Viking Park in Erindale. A cold Tuesday night in the nation’s capital, and five thousand football starved Canberrans left their jobs and packed into the ground that resembles that of a League One side in England for the city’s first FFA Cup match.
The underdogs, fittingly from the more ‘working class’ suburbs of Tuggeranong, against the might of Melbourne victory. Whilst the class difference was too large, the people of Canberra made a real claim for the city and its right to field an A-League side.
There was a great buzz around the ground as the big boys such as Berisha and Milligan came to town.
The kranskies were sizzling, beers flowing and people were happy. Football was in the capital and it was as authentic and raw as you will get it.
The match showed how brilliant the FFA Cup concept is, and the magic of the cup, albeit not via the result, was realised.
For an A-League fanatic such as myself it was really exciting, however, there was a dampener.
There is always one as they say, and on this occasion, it was about ten.
Ten wannabee Green Street Hooligan ‘casuals’ who travelled from Melbourne to supposedly ‘support’ their local football side as they made the trek inter-state. It was through these men, a minority I must emphasise, that brought me into contact with the worst of football.
A child from the local Tuggeranong Club went around with a fundraising box, only for these hooligans to throw their cigarette but into the box instead of coins.
When the child’s mother pulled them up on their actions and reminded them the child was only eight years old, they shouted profanities and verbally abused her.
At the end of the game I saw a teenager (probably 17) with a Western Sydney Wanderers cap being pulled up by these guys in an aggressive manner for wearing the cap and threatened him.
Some may say why wear the cap, but that is a ridiculous argument that simply promotes hooligan culture.
This was not the Western Sydney v Melbourne Derby, but a match between a melbourne and a state league side in a suburb of Canberra. As such the ethos of the competition should be promoted, and every kid should be afforded the right to wear any cap.
I wear my teams cap when other AFL teams are playing and nothing happens, and that should be the same at the football.
They wrestled with security and some were escorted out. It was no place, or there was no need for trouble, but these men brought it.
These men aren’t football fans, they are thugs, and they are a minority, but the unfortunate thing is, they are relevant.
Why? Well, I went to speak to the mother of the child I mentioned earlier, she had never been to an A-League game, and said she wouldn’t based on this behaviour. They are a minority, but you can’t exactly blame the mother for her sentiments.
While this is but one isolated example of such behaviour. Every time the media reports of football hooligans it turns off many others, rightly or wrongly. As the game tries to go mainstream, as it needs to, we don’t need the bad publicity.
The fans and players need the game to grow – but as long as these individuals (hooligans are not football fans I must emphasise) continue, the game wills suffer.
Damian De Bohun receives a lot of criticism for his active support measures and I don’t agree with them. But the reality is, there is a culture, albeit a minority, in which individuals look to realise their devious and unlawful behaviour through the football team they ‘supposedly support’.
And as long as this exists, people will be turned off and the Damien De Bohen’s of the future will have to continue with similar measures.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Can't wait for this Tuesday night! Hoping for a big crowd at Hindmarsh for Adelaide v Brisbane. Adelaide could make a real statement about their title credentials but I see Brisbane winning this comfortably. Sydney United v Sydney FC will be a cracking occasion. I think they've sold something like 8000 tickets already. Will get a few walk ups as well. Not a United fan but would love to see them win. Desperately need some western Sydney representation in the final 8. Not sure if the South Springvale fairy tale will continue, they come up against a formidable team in Palm Beach. South Springvale might be hoping that Palm Beach are still recovering from their NPL finals away trip. I have a feeling St Albans will shock Perth, despite their lowly ranking.
Josh
Guest
Fan. I believe they have a number 1 ticket holder celebrity and that's about it. An epic failure.
Josh
Guest
It's ok, we sing that same song when we go to Melbourne to play Heart / Victory.
Josh
Guest
It read '14? Here's 5 more years', possibly meaning a Victory fan who has been banned from A League matches for 14 years so threw another flare meaning another 5 years on top.
bryan
Guest
Of course,everybody knows that Western Australians are hooligans! The same goes for our "A: league & AFL players,too! That's why Referees & Umpires give free kicks against such thuggish teams! :)
Post hoc
Guest
I nearly went to an AFL game and nearly got bashed by 100,000 penguins wearing Collingwood colours. How close have you come?
Bondy
Guest
Lot of AFL folk here the biggest games in world AFL are upcoming this weekend and they're on a football thread and discussion talking A League....
apaway
Roar Guru
Through the course of my work, I was alerted to the rugby league and Aussie Rules incidents that have been posted in the comments. My initial instinct was to perhaps write a story about it. However, it was clear that the incidents were related to excessive alcohol consumption. In effect, the problem was an alcohol problem, not a "league" or "Aussie Rules" problem. One day, the same principles will hopefully be applied to football as well.
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
If I was a Melbourne Victory fan I would tell you to buy a ticket 10 rows up near the halfway line ... at AAMI Park...
langou
Roar Guru
Thanks Fuss
AZ_RBB
Guest
Planning on getting Round 1 tickets tomorrow. Any recommendations of places to sit, if I don't manage to get a spot in the WSW allocation?
Punter
Guest
Reminds me of the GWS fans!!!!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I've been to every MVFC v Perth match at Docklands. The scenario you described has never occurred. Unless, of course, you are exaggerating .. as with "the mother of all shellackings" doomsday message prior to the 2014 World Cup?
Realfootball
Guest
You NEARLY got spat on. I completely understand how traumatising that must be.
Realfootball
Guest
What we have in this article is a writer trying to make damned sure it isn't forgotten by turning a molehill into a mountain. His motives are deeply suspect.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
To be fair, I quite enjoy the competition yet reside several thousand kms from the nearest A-League side. There is no proximity factor when it comes to determining someone's enthusiasm for the A-League.
Jon Jax
Guest
Fuss: Clearly this writer and the line they are running is at best "unbalanced" and at worst shoddy, lazy and biased.
Jon Jax
Guest
The Bird : + 2
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Actually, you remind me of one funny moment. I went to an MV vs Glory match about four or five years ago at Etihad, Melbourne won 4-0 and Glory weren't doing so well. The Glory "bay" had about six Glory fans in it, watched over by about a dozen security officers.
theBird
Guest
Well said.