Wednesday night’s blockbuster semi-final at Stadium Australia highlighted just what it means to be an active football fan in Australia.
The long-suffering supporters, who have battled against the odds to bring life and noise to important matches involving the national teams, continue to take the good with the bad, and all credit to their perseverance in what remains a remarkably uphill struggle.
A typical workday Wednesday blossomed into a raucous afternoon at the Aurora Hotel at Central Station as the Matildas Active Support and friends descended to fill the bar with green and gold. By 5.30pm, the bar was almost empty as the fans headed for the train.
Thanks to the efforts of Transport NSW, the train sat idle for half an hour and the carriages rocked to the beat of the drum. Another good hour later, with bladders close to bursting, the train was pulling in to Olympic Park to an incredible scene.
There stood thousands of football fans, all happy and smiling, a sprinkling of St George amongst the sea of yellow, a proper carnival atmosphere befitting this momentous world cup semi-final.
Catching a final drink at the venue of choice, the Locker Room, right across from the main entrance to Stadium Australia, braving the outrageous queues for the privilege of a schooner of throat-loosening, thirst-quenching beer, a re-run of Saturday’s penalty shootout had the crowd buzzing even more.
Matildas captain Sam Kerr. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
News filtered through of Sam Kerr starting, but Alana Kennedy missing. England fans sang their many football anthems. Football was coming home. It was time now to enter the stadium, nice and early, to get set for the biggest football game here since the men’s Asian Cup final in 2015.
The Matildas Active Support group had mobilised well. With no official active sections at FIFA Women’s World Cup games, the obstructed view seats at the very front of the central bay of northern end of the stadium had been acquired via Football Australia.
These otherwise unsellable tickets, below the eyeline of the advertising hoardings, made their way into the hands of active fans on the premise that they would sing, chant and make noise throughout the game in support of their heroes on the field. What a great arrangement – the active fans at the front of the huge bay, like a conductor to a 15,000 strong choir.
The only source of songs other than ‘Aussie Oi Oi Oi’, the infectious drum beat that carried throughout the stadium, the noise, the colour, the animation, that was what everyone wanted to see, that’s what the cameras focused on, the fevered Australian fans capturing the pride and joy that the whole country felt. Except it wasn’t what everyone wanted.
A half-drunk can of premix bounced off the back of one active supporter’s head. Another was threatened by an unruly patron sitting a few rows back, who waded in looking for a fight.
The passive supporters behind the active fans were either really enjoying this unexpected thrust into active support, or were furious; their one venture out to watch football ‘ruined’ by these people standing and making noise in front of them.
The security guards, traditionally the fun police for any passionate football fan, didn’t know what to do. They knew this was the active section. They knew the fans had every right to be standing up and making noise. But they also knew that there was unrest.
But the songs and the chants kept coming, the drum beat had every fan clapping along, and in the aftermath of Sam Kerr’s unbelievable equalising goal, the noise levels were at their peak. Even when losing and ultimately dead and buried, as some of those miserable souls in the seats behind sulked off before the final whistle to reveal big sections of empty blue seats, the defiant active section kept going.
‘Til It’s done’ is the catchphrase.
Active football support in Australia is a challenge. This was a women’s international game that meant the world to these fans who have travelled the world in support of their national team.
The mood was one of love and joy, the noise, the colour and the jovial spirit was captured on the TV cameras for everyone watching around the world. It was proof that Australia has a football fan culture. There was nothing crass in any of the chants, this was just support meant to pump up the Matildas and the Matildas fans to urge them to victory.
I’ve often heard from fans that they would much rather sit and watch the game than be involved, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. If you’re buying a cheap ticket behind the goals though, where the view and the angle is definitely not conducive to studying the technical aspects of the game, you may want to take it into consideration that you could end up surrounded by vocal and passionate fans.
Well done to Football Australia for making an effort; perhaps seeing all the other countries going to great lengths for their supporters to get them together in the stadium had evoked a reaction.
A big shout out too for the Matildas Active Support committee who have organised a fantastic series of pre-game meet-ups and co-ordinated game day activities on each occasion.
Perhaps one day, we’ll have a section of the stadium filled with green and gold, singing from a hymn sheet as long as your arm, filling the stadium with joy as the players react to their infectious chants. Until then, there’s still a long way to go.
JoshW
Roar Rookie
No, we don't. Active support for the national teams is embarrassing, it's really really wrong.
Steven Harris
Daniel Alves Ched Evans Joey Barton Breno Borges Benjamin Mendy Adam Johnson Bruno Feranandes Mason Greenwood All professional soccer players charged with everything from rape, murder and arson, and that was after a 10 second google search.. And I will enjoy mad Monday cheers ????
Grem
Roar Rookie
What a load of generalisations. I’ve been attending the A Leagues with family and friends for years and there have been no issues. You use one terrible incident and paint it like it happens every week. Come out of the glass house and talk about the racism in AFL and the violence of rugby league players against women and they ARE regular events.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Well Steven - it was the top rating show on tv on Sunday. Up to 5 million viewers at times. I think the pre or post match was the second top show. You started with these comments before the World Cup and you finished with them and you were wrong every time. Now it’s time to watch your beloved Eels finish their season in 2 weeks time. Hopefully no Hayne Plane, Dylan B, Brett F, etc incidents on Mad Monday.
AdamDJT
Roar Rookie
If only A-League active supporter groups were like those at the World Cup. Most A-League ones aren't about fun, but rather about throwing flares, punches and metal bins, and are just not family friendly at all. So many families have been to one A-League game and will never, ever go back again because of it. Also, being behind the goals allows you to see the vertical tactical aspect - again, people wouldn't mind sitting there if they weren't having to hear ridiculous angry swearing, but rather the happy, fun active support that the World Cup had. One thing my children noticed about the World Cup as opposed to the A-League was the lack of people demanding every little clash or tackle be a free-kick for their team and a card for the other team, no matter what actually happened.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
I will be at the stadium supporting the England side if for no other reason, I always believe it is better to have lost to the team that goes on to win the title - ie, you were beaten by the best and not by much; just like Socceroos to Argentina in December last year.
Grem
Roar Rookie
The final is a sell out. The ground will be full. I’m certain the viewing figures will be high – hopefully they publish them. This is a real World Cup final in the biggest game on earth. This isn’t a pretend “world cup” game like Australia v Greece in another code. What were their viewing figures for the final of the “world cup” between the Kangaroos and Samoa? These viewing figures may not break the Matildas v England game, but they’ll probably go close and no rugby league game has beaten those figures either. Have a look for them next Monday. I’m sure they’ll be well above The Eels v Roosters classic on Friday night.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Nicky Winnar, Eddie Betts, Adam Goodes, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan – Oh and how is the Hawthorn racism investigation going? Is it before the Human Rights Commission yet? AFL the code that brings communities together! Lucky no one else in the world plays this game. Get out of your glass house Moe.
Blue007
Roar Rookie
As I said, 11.15 M Aussies watched the Matilda’s v England semi-final smashing every long-standing Australian TV Ratings record. No other figures are available as far as I can see, so my best estimate would be 5-6 M Aussies as part of a worldwide audience of half a Billion or so. (Note - this could be way higher due to the staggering success of this Women’s Football World Cup that has broken Attendance Records, Ticket sales Records and TV Ratings Records)
Steven Harris
Wasn't talking about worldwide if you read my comment only Australian audiences
Blue007
Roar Rookie
Yeah.. 11.15 M Aussies watched the Matilda’s smashing every Australian TV Ratings record. Not sure how many watched the other semi. As for the Women’s Football World Cup Final, I know Football Australia were anticipating an audience of over 2 Billion viewers worldwide. Go the Matilda’s tomorrow v Sweden.
Steven Harris
8 something million watched the Matildas probably more but how many Australians watched the Spain v Sweden semi the day before? 7 mil or 5 million, maybe 1 million.How many will watch the final?
ockeroo
Roar Rookie
We have gutless lawmakers. The swine who set off flares at Fed Square will always get away with their shitshow behaviour, because some fool judge will only give them a fine, community cleanup chores and a useless warning. That flares could be smuggled into Fed Square and even let off, says a lot about the lousy policing. Try this sort of crap in Singapore and these idiots would have their arses caned a dozen times, as should be anyone, who uses violence against others. Give it a week and all will be forgotten.
Blue007
Roar Rookie
Aussies tuned in to watch the Women’s Football World Cup. The biggest single sporting Tournament we have ever seen in Australia. Last Saturday night 8.13 M Football fans watched and supported the Tillies. Then was it 3 or 4 days later, who knew, 11.15 M Football fans supported the Tillies.
Texi
Roar Rookie
Not sure you'd ever get any of that at a Socceroos / Matildas game. Everything has to pass the pub test first.
matth
Roar Guru
I went to the theatre recently and some kid behind us sang the entire show punctuated by high pitched squealing. That was a red letter night! :stoked: At the football is obviously different but the key is to have designated bays so you don’t bring your five year old or 85 year old in.
moe_syzlak
Roar Rookie
speaking of shared commonalities that bring communities together … whats the latest on that greeacres referee assault? …. and the sydney united 58 neo n -@zi’s? …. and the racial vilification incident in feb this year at a sydney united 58 V leichardt fc game? ……. what about that offensive EAD sign that was paraded around a sydney soccer game some years back – whatever happened with that? or the wsw fan group refusing to apologise for offensive mardi gras posts in 2020 – what happened there?
mrl
Roar Rookie
Melbourne is what they have in common.
jupiter53
Roar Pro
I am more likely to be supporting England. Spain have some spectacularly skilful players, and their close passing is great to watch, but……. Spain seem to me to be more inclined to commit quick fouls to stop the opposition building anything as soon as they have lost the ball [not that England are angels, just not quite as bad]. They also dived appallingly against Sweden, particularly in the last 10 minutes. And it would be a travesty if they won the WWC having been smashed 4-0 by Japan.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I’m not sure how I can/will support either team. I will probably go with the flow - if a team is playing good football then I’ll probably get caught up in that and cheer them on. If a team is playing football that is negative (like Netherlands v Spain 2010 WC) I would probably cheer for the other team. There’s also a thought that I’d like England to win 4-0 to show how good The Matilda’s effort was the other night with a leg weary squad. I know whatever happens I will appreciate being at. World Cup final.