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A-League clubs should fear sleeping NSL giants

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Roar Rookie
18th April, 2019
29

Should A-League clubs be worried about the second tier in Australian football? Maybe they should be. 

If you ever went to an old NSL game in the past and experienced the passion and loyal tribalism that these old clubs fans have, you – like me – would be extremely excited by the FFA’s indication that a second tier competition could be kicking off as early as the 2020/21 season.

In the eyes of the football purists, this move has been a long time coming as we move to align with the way competitions are structured in the UK and Europe.

So the big question is how will this affect the current landscape of the A-League and the current clubs?

Some of the clubs in the bigger markets will have the numbers to sustain this change and have worked extremely hard to capture their younger supporters.

But how many of the old NSL fans who were forced to pick a team in the country’s premier competition will jump ship when their previously adored club is presented with the opportunity to play week in, week out on a national stage?

Look at the South Australian market, and specifically one of the biggest and most successful clubs in the former NSL: Adelaide City.

It’s hard to see Adelaide United keeping the lion’s share of support if the Zebras return in black and white to the pitches of Australia.

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Adelaide United fans wave flags

Adelaide United fans may abandon their club if Adelaide City are added to the FFA’s mooted second division. (AAP Image/James Elsby)

A lot of water is left to go under the bridge and the FFA have detailed some sensible provisos for the new competition to ensure its success and the ability for the A-League clubs to adapt to this new football landscape.

Delaying promotion and relegation for two years is a way to build the support for the second-tier clubs and start to build momentum for an eventual tilt at the big time.

Including a women’s competition attached to this second tier reiterates the truly inclusive nature of football and makes these clubs establish family roots in the local community before taking this to the highest level.

It is now time for the A-League clubs to think of strategies to engage in their local communities even more.

The top-tier clubs need to plant their flag in their respective territories or risk losing sentimental fans looking to recapture the glory days.

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The inception of the FFA Cup has shown how smaller teams and Cinderella stories can capture the sporting public’s imagination.

Imagine the dream scenario of Adelaide City vs West Adelaide on the final day of the second division and keeping one eye on Marconi vs South Melbourne as the clubs all shoot for promotion, with the ultimate dream of competing and winning the A-League.

Remember, it was only 2002 that Manchester City won the Championship in England, and we all know what’s happened since then.

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