European football, be it the Champions League, La Liga, or the lesser-known leagues around the continent, is a very different breed to anything in Australia.
Our A-League, now in its 10th season, is hitting its straps. This has been the most anticipated in its short but oh so sweet history. But that’s not all we choose to watch, with many of us choosing to adopt a foreign team with equal fanaticism as our local one.
The English Premier League, the most watched domestic sporting competition in the world, is the jewel in the crown of European domestic football and the most common target for Aussies looking for football with an international flavour.
The revenue harvested from broadcasting rights is simply astounding. In 2013, the Premier League generated €2.2 billion in domestic and international TV rights, and we in Australia love it too.
Which makes sense, considering just how many people want to watch it in these parts. It’s the world’s best football league by many measures.
Yes, La Liga might have Ronaldo, Messi, Bale and Suarez, but it is unfathomable for Barcelona or Real not to be favourites for the title – the competition is, in a word, predictable.
Similarly, the Bundesliga claims one of the very best teams in the world right now, and is home to the very large majority of their World Cup winning squad, but cannot compete with the EPL in terms of popularity on our shores. This is no doubt thanks to trailblazing Aussies like Lucas Neill, Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell and Everton favourite Tim Cahill.
The top English clubs, in all likelihood, might be able to topple Real Madrid on their day, or grind Bayern Munich down like à la Chelsea’s Champions League win two years ago, but why, if the best clubs and players operate in other competitions, is the EPL so popular?
One argument is cultural proximity. The British lifestyle, language, and approach to sport are not dissimilar to Australia’s.
Another argument is migration. It’s hardly breaking new ground to suggest that Australia’s historical sporting and cultural ties with Britain are still alive and kicking, largely down to the movement of people from one country to the other.
An even stronger argument is that the coverage of the EPL in this country determines its popularity – we watch it so often because we can; every game is live, giving nightowls Down Under the chance to indulge in some of the best action you can find in the world.
Whichever way you look at it, the EPL’s complete television coverage in Australia is fantastic for football fans. It is a staple in the weekend of fanatical Aussie football fans like me, as I’m sure it is yours.
Here are a few basic tips to make sure you’re watching it in the right spirit.
• Stock up on Red Bull and Doritos. Or, if you’re over 14, coffee and Tim Tams; for the night is long and full of football.
• Don’t get too frustrated with the diving. Simulation is a despicable part of the game, but it undeniably serves a purpose, much like spying in wartimes. Just enjoy when your team gets the questionable foul, and let them have theirs. If the ref pulls out the cheddar, so be it.
• Learn to pronounce the player’s names. It makes you seem like you know what you’re talking about, even if you do sound like a bit of a wanker. But Dad, if you can pronounce Eden Hazard correctly, I promise I won’t call you a wanker.
• Enjoy the commentary. Australian commentators of all sports could learn a surprising amount from the articulate, understated calls of Martin Tyler and co.; there is a certain element of class that we just can’t seem to recreate, Andrew Orsatti excepted.
• Soak up the atmosphere. Turn that surround sound on, learn the chants, and immerse yourself. My housemate can’t hold a note (his words), but sings You’ll Never Walk Alone proudly every single time.
• Finally, don’t compare the EPL to the A-League. The A-League has been around for 10 years, the EPL for over 20, but before that, it was the Football League, founded in 1888. They’ve been doing it for 125 years, and have the cash to make it pretty. Love the A-league for what it is: local, accessible, thoroughly entertaining, and growing, fast!
ciudadmarron
Guest
Yeah absolutely. I don't actually mean to sound judgemental, just the question is asked. For me personally, and it's different from others, I can't feel as attached to a team from afar. I've got to breathe the same air, walk to the ground every week etc etc. And a club to me represents an area. If that's not my area.... then again, I can't actually get attached, really, if I'm honest.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Part of what makes those 20 or 30 mega clubs in Europe, global phenomenons is the fact that they have such passionate support from around the world. "Passion" is at a premium now at EPL stadiums.
ciudadmarron
Guest
It's not that bad if you accept it for what it is. And while the overall standard is obviously not as good, I HAVE seen worse matches in the premier league. If we all followed this logic of only watching the best there'd be no fans of anyone but a handful of clubs.
ciudadmarron
Guest
Largely tongue in cheek Anthony ;) Come on you irons.
ciudadmarron
Guest
Attendance, membership/season ticket, lives or was brought up in the area that his/her team represents, has access to the local papers, talks all the time with others who also attend. Everyone will follow/support in their own way, whatever. But if you're so inclined it's very easy to make comparisons and not many come out in favour of those on the other side of the world who simply buy knock off replica shirts and watch on tv. Fan = fanatic; you've got to live it to be counted, and it's hard to do from thousands of miles away.
sassy
Guest
so you're saying there has to be criteria to follow certain teams? what makes an englishman a better fan of his club then i am?
Da Lawyah
Guest
"For the night is long and full of football " Love it!
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
Nice article. I'm happy to say that I became an Everton supporter primarily because of Tim Cahill.
ray bullock
Guest
the crowds seem to enjoy the a-league but the standard of play is woeful.
Anthony Ferguson
Guest
Bit harsh on Arsenal 1980. They were a good cup side and not thugs, apart from Willie Young who took out Paul Allen to stop him breaking through for what would be a straight red card today. As a Hammer I enjoyed that final. In the 80s a lot of my Aussie mates were loud pseudo Liverpool fans. They've been quiet for the past 20 years.
fadida
Guest
If you want atmosphere go to Germany.
ciudadmarron
Guest
"Love the A-league for what it is: local, accessible, thoroughly entertaining, and growing, fast!" Absolutely. I would add that you are right to note that the EPL has been going for 20 years. Before then it WAS a different beast. Aside from the good players and the accessibility - both good reasons for interest in the league - I am constantly told by EPL fans how they love the traditional aspects of it and the great atmosphere - but both of these things have been dying a slow death since the advent of Sky etc.The fans that created what people imagine the EPL to be have long been priced out of the grounds. I inherited my English side, have lived there and attended matches, but now I get to go to follow a side that actually represents me and my area week in week out, a side that I witnessed the birth of and played a part in that birth.... my support and interest in the EPL pales in comparison.
ciudadmarron
Guest
"The whole ‘I watched the FA Cup in 1980 and liked red story’ doesn’t cut it." Yes, arsenal wore yellow that day, and were thugs anyway, can't imagine anyone watching that one and coming out on their side.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
Nice list Harry. I would say the reason the Premier League resonates the most with the world is the use of the English language - most analysis of the EPL is done in English, and thereby has a global reach via language that La Liga, Serie A or the Bundesliga can aspire to. However, is that for the EPL's benefit? You look at the way the Bundesliga is run, with most clubs financially profitable, and you'd say there is plenty the EPL can learn not only from a business and marketing perspective, but also how to bring up young players for the national team. This is where the EPL fails abysmally. I'd like to see the EPL truncated to 18 teams, as the fixture pileup I believe favours only those teams that can financially enable large squads like Chelsea and Manchester City. Plus two less teams may increase the premium on individual results, as there are four less games to contend with. @melbourneterrace: My love for Liverpool was when I befriended an exchange student from London back in 98, and his family were massive Evertonians. The first game of football I ever watched was the Merseyside Derby in 98/99 at Anfield, where the Reds won 3-2. He got me to watch the derby as a way of supporting Everton, I instead fell in love with Liverpool. Apart from having a soft spot for Leeds due to how much they did for Australian football around that time, I've followed Liverpool since. I followed them before the A-League came around, and as someone of Indian descent, no team in the old NSL ever could represent me. So who do I follow if not a Premier League team back then? I may not be from the city, but since following Liverpool, I have been to games at Anfield, watch the Reds beat Real Madrid in 2009 at the Bernabeu, and went to Melbourne last year to cheer them on against the Victory. For me, my first team is Liverpool, second is Sydney FC. There are plenty of legitimate reasons why people fell in love with international clubs before having an affinity with their local side.
melbourneterrace
Guest
Here's mine. - Make extensive use of IQ. - If you're in NSW or Vic, Take the opportunity to watch the early 9:45pm Saturday kick offs at the pub before daylight savings hits. Otherwise it's a whole season of late night solitary viewing which is no fun. - Look for games beyond the boring Sky Sports favourites. Leicester vs Stoke or Villa vs West Brom is probably going to be more entertaining then watching Chelsea flog another team. - There is nothing wrong with following a foreign league but don't pretend to love a club from a city you or your family have zero links to. Seeing all these "Diehard" Liverpool and Man Utd fans who only started following in the late 80's or 90's and have never set a foot in England, let alone a football ground there, makes me shake my head. The hordes of foreign glory hunters are the worst thing about the Premier League. Unless you lived there either as a lad or later in life or your parents passed the team down onto you, then you have no good reason to support that team. The whole 'I watched the FA Cup in 1980 and liked red story' doesn't cut it.