I love the early rounds of the FFA Cup. The live TV crosses to venues across the nation give it the vibe of election night but with a lot more fun. The recently completed draw for this year’s round of 32 has thrown up some names cloaked in mystery and others steeped in history.
The draw is not quite random and part of the fudging process is to pit the six worst A-League clubs against each other. Had they been drawn out of the hat it might have provided more interest but these three ‘battle of the A-League duds’ matches don’t hold great appeal to the neutral.
One can only hope they are played at smaller venues to cash in on the community feel of the early rounds.
All the other games have at least one non A-League club competing and this is where the mystery begins. Scanning the list I see that Croydon Kings play Lions FC. Who the heck are Lions FC? The FFA has taken a hard line about ethnic team names but have no problems with animals.
Then there’s this team called Metrostars. It figures that the Metrostars are from Adelaide: they tried to register as the Metrosexuals but I assume that was knocked back by an FFA committee. On the issue of names, perhaps the FFA needs to lighten up a little. It risks being perceived as a mini nanny state.
Darwin Olympic are a great addition to the FFA Cup. Yes, there have been AFL and NRL matches played in the Top End but when have the locals ever had their own football team to cheer for in a national competition? I would say never. That said, I don’t particularly fancy Darwin’s chances against the A-League’s Adelaide United.
To make the most of their home ground advantage I suggest they play the game on the Northern Territory’s field of spiders that has made the news recently. Could you imagine an Adelaide forward going down easily in the box knowing there are 25,000 ravenous flesh-eating tarantulas waiting to pounce? No, those Adelaide boys will have their minds well and truly on the art galleries and cafes back home.
There are no shortage of famous clubs that have made the cut in the round of 32. There are the Brisbane Strikers who once played in a national grand final in front of 40,000 at Lang Park. There is Blacktown City who not only played in the NSL but had one of the world’s greatest players on their roster, for a few weeks anyway. Kevin Keegan, the Liverpool and England legend, had a guest stint for Blacktown some years back and managed to drag 17,000 fans to their home ground.
Of course one of the standout names is South Melbourne, the old South Melbourne Hellas, arguably the most famous club in Australia’s football history. I do remember reading that the Greek-backed club used to turn out in a white jersey with a red-V just like their VFL neighbours who shared their name.
I am not sure if this was an early attempt at assimilation or a piss-take but it was in the blue jersey that they became famous nationally, and then internationally when they took on Manchester United in the World Club Challenge.
Then there is Sydney Olympic, a club known as Pan Hellenic in my youth. Wouldn’t it be great if South and Olympic advanced and met in the next round. What a celebration of football and Greek culture! To add to the authenticity we could close down every ATM within five kilometres of the stadium.
The name Heidelberg United stirs up fond memories. I have heard many pundits refer to the NSL in their posts but I remember the time when it was the PSL. In fact after the ‘P’ became an ‘N’ it was never quite the same. Heidelberg United was one of these old clubs, along with Western Suburbs, Footscray JUST and who could ever forget Mooroolbark United with their red and white stripes and red shorts?
As a history buff, the match that stands out for me is Balmain Tigers versus Melbourne Victory. A while back I published the article Curly Doodson and the Swimmers: Untold football stories from the Great War in which I described the Balmain football club of 1915 winning the state knockout cup for the seventh time.
I am unaware if the current Balmain team is the same as its predecessor but with a shared name and colours it is at least a distant relative to one of the great old football clubs of Australia.
Can’t you see it? Balmain Tigers versus Melbourne Victory represents the best of 100 years ago and the best of today. It is the epitome of ‘old’ versus ‘new’ football. I for one hope they can play this match at Leichhardt Oval, a great suburban venue with TV quality lighting. I would personally hand out flyers for the game to all the cafes and bars along Norton Street, Leichhardt or Darling Street in Balmain if anyone asked me.
Then at the ground before the game, especially if I had scored a kickback or two on Norton Street, I would stretch out on the grassy bank and conjure up days gone by; when trams needed a counterweight to negotiate the steep climb up Darling Street from Balmain Wharf; when ‘quaint’ terrace houses worth millions today were cramped workman’s cottages full of great broods of children and where families struggled to make ends meet from the wages of the waterside workers.
And I would imagine Alf Law leading out his black and gold hooped Balmain team to take on the mighty Melbourne Thistle in a fantasy fixture from 100 years past.
Seriously, don’t die wondering about the FFA Cup round of 32. As a famous playwright once said, “get thee to a cup tie.”
70s Mo is a contributing author to the recently released book “Ryde Goes to War 1914-1918” published by the Ryde District Historical Society
Anthony Ferguson
Guest
Mm that would be the same Melbourne Victory who also rorted the salary cap, but that was all swept under the carpet because... Well because they're Melbourne Victory, and they have so many members so we better not upset them. Get off your high horse.
Justin Mahon
Guest
They cheated to get to that level. This same cheating was in play when they knocked Melbourne Victory out of the cup last year. I am still disgusted by what they did and the stain it cast on the cup and the league.
Boban Fett
Guest
Don't forget Hakoah Sydney City East - bit of a joke how "Hakoah" is not taboo but "Croatia" is.
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
There is no doubting that football in this country was carried by clubs like these & we should be very proud of their history. Football would not be what it is in this country without these ethnic clubs, but football would never have gone mainstream with those teams because it was always deemed as foreign.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Just got back from the NSW Waratah Cup final between Blacktown City and Sydney United at Valentine Park in north-west Sydney. Blacktown had the lion's share of chances in the first half but failed to score. Things were a bit more even in the second with both sides throwing away good chances. Eventually something had to give and United score after a poor clearance by City with only a few minutes to go. Stadium was just about packed to the rafters with probably 3000 or so in attendance. City still maintain a strong lead in the NPL and both teams are in the FFA Cup first round.
Anthony Ferguson
Guest
Yeah love the cup it's wonderful. Witty article too. I'll forgive you calling Glory one of the 6 "worst" teams when we came 3rd and were only a couple of points off the premier's Plate. Looking forward to Sorrento v Sydney FC.
144
Roar Guru
sydney FC v SorrentoFC Hahah my brother used to play for Balmain tigers and now they are playing melbourne Victory wow
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
YES. The venues have been released. I just knew it. Balmain v Melbourne Victory at Liechhardt Oval and it will be a fully televised game. Go the Tigers
cm
Guest
OK good. Heh. It's still to be Conformed though.
Bryan
Guest
Darwin football stadium has enough lighting for TV... He's talking about taking it to tio Park, the afl ground with about 20k extra seats. It's a good idea as afl is in its off season at the moment. Hopefully we get a stinking hot humid night... Then Olympic have a relatively decent shot... They are 3/4 the way through their season, close to peak match fitness etc. Only takes 4-5 moments to go the right way for them to win.... Or it could be 10-0
AZ_RBB
Guest
You may file that under "AZ_RBB horribly sleep deprived comments"
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
What do you mean WSW taking game to Brisbane? WSW is the home team from the fixture I have. Don't set unreasonable expectations for crowd numbers & you won't be disappointed. For mid-week matches in the off-season I'd expect 20%-30% of the normal average for any club's ALeague season. Of course some fixtures would pull higher: e.g MVFC at home to Syd, MelCity, WSW, Aufc than 20-30% of normal ALeague averages. But if MVFC were at home to a non-Victorian NPL team, I'd be happy to have 4-5k
cm
Guest
This explains why a new club date in celtic were able to... oh hang on.
Kaks
Roar Guru
There were policies that were introduced in the late 90's that were far more stricter. South Melbourne Hellas laughably became South Melbourne Lakers before changing to their current name. Melbourne Knights were forced to change their logo so that it did not include the Croatian Coat of arms etc.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Did not say it was Dean, but we should not under estimate the foundation that Sydney Croatia, South Melbourne Hellas (and all over NPL teams who didnt have ethnic names) did in this country and forcing them to disband their names and logos seemed very over the top. And i disagree that football could have been more mainstream then. These clubs were formed in a time when Rugby, AFL and Cricket were king. 'Soccer' had no chance of mainstream success then. Only now that Australia has ease of access to quality football from around the world (EPL, La Liga, Champions League), a more professional domestic league - and international success from the Socceroos - do we see wider interest from a more general set of fans.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Keen for the confirmation of venues and dates. Seems like WSW will be taking their game to Brisbane although it would have been nice to see it being played elsewhere. Hoping we see a solid turn out. Last ALeague FFA Cup fixture in Sydney only drew 4k. Hopefully appreciation for midweek and knock out football grows in the coming years.
Jim
Guest
The FFA cup is going to really grow I think, and get people that are not necessarily aligned/particularly interested in the Aleague more into Australia football. I went down last year to support Tuggeranong United when they played Victory - a fantasticfun night out. Heading out with mates to see Gunghalin United take on Sydney Olympic this year - again, should be a thoroughly enjoyable evening out at the footy. It needs to maintain a focus on footy through all the levels - grassroots, semi-pro and professional if it is really going to succeed long term.
Freycinet1803
Roar Rookie
It hasn't. The policy introduced by the FFA is not retrospective, that means that existing names and logos were not subject to the policy (only if they change it from now on).
At work
Roar Rookie
"Then there is Sydney Olympic, a club known as Pan Hellenic in my youth. Wouldn’t it be great if South and Olympic advanced and met in the next round. What a celebration of football and Greek culture! To add to the authenticity we could close down every ATM within five kilometres of the stadium." Haha, great call Mo If the Tigers vs Victory game is played at Leichhardt I think I'll head over to watch and cheer on the locals
Dean
Guest
You could argue that football might be more mainstream if not for some of the ethnic disputes that used to make it impossible to sell as a family game to the uninitiated. I agree with you that this heritage should be celebrated, but it wasn't all beer and skittles back in the day.