The induction of the Western Sydney Wanderers into the A-League may be the best thing the FFA has done since the A-League was founded.
Listening to the demands of a passionate footballing base and consulting its community has resulted in a footballing success story, one that provides a blueprint for future expansion clubs.
While replacing the Bunnings chairs with state of the art benches was very much appreciated, it does not exceed the impact the Wanderers have had on the greater football community, as well as the A-League’s profile domestically and internationally.
In April 2012, the Western Sydney Wanderers were officially announced as the tenth addition into the league, following the FFA’s decision to revoke the license of Gold Coast United.
Though this might have been seen as a long time coming for football fans in Western Sydney, it is safe to say that not even the biggest optimists could have predicted what has since transpired.
The Wanderers are currently competing in their fifth season and within that time they have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with, claiming both domestic and continental success.
Football fans across Sydney’s west had been pleading for the FFA to incorporate a team representing their football heartland, particularly as it is possibly Australia’s biggest community footballing region, producing Socceroos such as Lucas Neill and Scott Chipperfield.
The FFA had initially decided to play it safe by having one team in each of the country’s major cities. Football NSW originally proposed that Sydney FC should be based in Parramatta, but this was rejected by the FFA. Instead, they based the club at the Allianz Arena in Sydney’s east, adding to the geographical tension between Sydney’s eastern and western suburbs.
The implementation of the Wanderers was thus significant due to the voice it gave to a population of football supporters.
The Wanderers have since revolutionised the A-League.
On the field, the Wanderers immediately set the scene by cashing in on international marquee Shinji Ono, who to this day is one of the best marquees we have seen in the league.
They defied all the odds and shocked the league by winning the Premiership in their first ever season. Many of the players in this Premiership team, such as Aaron Mooy and Tom Juric, have since moved on and made a name for themselves in Europe and with the national team.
The team then did the unthinkable, becoming the first Australian club to win the Asian Champions League in what was an arduous yet memorable campaign that solidified Australian football.
However, the biggest contribution has been off the field.
The fans, otherwise known as the ‘RBB’, have revolutionised active support in Australia. The atmosphere is loud enough that it makes you believe as though you are at the game when you are watching it at home.
The ‘RBB’ has made a vital contribution to the expansion and enhancement of active support in the league.
Active support in the A-League has been taken to the next level through the innovation and ardour displayed by the Wanderers. The RBB has unknowingly impacted other supporter groups, who have since been inspired and have thus expanded themselves, creating an incredible atmosphere on match day.
The passion demonstrated by these fans symbolises how significant the football club has been in creating a greater sense of belonging and community across the Western suburbs of Sydney.
Hence, the Wanderers are more than a football club.
Their formation has laid the foundation for a greater sense of unity and helped take the league to new heights.
The Sydney derby is one of the most anticipated fixtures on the A-League calendar. An A-League record was set when 61,880 spectators turned out for the opening match between Sydney FC and Western Sydney.
Recently, the Wanderers have also broken their membership record, having 18,811 members signed up. Many more are expected to join, once the renovations are completed at Parramatta stadium. This then opens the door to catching Melbourne Victory in the membership stakes, who have been generally been the standout club, with over 25,000 members.
Five seasons on and the Wanderers have become the biggest success story in Australian football. Despite many fans being aggrieved with many FFA decisions in recent times, this is one that they certainly got right.
This is possibly the blueprint in establishing new A-League clubs.
Martyn
Guest
"a lack of government funding" You fail to remember the fact that Perth Glory were given Perth Oval(now rectangular) by the shire of Vincent and the WA state government. To Quote from Hansard Extract from Hansard [ASSEMBLY - Wednesday, 21 May 2003] p204b-210a Dr Elizabeth Constable; Mr Alan Carpenter; Mr Arthur Marshall; Mr Terry Waldron; Mr Fran Logan; Chairman; Mr John Bowler "The State and the Town of Vincent are spending approximately $10 million, give or take a few hundred thousand dollars. The State is putting in $6 million and the Town of Vincent is putting in $4 million. http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Hansard%5Chansard.nsf/0/b8bfc1e0c224489bc825757300807018/$FILE/A36%20S2%2020030521%20p204b-210a.pdf
clipper
Guest
I agree that the Wanderers have united Western Sydney - you see more of their merchandise out there than NRL gear, which is some achievement, but don't agree about the AFL being humiliated - they set that area up knowing it would be a long hard slog, I would think they'd expect to pour millions more into them. Even so, their attendance is ahead of 1 NRL team and not too far off another - something the Storm can't boast about after 15 years in Melbourne. The participation out there will never, ever match Football's, but then again Football is way ahead of league and Rugby as well in that respect. I guess if people, including yourself, keep mentioning GWS, they must be on the radar.
Chris
Guest
Their achievement in winning the Asian champions league the biggest achievement by any Aussie sporting club was simply amazing . The scenes at the airport when they arrived home sensational.
josh
Guest
The Wanderers have definitely united Western Sydney. They are the AFL's worst nightmare, they have been absolutely humiliated and are losing millions of dollars - it's the first time AFL has had to live in anyone's shadow and they absolutely hate it, just look at when they scheduled their battle of the bridge in 2017. I'll save you the trouble, the same night 100m away from where WSW play Arsenal, talk about fear of football.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Bizarre comment, punter. I would say that if we're going to position ourselves from 1st to 4th, that we are overall 3rd and in some aspects 2nd. I also don't agree with your assertions that this is 3rd or 4th tier football. I'm not sure why you've taken this route. Is it to in some ways stick it to Mister Football that our quality is not the best but does well compared to what the AFL should considering it being "the best AFL comp in the world" or do you genuinely feel this way? I gotta say too, Mister Football didn't bring an ounce of AFL talk into his post, yet you resort to taking pot shots at the Giants, why? I know we all have our gripes - and at times I agree - but come on!
Mister Football
Roar Guru
There you go, it's people like you who ensure that A-League ratings remain on the low side. Start supporting the A-League!
paul
Guest
Brisbane Roar were a foundation A-league club originally known as the Queensland Roar. I believe that they were borne out of the Brisbane Lions who sold-(out) their name to the AFL. When two addition Queensland clubs (Fury and Gold Coast) were added to the A-league, they had to change their name to Brisbane Roar. I have heard it suggested that David Gallop is keen on a second team in the Brisbane area to get a new derby up and running. He is also keen a third Sydney club. If you reading this FFA/Gallop DO NOT start a third Sydney team. Canberra is close enough to be driving distance for some of us especially if games against Sydney clubs are scheduled on Saturday afternoons
punter
Guest
He's a massive fan of Reggina from the 1980s.
Ken
Guest
Who's your team Mister Futbol?
punter
Guest
I'm watching Brazil v Argentina live, you are watching reruns of Western Bulldogs v Carlton.
Ken
Guest
Well said, both of you.
marron
Guest
So let's look. Pre Wanderers, the most popular sports in western sydney were football and league. Football, represented formerly by a bunch of clubs, many of which were tied to different migrant groups. League, represented by three teams in the area, one of which had merged with a team outside the area, and a large part of the fans with ties to other clubs (souths being the main one). The wanderers were in effect the first team to actually attempt to represent the whole of the region, and capture the imagination of that community. It was a common theme of many conversations I had in season 1 with random strangers - "i never thought that all these westies could get together under one flag". From penrith to bankstown, richmond to campbelltown, areas within that. Wanderers flags, stickers, jerseys, ubiquitous. Huge numbers of travelling support. No, not every single person in the region is a fan, attends games, even cares. of course not. But then that's not what the article said either.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
it's possible that less than stellar ratings on Fox are due to poor fixturing. Having tried all of Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, the FFA needs to try another night which might magically resonate with the soccer community and produce better ratings.
punter
Guest
Who said that? that the whole region has been united by one sporting team? Anyone who lives in Sydney knows RL is no 1 sport.
Ian
Guest
I thought Brisbane Roar were the best thing the FFA have ever done.
paul
Guest
Best thing that Clive Palmer ever did was to hand back his A-league licence! Football (the round ball one) was held back by Frank Lowy. He insisted that there should be one team per city at the beginning of the A-league. Lowy ignored the PFA model which called for 2 teams per city so that there would be derbies in every mainland capital. Before the Wanderers were going, as a volunteer in the Western Suburbs of Sydney (due to involvement in Grassroots Football), I was asked to complete a number of surveys in selecting colours, team name and asked to attend forums. The Wanderers, before the corporatisation of Lederer and Co, were borne out of the grassroots. Today the local associations that are listed as Wanderers are numerous spanning from Canterbury to Macarthur to Nepean to Gladesville. So most of Sydney is engaged with the Wanderers. It was always going to happen as Sydney FC failed to capture most of the hearts of western Sydney. If you go back to the NSL days, there were numerous clubs who were ruled out of the A-league by ethnic ties like Sydney United, Marconi, Bonnyrigg White Eagles. Today, the participation rate of football (the round ball one) is very high in the Sydney's and long may that continue. Western Sydney was just waiting to happen. Problems today with numbers are the crap schedule Fox Sports asked for Wanderers home games to be mostly at 7.50pm on Fridays and Saturdays as well as 7.00pm on some Sundays. which is to the detriment of our younger members. It looks as though the games are later because they no longer have the EPL. It looks to me that instead of a mix 7.30pm and afternoon games Wanderers members have been shafted by the FFA and Fox. The only 5pm home games are the game against Newcastle in Campbelltown which is a double header with Wanderers Women playing Canberra United and the third game against the Mariners. Even the last game against the Phoenix is on a Sunday at 7pm because of the ACL. The FFA and Wanderers Management should have stood up to Fox on Scheduling but were like chocolate soldiers in full sunlight. Where was the guts to stand up to Fox?
CHill
Guest
And Lucas Neill from Manly. Of all the options available I'm confused as to why those two were used as examples.
Correct sometimes
Guest
Fact check
Correct sometimes
Guest
I prefer football to AFL It's massive hyperbole to suggest the whole region has been united by one sporting team no matter the code But then you must defend football at all times
Easytiger
Roar Rookie
Well said MarkfromCroydon, couldn't agree more. Many sports fan don't realise that we are one of a few nations that has four professional football codes operating in a small market of 23 million all vying for commercial air time, sponsorship and attendances. The FFA have established a strong A-League foundation that allows them to further develop the game.