Warts and all, I love the Western Sydney Wanderers

By Clayton Waters / Roar Rookie

The Western Sydney Wanderers have been polarising in their short history – one premiership, two championship loses, and the unforgettable Asian Cup win went along with flare incidents, police presence, life bans and general poor behaviour.

My family and I never really followed an A-League team, but when the Wanderers were announced, we signed up for what we thought would be a slow, struggling team initially, but one to be proud of – a team us ‘Westies’ could call our own.

From this, our first season was pure excitement. Aggressive, attacking football left teams stunned and not sure how to respond, which helped us to our maiden premiership.

I’d never been part of something like this before. It was addictive. Their style of play, their way of relating to the fans and their community values. Unfortunately, the Mariners were too good on the day and we didn’t come home with a championship.

How can you write an article about Western Sydney without mentioning the Asian Cup? One of the best sporting experiences I have ever been to was the first leg of the final, at Parramatta Stadium, against Al-Hilal. When Tom Juric scored that goal, there may have been tremors across Sydney. I saw grown men crying, hugging and thanking God for the day the Wanderers came to town.

This was community. This was the club spirit. This was Western Sydney.

This was also evident in the 5-4 semi-final over Brisbane – I have never seen or heard passion like it in my life. I happened to have a spare ticket and I took a good mate to the game, and he left amazed that he just witnessed that in Australia.

I’d be ignorant to not mention the off-field issues that plagued years one and two. Apparent members of the Red and Black Bloc set out to ruin it for the rest of the club. The media had a field day with the RBB, blaming the club’s performance and issues on them. Personally being there, it was obviously a bunch of supposed ‘fans’ ruining it for everyone, but never did I feel unsafe or threatened. Happily, those individuals have been weeded out and the RBB are better for it.

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No organisation or supporter group was bigger than the club and this was further evident at this season’s first two games.

The much-reported split in the RBB over the last two years created the Western Sydney Terrance. In Round 1, both active support associations came together and united for the club. This cohesion was a proud moment in the club’s active support history, and refelected what we are here for: to represent Western Sydney (ole, ole, ole).

Like most clubs, community engagement is big and the players and supporters are always putting on events for those in need or who are part of the club. My favourite is when they support the Powerchair Football team. Often, members of the club’s supporter base will pack out an indoor hall where the game is being played and cheer the team on. This stuff is what the club is about.

You may read this and think I am just defending the club and making excuses. I assure you, I have always been one of the first to stand up against the garbage that went on in previous years. Will there be issues again? I hope not, but there’s always the risk in any sport that one idiot will ruin things.

I am excited for this year. In the first two games, our scoring options seem stronger than ever. Robbie Cornthwaite is a great captain and sets the example on and off the field. The true test will be in the derby this weekend, against a very strong Sydney FC. I hope our new players step up and take the match to new levels. I can’t wait.

When you put aside the history and focus on the future, it looks positive and exciting. The club has done incredible things for the region.

Slag us off, tell us we are thugs, but I will be Red and Black forever and I am proud to be a Wanderer.

The Crowd Says:

2017-10-22T03:13:17+00:00

Buddy

Guest


I’m sorry to say I missed your article earlier in the week but enjoyed it all the same post derby! What I have enjoed about Wanderers more than anything is the fact my wife has become involved, got a season ticket, loves away games and shares part of my lifelong passion for football. I have spent so many years playing, managing clubs, coaching kids, adults and helping run an association and aside from when our boys played, she was never interested but something fired her imagination when WSW came long and she has more supporters gear than I do and she gets her shifts at the kids hospital changed regularly during the aeason to make sure she can get to games...and then there are away games which are always fun including a really memorable trip to Seoul for the ACL semi final in 2014 which was a brilliant season. We chose not to go to the away leg in the final as we didn’t want to go somewhere where women are treated as second class citizens. This year, trips to Bris, Mel, Perth and Wellington on the horizon make it a fun time win or lose we have some gret weekends away, meet fans of other teams, have a beer and a yarn etc etc.....So glad WSW came long...it enhanced my marriage!

2017-10-20T00:10:54+00:00

Andrew Thomas

Roar Guru


Bridge with 86th minute winner. Thanks for your time Sydney.

2017-10-17T13:25:10+00:00

Josh

Guest


The media are going to have a field day regardless. It's the thing to do in Sydney, look down on the West. People don't like the fact the West now has Red & Black colours to unite us and a voice via the RBB to be heard, for Westies to stand up instead of simply existing silently as the butt of postcode snob jokes doesn't sit well with parts of Sydney.

AUTHOR

2017-10-17T03:53:59+00:00

Clayton Waters

Roar Rookie


Sorry mate! Typo! I am glad to hear that FC fans are enjoying the rivalry. I think sydney is embracing it and the players too. Makes it a better spectacle and also brings the best out of the players. I have to disagree with the score but!

AUTHOR

2017-10-17T03:52:35+00:00

Clayton Waters

Roar Rookie


100% agree. Brendon is a upstanding representative and I think it's half the reason he is so loved.

AUTHOR

2017-10-17T03:51:32+00:00

Clayton Waters

Roar Rookie


And isn't that the best. I hope one day kids grow idolising some of our A league players. Appreciate the words and bring on the derby!

2017-10-17T00:50:57+00:00

Post_hoc

Guest


After reading the paper today on the stoush between Allianz and ANZ stadiums I am a bit worried if there will be any turf left at Wanderland 2.0. It appears not only will we be hosting Parramatta, and NRC club, but also Warratahas , Bulldogs, maybe South Sydney, bloody hell we may even have to have your mob playing out of there. Now I don't mind sharing, but if we host the Warratahs and those LED lights work to enhance the local team ambiance it means Wanderland will be turned into skyblue and I will not stomach that

2017-10-17T00:11:23+00:00

At work

Roar Rookie


Good write up buddy, although you won the Asian Champions League, not the Asian Cup. I’m a SydFC member and have enjoyed the east/west rivalry that WSW have brought since joining the league. Looking forward to you guys getting out of that dump Spotless and into your flashy new stadium. Bring on saturday night, SydFC 2-1 WSW

2017-10-16T22:04:05+00:00

Luk Reed

Guest


Im proud too, some things frustrate me, but so far *knock on wood* no flares what only just please silly fans in a hard core group. BUT everything else is great, i love the new stadium and look forward to it, i love the jerseys and see great sponsors on board each year. The players more than most seem happy, even without Popa. I see good things for the future.

2017-10-16T21:42:48+00:00

Post_hoc

Guest


Well said Clayton, and nice reply Chris As a Wanderers fan and similar to you, never found an A league club to call my own before the Wanderers, but as a father and a coach of football players the importance of kids seeing professional well behaved (goodbye Nichols and Bulut lol) football players in there home area is important. The example that I could show of Elle Caprtenter (before she left) to the young girls (I Can still point to Jada and others I know) saying these girls are 10 years older than you and they are playing for the Wanderers or Australia, it is a massive impact for them. I reckon Brendon Santalab spends more time at the Childrens hospital visiting sick kids than any other non family member. Not much of it gets press, so it is not for that reason, it is simply because he believes it is something he needs and can do to help others. There are lots of people like that involved with the Wanderers, which makes me proud to be a member.

2017-10-16T21:28:05+00:00

chris

Guest


Nice article Clayton : ) I follow SFC but am so glad that the WSW came to being 5 odd years ago. When you go out west you see the passion that exists for the Wanderers and part of the credit is the way the club initially engaged with the (potential) supporters. When I coach kids out that way half of them are wearing Wanderers jerseys instead of the usual Barcelona, Juve, Chelsea etc. I think some of the other clubs could do well to imitate some of the community engagement initiatives they put on. The atmosphere at the derby games is truly amazing and no other sport in this country can match it. Bring on Saturday!

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