Active support, ‘soccer hooligans’ and ultras. What do these terms mean to the average football supporter?
To the mainstream media, the disaster that is ‘soccer hooliganism’ in England and more recently Australia. The Western Sydney’s RBB had set an immensely high standard for active support with their elaborate tifos, exciting displays and vibrant, engaging atmosphere that pierced Parramatta Stadium as most recent as 2016.
Nowadays, the RBB is a small set of fans behind the ‘state of the art’ and contemporary Bankwest stadium.
In contrast, the Melbourne Victory’s Northern Terrace, etched in the memory of Melbourne Victory fans for years on years, providing an altruistic look into the culture that is Melbourne Victory, setting a precedent for a large majority of the A-League.
They folded at the back end of 2016. Original Style Melbourne have taken their place, restoring the void that was left by the NT.
The Sydney FC’s cove, the Red Army, the Den are all groups that have a voice to be heard and bring an atmosphere unrivalled by any Australian sporting code.
Diving into the politics that surrounds and permeates the downfall of active support is a tiresome and anguish filled period of negotiation, public scrutiny and general pessimism. There are issues that must be pertained to besides active support.
If this week in Australian football teaches the general public anything at all, it would be that the ‘sleeping giant of Australian sport’, is dying a sluggardly death.
This week, it was speculated that Hyundai, the 15-year naming rights of the A-League ever since its inception, decided not to renew their contract worth $6 million a year.
Sponsors such as ALDI, have pulled out of the mini-roos program, NAB have pulled out too and now Hyundai.
The fluctuations in metrics and attendances for the A-League has been a natural occurrence year on year but with an average attendance of 9,840 which is 1000 less than last season’s 10,877.
The free-to-air rights holders ABC, have relegated the Sydney Derby to their secondary children’s and comedy channel. There is a cause for concern here.
Is it the long season of 26 games? Is it the lack of advertising? Is it the lack of active support let alone club identity? Is it the lack of sponsorship?
Lack of second division? There are a multitude of matters that must be discussed beyond the aforementioned. With all being said, my faith is the new FFA CEO James Johnson to bring our beautiful game to a comfortable state.
He is a football man first and foremost working with FIFA and the City Football Group in the past and is a former youth Australian player. He has outlined his plans for the future which many believe to be positive.
The participation won’t die in my opinion. Football in Australia has more participants than any other sport, with communities all across Australia getting behind our local clubs. The A-League isn’t the standard of Europe’s top five leagues but with a clear vision, we can take small steps to a larger goal.
With an off season of the Copa America, the Olympics for our Olyroos and hopefully Matildas one would hope this can lead to a spike in broadcast metrics, attendances and general love for the A-League. MaCarthur FC, the new expansion side look promising with a clear identity, vision and already 1000 members on board.
Where to next for Australian football? The answer lies in the public eye and willingness to listen and be observant of others. Ultimately, we are united in our goal to make football be a larger presence in Australia
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Incremental steps Marty, incremental steps.
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
This journey has been going on since the end of the 2nd world war when eastern Europeans came out to Australia. Didnt make any difference to the game. Same in the 1960's with the 10 pound poms. Same result. Restructure the game 15 years back. Same result.
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
BBL crowds are down,so where did they go? Not to soccer
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
They went to the AFLW instead.
Micko
Roar Rookie
2006 World Cup: Harry Kewell's bizarre case of gout two days before the Italy Round of 16 match! :shocked:
At work
Roar Rookie
You’re right Axe, that’s why more teams are required so we don’t have the boredom of playing the same team 3 times.
AxeMaster
Roar Rookie
Maybe the FFA should go back to basics.: 1. Go back to the traditional winter season. With climate change now, winters aren't really that bad anymore. At least you don't have to worry about playing or watching games in 30° + weather. (By the way I just learnt something amazing in the last minute, you see that "degree" symbol I typed after the 30...all you do is Alt+ 0176 or Alt+ 248. I never knew that for the life of me). 2. Use as many of the best already available State league / NPL stadiums. 3. Put forward a mandate that teams must play attacking attacking attacking Foo'ball, no slow crap games. 4. Change the points system for any 0 vs 0 result games - only half a competition point each. 5. Introduce "Pink card's" for simulators and any type of cheating. 6. Once an attacking team has crossed the halfway line, if they go back over in to their defensive half.....BANG....free kick to the opposition just outside the box. Try it out in the F.F.A Cup. The games become stagnant and is not changing with the times. Screw Football tradition.
Micko
Roar Rookie
1.Just doesn't make sense to have an FFA Cup where NPL teams are consistently being wiped out by A League teams before they get close to a final. If all quarter finals of an FFA Cup are contested between A League teams...then what is the point? 2.An FFA Cup with significant achievement and involvement from NPL teams is a proxy national B League anyway. After a decade, you're going to get great David vs. Goliath battles, but you're also going to develop great rivalries between interstate clubs. You might get Perth SC & Marconi meet 3 or 4 times and develop a rivalry, South Melbourne & Adelaide City, Brisbane Strikers & Wollongong Wolves etc, etc. This is logical and feasible unlike this ridiculous screaming for "Pro-rel" which just won't work!
AxeMaster
Roar Rookie
Johan......clearly not the interlect or wisdom of Sebastian Bach.
AxeMaster
Roar Rookie
Yep, spot on Kayo. Kids would be much more influenced by seeing and talking to A-League players in the flesh rather than EPL or LaLiga players on the TV. It's a simple and memorable concept for any Soccer loving kid.
AxeMaster
Roar Rookie
So if Victory ever got relegated into the B-League, you reckon any of their supporters would go the next season. No one would care. Their whole supporter base would implode. Same with any other club, this whole idea of Promo/Relo is complete garbage. People want to see their team in the top flight and that's it. Especially in a fickle league like Australia, that would be the death knell of the A League. You just need a quality, stable, one division A League.
Will
Guest
Make football original, no need to copy the NRL,AFL, Cricket just make it about how it works around the world. The a-league has a long way to go to continue to get that respect, but for starters take away the gimmicks which has crippled Australian sport. Make it real.
AxeMaster
Roar Rookie
I really think that if the League completely collapsed, the fans wouldn't really give a rats. Overseas's Football would just take up the slack. ie: Indian Super League.
AxeMaster
Roar Rookie
Have you seen the last couple Newcastle Jet's home games. Their crowds have gone walk-a-bout.
AxeMaster
Roar Rookie
No way Roberto, a home and away game against each team is more than enough.
AxeMaster
Roar Rookie
I like your FFA cup concept there Micko. An NPL club in the final would be great.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The owners have shot themselves in the foot. They ran a negative campaign with the help of the media and other interest groups that poisoned the well to get rid of Lowy.with Lowy and Gallop there you had a lot more actual media coverage , and a lot more sponsorship. They dont understand how the media works in this country, its about behind the scenes influence. The clubs have also raised ticket prices. Derby ticket prices are now like finals ticket prices, the standing section at WSW is now more expensve . Australians are just celebrity junkies , so what you need to do is put A-league players on reality television, and then more people will watch the A-league. The number of brain dead name droppers that follow only big name sport players on here is embarassing. Its laughable how many of them consider the EPL as the equivalent of the NBA in football . They might watch NBA playoff matches and never seen a NBL match but then they dont even watch the EPL because of the time slot and its embarassing they consider themselves experts. In the end the owners are going to have pay up, they wont save any money, they are on an easy ride at the moment thanks to the Lowy and Gallop TV deal. If Foxtel stop getting cash injections from News or in four years time then the free ride is over. Then you will see the A-league teams reduced down to who can pay their way or is popular. The owners though they could take all the money but they will end up just having to more money to stay in.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Sorry mate, clap, clap, clap Giants,clap, clap calp.
Micko
Roar Rookie
1. HAL of 16 or 18 teams.....correct. 3. National Second Division of 12 teams....incorrect. Completely unviable and unaffordable SOLUTION: A re-formatted FFA CUP that has the A League teams and NPL teams separate. The A League teams knock each other out till they reach a final four. The final four A League teams then go into the final 32 of the FFA CUP. That way the FFA Cup has far greater context for NPL Teams as they have a far greater chance of success, or at least to make an FFA CUP Final.
Maximus Insight
Guest
You miss my point. I'm not disagreeing that the A League is unique in the Australian sporting environment - how can I disagree withe so many who insist this is so? I'm saying the inverse is definitely NOT true. The Australian sporting environment itself is definitely NOT unique and soccer just needs to do what works in Europe and, indeed, its uniqueness will make it an unstoppable force in Australia. At the moment it's like a giant....a unique giant but not an awake one.