trimming (http://www.classicfootballshirts.co.uk/2002-03-manchester-city-away-shirt-l-114980.html) is the a most reasonable and conceivably realistic outcome.
Alex Mulholland
Roar Rookie
To say there isn't an emotional connection to the red and white from the fans is absurd, how would you know? I'm a member, I go to the games and I, along with the fans are connected to the red and white. You mention that 80% don't care about the name change but not only fail to highlight, but belittle the strong opposition by the fans to the colour change. Red and White is our identity. No sock colour or emblem is going to be good enough. We pride ourselves on being able to say that Melbourne is red and white. For me, it's not the same club if they change the colours. http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/04/16/keep-heart-red-white/
Roary
Guest
Name change, no real problems with that. However if I was a Sydney FC supporter, I would be pretty pissed as well if my clubs colors were yanked away just to appease someone with too much money.
Griffo
Guest
How about sky blue with a red and white sash. That would look good and distinctive
Ian
Guest
navy blue on a Brisbane/QLD team? wash your mouth out for even suggesting such a thing. Love the orange.