Choosing a topic for my regular Tuesday football column on The Roar never proved as difficult as it did over the weekend just passed.
With two A-League matches slated for Monday in serious doubt and as more and more state and territory governments made announcements in regards to border protection and pending lockdowns, talking about the beautiful game seemed somewhat secondary.
However, there had already been plenty of quality action. Melbourne City’s women completed a predictable triumph in the W-League grand final on Saturday, the Brisbane Roar continued their golden run with a win against the Jets on Friday and the Wanderers successfully navigated a season of Sydney derbies without a loss, something on which the bookies would have been offering long odds.
Yet tapping away and reviewing the goings on in Australian football over the weekend seemed rather meaningless considering world events and the ever-changing domestic situation. Monday’s match between City and Newcastle did eventually take place yet could well be the final Australian football match played for many months.
The AFL and NRL have had their desperate attempts to ‘contingency’ their way into their seasons curtailed and the A-League will surely follow first thing Tuesday morning. Ironically, and at the time of writing, each and every professional player across all three codes is currently in good health.
(Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
However, such decisions were and are inevitable and the focus is now on the future and the potential of a virus that will forever change the globe. Those concerns will now terminate an A-League season that was looming as something not to be missed.
Sydney FC as runaway leader had every right to ‘shotgun’ the championship, Perth’s ability to challenge was being questioned and Wellington were looming as the real danger. Melbourne City looked solid and a host of teams were jockeying for the final two spots in the six.
Now it all means little, and the psychological impact is immediately noticeable both for me and probably most of you.
Football brings me joy. Sheer joy.
Not just the simple contentment or satisfaction gained from an enjoyable meal or a successful business transaction but something far deeper and more profound. The 90-odd minutes that take place on millions of pitches across the globe produce far more primal and innate feelings that warm the soul in ways that few endeavours can.
In reading this piece you are most likely of a similar mind; one who shares an utter obsession with and passion for the most pure of games.
Realising that I will be without football for some time brought a genuine sadness over me. It also made me reflect on the players and moments that draw us to football in our billions.
We watch and love the players and construct a mental romance with the moments that shape our unique football narrative.
For me, it was West Ham United’s Frank McAvennie and Tony Cottee. My father and I adopted the London-based club in the late 1970s, saw them win an FA Cup, gain promotion to the top flight and be relegated less than a decade later.
Scotsman McAvennie was a star, scoring 49 league goals in 153 games for the club, while Cottee managed 115 successful strikes in 279 matches. Both enjoyed two stints at West Ham and entrenched my love for the oft hapless Hammers.
During the 1980s I sat up late for the ABC’s one-hour English FA highlights package on what I think was Friday nights to see the genius of players like Matthew Le Tissier, Ian Rush and Paul Gascoigne. I rarely missed SBS’s Serie A highlights on Sunday mornings, and I soaked up Les Murray’s World Soccer on Sunday afternoons, a program that brought Brazilian, Dutch, German and Argentinian football to many Australians for the first time.
World Cups came and went and Australian football lamented its lack of involvement until 16 November 2005 changed everything.
The names that drew me ever closer to the game during that era form a pantheon of modern football history. Ruud Gullit, Michel Platini, Maradona, Roberto Baggio, Zico, Marco van Basten and Gary Lineker. I get goosebumps just typing their names.
A host of other characters also provided great entertainment, sometimes for all the right and wrong reasons. Teddy Sheringham, Ossie Ardiles, Eric Cantona, Vinnie Jones and Carlos Valderrama are all etched in my football memory and forever will be.
It now appears likely we will all be doing nothing other than calling on those memories for the short-term future, and the emotional space created by a lack of football will be filled in a variety of different ways.
In the spirit of solidarity and support I’d like to read about your names, your heroes and your football journey. Comment below and let’s start a football conversation about the greats, the moments and the villains who drew us to the game and will forever keep us enthralled by it.
JGK
Roar Guru
“ First memories are sitting up with the old man to watch f a cups , Arsenal v United 3-2 back in 79 ?” That was my first memory too as a 7 year old. We were a Man U household so I hated Arsenal for years after that. Stoopid Alan Sunderland. Always had a soft spot for West Ham after their win in 1980 over Arse too.
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
So many football memories Stuart I’ll leave the obvious ones of the mighty Socceroos for now although I must mention that Johnny Warren was and still is my idol, despite the fact I was an avid rugby league fan . Johnny and les brought the Italian game into our lounge rooms , van basten and the Dutch at Milan, klinnsman abd the Germans at inter . Samodoria had a wonderful team as well , I love that sampdoria shirt , is there a better strip , I don’t think so. First memories are sitting up with the old man to watch f a cups , Arsenal v United 3-2 back in 79 ? But some of the best memories are at uncelebrated grounds in the West Midlands like the old highfield road where Darren huckerby inspired Coventry to beat the all star man utd team . Or when Trevor Francis coached Birmingham City were on an inspirational run towards the playoff , besting west brom in the 7 th minute of injury time . A great memory of seeing euro 2000 when England beat Germany, but also the great zidane French team best Czech 2-1 , Portuguese team smash Germany and best of Spain beat Yugoslavia 4-3 , with 2 goals in injury time ., that’s as good as it gets . Stuart I suggest you select a match of the week for people to you tube and comment on , and what that game meant to them at the time . What was that era like etc through a football and lense ?? I’d throw out some suggestions such as the Socceroos loss to Scotland or Iran , or maybe more joyful the Socceroos drawing with Maradona Argentina in the first leg under Eddie Thomson . Or the great Barcelona beating man utd in the final, when surely Barcelona played the perfect game of football.
chris
Guest
That summer of '82. My first trip to Europe with my parents as a youngster. Loved Italy winning and that Brasil side was amazing. And Paolo Roberto Falcao signing for Roma!
chris
Guest
I almost hit the ceiling when Cahill scored the equaliser. By the time JA got the 3rd I didnt want the match to end.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
You mean this game https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ev4ENOwJb4 Wow, that man-handling of the ref after Farina goes down in the box and we get a pen. That’s assault in anybody’s language :laughing: Those shorts, that hair style :shocked:
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Brazil? Meh, deservedly lost to the eventual winners.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
I just remembered something else, what about the time the Socceroos defeated Argentina 4-1 as part of the Bicentenary cup in 1988. Don't forget that Argentina were reigning world champions, and while it wasn't a full strength side, they weren't mugs either. I have a vague recollection of Charlie Yankos hitting a free kick from well outside the box, I think Frank Farina came off the bench and scored one, and can't remember his name now, but a bloke with longish hair rose up high for a great glancing header from a cross or free.
Marcel
Guest
Brasil 82 side! France v W. Germany Semi Final.!!! Ricky and Ossie winning the Cup for Spurs!!! 16 November 2005 !!!!!!!!!!!!
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
My uncle was a Millwall supporter & got me interested from the mid 60's when he started writing to me in Oz. Back then I would try to get the scores on short wave radio orwait for Monday's paper. Telecom introduced a phone score service & that's how I found out they beat Hull 1-0 away to clinch promotion to the top division. Poor crowd behaviour is a thing of the past & they have "an Aussie connection" through Kevin Mitchell, Jason Van Blerk, Kevin Muscat, Lucas Neill, Tim Cahill & more recently James Meredith. Nowadays I can catch some of their games live on Bein Sports although over the years they have regularly frustrated me by winning games I expected them to lose then losing games against lowly teams. The joy of following a non glamour club although anybody could support Liverpool, Man U etc however the expectations are always high & failure to them is running second. Don't think I could get used to that!
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Gheorghe Hagi WC 1994 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiHwVSZlPQQ
Stevo
Roar Rookie
One of those times in your life that you’ll remember and take to the grave with you. I was 14, would get up at 4am, just before dad would knock on the bedroom door. You watched the game on analogue TV, the images overlaid with a lovely touch of noise and the commentary sounding like some one was stuck in a barrel. Ahhh, those were the days. And flares and platform shoes, and then punk rock :silly: If you dare https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/441493569691152608/
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Oh.....it was you!
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Someone mentioned '74 which would be great. I was two so not really tuning in.
AGO74
Guest
That's an awesome story Buddy. Thanks for sharing!
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
SBS would have a massive library of socceroo games from the 80s and 90s
Stevo
Roar Rookie
I wonder if somebody, Optus, Foxsports, SBS ??? could show the 1974 WC games that the Socceroos featured in. Or how about all WC games that the Socceroos were in would be better :happy:
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Thoroughly enjoyable read. Great stuff Buddy. What I would have given to be there. Although I was only 7 at the time. Really sad when we lost to Liverpool in 2006 after leading twice. My Dad was dying a pretty slow and painful death at the time and we looked to have it won. Gerrard produced some sheer magic.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Just watched the 1987 FA Cup celebrity game. Amazing stuff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_CliVY5ZwI
Nick Symonds
Guest
Australia vs Japan in 2006 That match sent me to hospital with heart problems and I haven't recovered since. I now watch every Socceroos match that I can.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
I don't have the history as a fan Stuart, so I'll take whatever you serve up. Just keep writing, and don't give up.