An octogenarian who works behind the counter at my local newsagent spoke to me this morning.
This is not out of the ordinary as I often trigger a rather repetitive and silly conversation about the ludicrous possibility of success with my lotto system eight ticket.
However, today was a little different. Holding a glossy sports magazine in one hand and a ten dollar note in the other, I heard him utter the strangest thing.
MORE ASIAN CUP:
» ANALYSIS: Patience, press and penetration means Socceroos continue to impress
» [VIDEO] Mark Milligan cops nasty falcon
» Socceroos obliterate Oman in Asian Cup
‘Go the Socceroos eh?’
If I was sitting on a chair I would have fallen off it! I have never spoken to him about football. I think I asked him about a dictionary a few years back when my eldest daughter was starting school.
I distinctly remember Parramatta Eels streamers being up a few years back. There was something beautiful about the way it was said in such a casual manner. Like a banal comment about heat or rain which rolls off the tongue due to its importance in our climate and the extremes that we often experience.
It really made me think and helped form two clear ideas in my head. Firstly, it appeared that something had indeed changed. As I was mentally preparing for the battle with Oman I wasn’t quite able to categorically identify the true nature of the change, yet I was sure it was there.
Secondly, I connected the incident with some other ‘evidence’ I had gathered over the past weeks and felt sure I had a thesis.
Awer Mabil’s goal on the twenty sixth of October was the first piece in the puzzle. On that day Adelaide City proved too strong for a slightly off Perth Glory and Mabil iced the victory with a quality finish in the 68th minute after lead-up from Craig Goodwin.
While being a neat goal it wasn’t so much the goal that caught my eye but rather the celebration that followed. One Adelaide player leaped onto the rather slight Mabil frame just as the goal scorer saw his coach and mentor on the sideline.
Mabil ran with arms aloft towards Josep Gombau and leapt into his arms, kissing his forehead and squeezing him in way that conveyed more than just joy and success.
Mabil’s life and career embodies all that is unique and inspiring about the games we play. Most football fans can relay the birthplace and the camp where he and his family stayed, so the point doesn’t need to be laboured. The more romantic tale of an eleven year old boy in a very foreign place with a dream should connect with us all.
Mabil speaks of Gombau as a father figure and the repayment of the coach’s faith through the goal itself and the affection that followed brought me to tears. It was one of the most beautiful ways of saying thank you that I have ever seen.
The curiosity of my wife towards my tears led to her full investigation of this talented young footballer. Having been associated with asylum seekers and refugees for some time, she was moved by the expression of love just as I was.
This curiosity culminated in her attentive viewing of the Sydney derby some weeks later.
There was something special about that night and watching a football novice feel the energy and atmosphere, grasp the rivalry and appreciate the sheer numbers in attendance was wonderful to witness.
While they may be opposites in so many ways, Gary the newsagent and my wife Helen both helped define the change I had felt.
One an Australian of British and Irish ancestry, the other an Australian of Middle Eastern extraction, have both come to the game in recent times. The stories and beauty of the football landscape has attracted them and hopefully holds them for many years to come.
As the Asian Cup rolls on and by the time this article appears on your screen, the result of the Australia Oman clash will be known.
I am sure they will have done us proud and perhaps others will have begun their journey into the football landscape. These are just two stories that indeed show us that something is changing.
Some cynics seem to have stuck their heads in the sand while other people look to embrace, to learn and to grow. The sadness of cheap criticism will hopefully be offset by a grand spectacle that acts as a lightning rod for our relatively young footballing nation.
Enjoy the ride and ‘Go the Socceroos eh?’
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Thanks uncle junior, I felt what I wrote, the haters seem to have misunderstood.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Thanks for your input. No offence taken.
NUFCMVFC
Guest
Actually I'd say the centre of gravity as far as the football fraternity goes is slowly shifting to the A League The Socceroos seem to be useful at garnering the interest of the general sports loving public every so often when there is a WCQ, but committed week-WTO-week fans are more engaged in their HAL clubs Only have to look at the pitiful atmosphere at Socceroos games as an indicator It is a fascinating trend. The big A League derbies are pretty much up there with Socceroos except for the largest Socceroos games. They aren't as big audience wise, are only just below it attendance wise but are killing it theatre wise. Eg derby at the SFS was 41k I think and in Melbourne it was a 47k sellout at Etihad with seats in. Might have broke the 50k record with seats out as the Medallion club actually turned up There is a bit of a question of not only "how do we get Joe Public interested in the HAL", that is ten years ago, when it comes to crucial WCQ's the question towards the end was basically "how do we get the HAL fans who fervently support their teams to translate that to the Socceroos and get them over the line" Next WCQ campaign will be a struggle, there's some promise in Kruse, Luongo and Ryan but basically the last of our world class players who would get us over the line are set to retire after the Asian Cup If the Socceroos don't make it there will be a very noticeable power shift
britesparke
Roar Rookie
" I disagree with your comment about there being some way to go" And you are the expert in awareness in Western Sydney? And obviously know my neighbourhood better than me! I think keeping up is a problem for you in all honesty with your "smash and grab" posts
Josh
Guest
I disagree with your comment about there being some way to go, try and keep up, or at least let us know you're not able to.
britesparke
Roar Rookie
"To say that football through WSW isn't having an impact is absurd" Where is that written? You need to read my post again as your understanding is very poor. Typical of a troll with nothing better to do.
fiver
Guest
what a dope lol
titch
Guest
Agree Sheek, Aukland's inclusion into the HAL is a no brainer. NZ football needs a derby
Justin Mahon
Guest
Thats reasonable advice, however the two sports cannot be compared at almost any level apart from having national teams. Football, relative to rugby, is like a cockroach. It simply cannot be killed. It is far too widespread, far to ingrained and far to accessable to far too many people in every pocket of Australia. On top of this, there in a national league, a national youth league, a national women's league, a national open cup, a continental Champions League (with a pathway to the World Club Cup) and a federated national 2nd tier that (apart from its development role) is establishing the long-term basis for a true A2 League (with promotion and relegation just a dream I suspect). And to think that this is just structured club football. On top of this there is the entire representative pathway from State Championships to the FIFA World Cup replicated across 4 men's (including Pararoos 9 a side) and 3 women's age groups. We wont even get into 5aside, 7aside, Futsal and theother variations of the game. The scale and scope of Australian football is simply unbelievable. While the Socceroo's do a good job in funding FFA Head Quarters and their own very significant overheads, it is the predominately privately funded world of club football that drives our game forward. It always has and always will. People say this is a weakness (i.e. bottom-up funding) as it makes football expensive, however it is also a tremendous inoculation against the risks you raise. Football's eggs never were in the Socceroo's basket and never will be.
josh
Guest
You can't go 10 minutes In Western Sydney in any direction without seeing evidence of WSW, be it jerseys or stickers on car windows, shop windows, the list goes on. To say that football through WSW isn't having an impact is absurd.
britesparke
Roar Rookie
Actually Bondy he has Fox and chooses to watch those sports in that particular order. He has played cricket in his youth and does follow the Parramatta Eels so I was hoping there may have been some "recognition" of the Wanderers jersey as the two teams share Pirtek Stadium. I was actually waiting for a throw away line.....something along the lines of "If you paid for that jersey you obviously paid too much for it !" or perhaps " Good to see you wearing that in the garden as it would be embarrassing wearing it to a game!". Yes.....his wit is legendary!
C
Guest
I'm sure Adelaide Hellas and Adelaide Juventus got about 23,000 at Hindmarsh in 1973 when all the European migrants attended many have passed away since (:
ciudadmarron
Guest
Yufela toktok pisin?
ciudadmarron
Guest
Hey johnno maybe you need to read the article, it isn't about that side of things. I don't need to be reminded about that side don't worry. I remember it myself. But this article is not about acceptance of the game. It's about its entry into the discourse and consciousness of the average aussie. Which is different to mere acceptance of toleration.
Bondy
Guest
britesparke Your neighbour "bless him" is old and white and not use to football and appears only use to sports on commercial Ch's 7,9 @10, a dying breed one may suggest in a modern Australia ...
britesparke
Roar Rookie
"Go the Socceroos eh" ....the octogenarian newsagent's comment. Taken in context it could have just been a small talk type of remark along the lines of the local businessman looking for a "connect" among his customers.In my neighbourhood there is a long way to go. Johnny Warren's - S,W & P reigns supreme in some parts of Western Sydney. I recently purchased a heavily discounted Wanderers jersey - which reflected their current position on the ladder and wore it recently whilst doing some gardening. My neighbour, very much of the anglo saxon variety, loves his sport too and being octogenarian AND partially deaf (yes....can hear the TV broadcasts of AFL, cricket, rugby union and rugby league, in that order, clearly from my backyard most days. On this particular day, I engaged my neighbour, and after a quick exchange of pleasantries went on to discuss sports. First was cricket, since there was no AFL being played, the test series against India and then the BBL. In all this time he did not have the faintest idea of what jersey I was wearing and when I mentioned the Asian Cup and Socceroos he simply responded that he does not bother watching (football)! So there is still a way to go! I have more hope of winning Lotto than engaging the neighbour in a deep and meaningful discussion on the Asian Cup.
Johnno
Guest
AZ RBB Schwarcher is from the arrogant "Golden Generation" he's out of touch with stuff going on down here and all of those boys are "Euro Snobs", they were coached by NSL clubs who Euro centric, and were always told Europe is the best and South America, now zip it. the new generation have a different view of Australian football. Schwarcher hasn't played in any Australian domestic league for over 20 years. He's an old NSL boy,played for Marconi. The golden generation still also feel the need to patronise the new generation, as they see themselves as so successful, or dare I say it reckon they saved Australian football. The tv pundits from the golden generation are all so smug, and arrogant and out of touch,and constantly snipe away at the socceroos, as if they are the custodians to say all that is so-called wrong with the socceroos and the A-League, bunch of Euro snobs the golden generation.
Johnno
Guest
Nice story sheek,
Cpaaa
Guest
Exactly Real.... Really well written, but lets appreciate those people that have taken the time to post such remarks. This has been footballs story all along but as the author points out and its in the heading that he is just another that has noticed a shift in the sporting landscape.
Johnno
Guest
Mid Socceroos in many ways you right could be billed as a heavyweight boxing circus. 99% of people who pay there $50 bucks to watch a big fight eg Lennox Lewis V Tyson,are not remotely boxing fans. Have no idea about the sport, even the rules, the history of it, the preperation, just love the hype of a big fight and have a very simple view of boxing, almost treat it like a street fight not a sport. The ultimate bandwagon fans. I found that in 2006 world cup, so many people jumped on the socceroos bandwagon and they'd never watched a game before, then forgot about them like dirty little secret, like an affair you had in Hawaii at the resort, the 1 night stand on holiday you kept quiet from your wife. Getting the socceroos, to inspire kids especially to play football, and Gen-Y to follow the sport beyond the big games, is the challange for the FFA and they have to promote or maximise the socceroos as best they can. I've enjoyed the Asian cup just been annoyed about some of the scheduling, the wrong games played in the wrong places. The Asian cup I reckon should of gone more regional, a game like North Korea V Saudi Arabia in Hobart or Launceston would of got the whole town talking, or South Korea V Oman could of been played in Ballarat.