Opinion
It’s hard to believe it was only nine years ago, on a Good Friday, when a sea of red and black made their way up to Newcastle for a celebration like no other.
Around 10,000 Wanderers faithful hopped in their cars and flooded the F3 or crammed into the old Tangara trains, eagerly anticipating clinching the club’s first piece of silverware in their foundation season.
The A-League Men had never seen anything like it.
“That was the best game ever and best march too, it was such a fun day,” fondly recalls Rula Al-Shibly.
Shazza Daley agreed: “Best night. Will never forget it.”
“VISCONTE! What a cracker,” added Greg Kuzma.
Newcastle is a good 2.5-3.5 hour drive or a four-hour train ride for most people in western Sydney. But a long Easter weekend and the lure of a trophy meant it was a relatively easy trip.
The pre-match BBQ, hosted by the local Wanderers club, went down a treat. The cafes and bars in town – that were open – made a fortune. The local beaches turned red and black for the day.
“Best pre-match as well on the adjacent ground, BBQ, warm up, game, brilliant day out,” remembers Gary Strong.
I vaguely remember chatting to a local elderly gentleman when parking my car: “it’s like the Beatles are in town,” he said with a bit of a confused smile.
I explained to him what was happening and encouraged him to find a ticket if he could, and made it clear he wouldn’t regret it.
Getting there nice and early didn’t help. There were people everywhere, queuing up long before the gates opened. There were plenty of smiles, excitement and more than a twinkle in the eye.
The Red and Blac Bloc march to the stadium could be heard all around the Hunter region. It was almost like a homecoming for local heroes, although it was actually a new mob that were riding into town and taking over for the day.
When they finally let us inside, it was like a procession, almost ceremonial, as we filtered to our seats in anticipation.
From the opening whistle, the red and black sang and danced in the terraces. The place was rocking and it was there for young and old, rich or poor. Ethnicity, religion, and social status didn’t matter.
If you were a Wanderer, those were more than sufficient credentials.
“The chanting underneath the grandstand,” recalls Conrad Howard, who was among the Wanderers faithful.
“What a night that was and so many good ones after that,” says a nostalgic Mari Lbr.
(Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The electricity that went through Hunter Stadium as it was called then that night energised Australian football. Even the Jets fans got caught up in the infectious mood, and even though their team needed to win to keep alive their own finals hopes, you could tell they knew they were witnessing something special.
The team did their part. A double from Mark Bridge and a Rocky Visconte stunner clinched the premier’s plate for the Wanderers in fine style.
An early Bridge goal set the tone for the game for the players and the fans. It made sure the mood was celebratory throughout.
Labinot Haliti’s superb cross saw Bridge tap in on six minutes. He doubled the lead on 33 minutes when a clever Dino Kressinger header saw him though one-on-one with the Jets’ keeper Mark Birighitti.
At halftime, the beers and coffee were flowing, and the champagne was on ice.
The second half was dour as the Jets tried to fight their way back into the game. But Visconte sealed the premier’s plate and sent the Wanderers fans into a state of nirvana with a superb 20-yard left-foot drive 12 minutes from time.
The final quarter of an hour was one of the best football parties you will ever see. Australian domestic football had finally arrived.
The sound of Wanderers fans singing ‘champions’ reverberated around Hunter Stadium, and indeed around the country, as those that doubted the ability of the A-League Men to transcend the game in Australia finally started to believe.
Fast forward nine years, and it’s fair to say the game is in a state of flux down under. But there is hope. The newly formed APL have promised to find a way to bring back that tribalism.
The Wanderers’ management need to re-engage those hardcore passionate fans who simply want their club to represent them again.
The Wanderers faithful are the key to rejuvenating Australian football. We did it nine years ago, and we can do it again.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
The loser of the Sydney Derby will be under immense pressure entering the final three matches of the season.
Anthony Caceres is a player with immense talent and has a fantastic work rate, broke the deadlock against the Mariners in the 74th minute.
Western Sydney coach Marko Rudan says his side have recaptured their edge after breaking their Campbelltown Stadium hoodoo with a 3-1 clobbering of cross-town…
The Wanderers coach admits he has stuff going on in his personal life, and insists he has full support of playing group.
