Derby time. Colour, bragging rights, singing and three points up for offer.
This A-League derby is symbolic of the code’s problems. All tip and no iceberg. It has not captured the imagination of the wider Sydney public.
Nine months ago the Wanderers ended Sydney’s unbeaten run. But who would remember. Football talks to itself in a self-congratulatory mood.
As highlighted by The Roar’s Mike Tuckerman, A-League crowds are a concern. Mike hit the nail on the head when stating, “If pointing out where the A-League can improve is purely an act of navel-gazing, then it’s also an exercise in preaching to the converted.
The ‘converted’. That’s the A-League’s and FFA’s hidden problem. When the issue arose last year surrounding flares, supporter groups and spectator safety, the converted, the insiders, all circled the wagons. ‘Don’t criticise us’, ‘it’s our game’, ‘you don’t understand football blah blah blah’!
Football in Australia is a closed shop. Only for the converted.
As a father of five, families are busy entities. School runs, sports training and the odd family outing and I can tell, a trip across Sydney on public transport for a sporting fixture is the last thing any mum wants. And from a parental view, the RBB scares parents away from taking their kids to the footy.
That a supporter group requires police supervision both on public transport and in transit to the ground is truly a disgrace, but I digress.
The A-League suffers in the same way the NBA regular season does. Predictable games, long season. Only insiders really care enough.
Yes, we get the obligatory Wanderers or Sydney FC junior player to the local training night.
But until football opens up its circle, it will forever only get 25,000 to the ‘Big Blue’ or flares and aggressive behaviour from the RBB at the Sydney Derby
Go to work and discuss football with the ‘converted’. It’s an exercise in futility. We outsiders don’t understand the game. Too technical you see. 4-3-3, 3-4-3. They make it sound like a NASA workshop.
But what do we get in reality. Parking the ‘bloody bus’! On Saturday Night, Jose Mourinho, that tactical genius, went to Anfield with absolutely no intention of going for three points. Destroyed what could have been an ‘el classico’, English style of course.
My beloved Liverpool denied again.
Away from ‘the beautiful game’ nonsense, football has the same strengths and weaknesses as any other sport. The converted would have you believe ‘the beautiful game’ is out of the sporting commoners reach and understanding.
Ever watched old episodes of The World Game on SBS with that feeling, they really just want to chat among themselves. ‘Please go away viewer, we are having a private convo here”
Yes, the Les Murrays and Johnny Warrens brought wogball to the public’s attention. However, football in Australia is too introspective, meaning, it remains a closed shop.
Football’s reach needs to become broader. The local competition is stagnant and needs reviving. Here’s five ideas for football to consider.
1. More pre-season games versus local clubs
2. Introduce an A-League 7-a-side tournament played five times a season, once in every state. Consider it the A-League version of the BBL or rugby sevens.
3. A penalty shoot-out competition played at every A-League game. Winning club over the season wins $1 million.
4. A Promotion/Relegation system with the State Leagues.
5. New regional teams (Darwin, Wagga, Townsville, Tasmania)
Ah! Can you here that chorus again? ‘Don’t criticise us’, ‘it’s our game’, ‘you don’t understand football blah blah blah ‘!
Just like ‘The Everest’ at Royal Randwick on the weekend, ‘build it and they will come’. The recent adage regarding cricket is instructive for football. Fathers take their sons to Test cricket, sons take their fathers to the BBL.
Football, it’s time to open up the circle.
Chris
Guest
Wow you have all the answers to develop a park league don't you !!!!! Sadly your article is full of drivel and lacks substance. Football in this country has NEVER been more popular. Tell me any other sport in OZ that can attract 40000 on a Tuesday night ???? Or 99000 to the G for a friendly ????? Getz mate the KPIs for football in the last 10 years are all pointing up . We now have two true superstars that kids can emulate in the park Sam Kerr and Aaron Mooy both developed here . Football has its issues as any other sport yeah we need new clubs in the Aleague everyone knows that , however the W league and the Matildas are now mainstream massive steps for female football and football in general. A female national team seeking out a stadium wow that was brilliant. The future is round my friend kids wanna play in world cups, go to the Olympics be world stars that's what keeps the game relevant and that's why it's massive .
The FatMan
Roar Rookie
Being born and bred in Loftus, I'd jump ship as long as they got the identity right. The first problem is that St George, Sutherland Shire and particularly Woolongong are three distinct areas. The second is that South Sydney FC reflects the Redfern area and any other generic names are just eh. I could get around something that ties in the whole St George/Sutherland area (something like Botany FC or Endeavour FC - but I'm not exactly sold on either) and the colours would have to be pretty neutral like a Tottenham or Derby County kit, because as we've seen from Melb City, sky blue and red are a no-no. Woolongong is 100% a separate bid. On topic of the stadium, the only benefit is public transport access, although claiming it's serviced by two stations is a bit rich, seeing as they're on the one and only train line. Endeavour Field/Shark Park/whatever we call it these days is no Wembley, but I think the logical opinion would be to see that used 12 months a year first - with any funding the consortium wanted to inject to go towards a redevelopment.
The FatMan
Roar Rookie
You're forgetting the tram museum.
chris
Guest
Buddy have to agree. I was there and the only empty seats were as you mentioned and a few empty ones here and there. I cant see where they could have fit another 5k?
Buddy
Guest
There doesn’t seem to be anywhere else that is talking about the crowd, so I will make the comment here. The members area last night was barely 50% full. There were at least five empty blocks of seats at either end and the back third was a swathe of empty blue seats. I stand by my original assertion but as it was announced as only 34000 plus where were all the other gaps?eastern terrace was pretty full as was behind both goals. West terrace had some empties but crowd looked bigger than reported.
Patrick Logan
Roar Rookie
12:00 Sunday afternoon, choice of Melbourne City vs. Melbourne Victory or Manchester City vs. Manchester United. To a so called 'outsider' its Channel one or Robbie savage and Michael Owen. For a start where is your bloody pride. In my opinion, soccer is an integral part of the Australian sports circle. Union, league and AFL come and go and it opens up for Soccer, Cricket and Basketball . Seeing as cricket is not run weekly, the soccer provides that weekly fixture to sooth the sport thirst. Secondly soccer is not some rocket science that takes a ten year Uni degree to pick up. Whilst some English Soccer history is deep blooded and bloodthirsty and hard to pick up, 13 years is not so hard to pick up and for a simple formation structure to throw an 'outsider' out of the conversation is disgraceful. Australia must be rated amongst the worlds dumbest countries.
nachos supreme
Guest
I don't think it's that a great an idea. There's nothing in Loftus and the train service ain't all that frequent. It's awesome for people who just want to nip up the road and watch the game but for people who want to make a day/night of it?
nachos supreme
Guest
There is a National Park and a Highway. That's it.
nachos supreme
Guest
Interesting development this one, and let me tell you this council loves a development, There are an awful lot of locals who make the trip in to watch SFC, a lot of whom are rusted on. I wonder how many would jump ship given the chance. Having said that if you want to have a pre or post match drink....let's just say it's no Surry Hills/Paddo.
Post_hoc
Guest
Perfect reply
Post_hoc
Guest
AR he actually gave a number of points the Horses being one, now it's actually not being pedantic, if you are going to claim someone said something, you don't misquote them. You might think it's pedantry, I just think it's manners. But hey call me old fashioned.
marron
Guest
Martyn? Martyn.....? Probably passed out in Richmond somewhere after a good night's rioting.
pacman
Guest
I followed this for a while, out of perverse interest. Lost interest nearing 100 posts. Now around 166 posts! Responses to an ill thought effort at high school grade 10 journalism! We are our worst enemies!
AR
Guest
You're quite right - if not a tad pedantic. He didn't use the words "main drain". Bit he did point to one factor - the Saturday ponies. As I said, I was shocked, but he was being serious. *please note: he may not have said "ponies".
chris
Guest
mate what are you on about? Are you on something?
Betty B
Guest
little wonder my dear man has abandon this website for football it has to be arguably the worst around the editor has reached a new low with this article, the second record low in a matter of days and all by the same author
chris
Guest
Nick better get on the phone and let the Chinese investors know that they are making a BIG mistake! I'm sure your quick google search far outstrips any feasibility studies that they've done
punter
Guest
No worries, unlike some, always welcoming to the AFL fans on the football tab.
Nick Symonds
Guest
Loftus to Wollongong = 45 minutes according to Google. Gold Coast to Brisbane is 60 minutes. Not many Roar fans traveled south when Lang Park was unavailable.
valhalla
Guest
changed how???