If you are looking for some emotional pain, support the game of football in Australia.
Forget about the winter football codes that still dominate the airwaves and importantly, government funding, and latch on to the round-ball code. It will bring you a lifetime of relentless anguish, created from both within and by plenty of fools who have business degrees yet little knowledge of the game itself.
Come along for the ride and experience the never-ending frustration of watching the most beautiful of games be hamstrung, time after time, by itself and those purporting to be supporters, people who actually hold the game to ransom through their selfishness and naivety.
Former head of the APL Danny Townsend is one such person.
Persuasive and rather importantly backed by the numb New South Wales minds that felt he was indeed an excellent individual to take control of the newly empowered APL, after A-Leagues governance was handed from Football Australia to the clubs, Townsend will now be seen as nothing but a failure.
Former Australian Professional Leagues Chief Executive Danny Townsend stepped down in October of 2023. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
With massive staff reductions having taken place at the APL and an admission that far too much money had been invested in digital campaigns and clunky websites such the appalling KeepUp, Townsend is conveniently employed elsewhere as the proverbial excrement hits the fan.
Some, myself included, called him out soon after his appointment. His stunning performance of denial at the 2020 Football Writers’ Festival in Jamberoo was something to behold in terms of watching a person spruik a million words and say absolutely nothing.
The ridiculous support he received from Sydney FC fans and the obvious challenge of overseeing the league after being so heavily involved at one club did not escape people un-fooled by the uncomfortable power possessed by the club sporting sky blue.
The selling-off of Grand Finals and a rather underwhelming Unite Round as a replacement for what was an appalling decision will ultimately define his time at the helm. Quite simply, there was little progress and continues to be so.
Townsend is a perfect example of the kind of person that continues to ruin the game for those of us who actually love football, thanks to his inability to read a room, understand the game itself and skill in enacting decisions that do nothing but alienate fans right around the country, bar a happy few in Sydney.
Paid in the role as boss of the APL, there is no doubt that he wished the best for the A-Leagues and the game itself in Australia, although something also tells me that a doubling of salary offered by an airline, a bank or reputable supermarket would have seen Townsend hot-footing out the door and on the way to his next gig.
The misnomer that football would do better under the new structures, with ‘football people’ at the helm, was believed and accepted by far too many.
What constitutes a football person is indefinable, yet I would suggest that Roar writers Tuckerman and Thomas would run the game with far greater precision, common sense and intellect than Townsend and the many others that were happy to have a crack for a decent financial return.
With the writers at the helm and a number of Roar readers and contributors on our board, the A-Leagues would be in far better health that what they are right now, despite the fact that the football remains entertaining, plenty of fans are still engaged and the future still looks bright.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
I was in Canberra over the weekend just passed and took my two daughters, two cousins and cousin-in-law to the Canberra United-Melbourne Victory clash at McKellar Park.
It was a steamy afternoon in the sun, and I was weatherly forced to purchase a $40 cap from the Canberra United merchandise tent. (Seriously, $40 for a cap?)
I paid $125 for six general admission tickets to the ground. We drank and ate plenty and watched a cracking game of football between two willing teams.
Kayla Morrison was superb at the back for Victory, as was Emma Checker and Matilda Emily Gielnik managed the winning goal in the death roes of the contest. Michelle Heyman scored twice to further enhance her legacy and Nicki Flannery did everything possible in a typically enthusiastic performance.
Townsend was not in attendance and even if he had been, I doubt he would have been able to recognise the players by appearance or jersey number and pass on that information to the potential A-League Women fans with us.
It was fun. Football is fun. Townsend and the current APL, however, think of it more as a business.
Sadly, for all their business training and rubbish decisions since taking control of the domestic leagues, they have proven themselves as nothing but failures; predictable failures, yet still failures of the highest order.
It felt like the A-Leagues could not stand another set-back such as this. Hopefully, they can and the football continues to outshine the failed decisions and directions taken by those in charge.
I’m happy to step up and take the reins. Hopefully Mike is as well. Just give us a call, APL – we would do no worse and probably a whole lot better.
chris1
Roar Rookie
Not sure I am following your logic. You don't need to know the subtelties of a game to be involved with it. There are more people involved with football in some capacity than all the other football codes combined. That's just a fact. It doesn't matter if people that are watching their kid playing on the weekend is aware of the passive offside rule. They are there, watching and involved. And that is repeated millions of times over, all over Australia.
jamesb
Roar Guru
Unite Round only had two or three months notice. Whereas Magic Round in the NRL has twelve months in advance for fans to organise themselves.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
bad new A-league all access is still going. I was hoping it would be canned with their cuts.
apaway
Roar Guru
I'm just checking that you're not being tongue-in-cheek over the Usain Bolt thing? I went to the game in Gosford that drew a big and curious pre-season crowd when both Bolt and another guy call Josh Nisbet made their debuts. It was abundantly clear even to the casual and curious fans in attendance that Bolt was absolutely not good enough to be playing A League standard football. I guarantee the novelty would have worn off after a couple of games and would have forced then-Mariners coach Mike Mulvey to play with 10 players if he was obliged to give Bolt a starting slot. Let's not forget that Bolt was offered a deal but he wanted a ludicrous amount of money, and so he turned down the offered contract.
Baggio
Roar Rookie
The inconvenient and sad truth is that the aussie market doesn't want the product. Why? Mainstream Aussie culture doesn't get soccer, it's not in the blood. Europeans WERE the game until they stopped coming. Second, third generations have integrated into Australia's peculiar culture and prefer other interests including NRL and AFL because they reflect our lifestyles. Same as the USA where NBA, NFL and MLB dominate and look down on soccer. As Australia matures, soccer will become more interesting - maybe in 50 years time. But for now we all prefer state of origin. Admit it. So let's gradually get stronger by living within our means and lets be happy to teach our kids why an accurate 30 metre pass is a beautiful thing. Regards to everyone, I love your passion.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Get the protests ready, there could be a penalty shoot out after the W-league game between CCM and Newc, apparently they are playing for the F3 trophy in the regular season, and if everything is equal goal difference, they are planning to have a penalty shoot out. Surely Waz and co are going to chain themselves to the post to stop it.
AR
Roar Rookie
"One of the ways of dealing with teams pulling down averages is instead to look at aggregate crowds 2019 = 1.41m 2023 = 1.17m" I'm not sure those stats paint a rosier picture. There's been 2 teams *added* to the competition since 2019. Those smaller teams may hurt averages, but they should boost aggregates. The reality is that ALeague crowds have been trending downward since 2014. As you point out Waz, the clearest examples are Roar and especially WSW. For their first 3 home games of a new season, WSW drew 10k, 8k, and 8k. The reasons given on this site were: 26 degrees is too hot; the Spotless period is still traumatic; we don't like the owners.
pacman
Roar Rookie
Chris, I am over 80yo, and am lucky enough to have many friends from many walks of life. Over the years I have enjoyed countless discussions involving sport. Being resident in QLD, in winter NRL (read mostly Broncos) takes precedence, followed by AFL, horse racing, RU, etc. Towards the tail end is soccer (usually introduced by me) with EPL finishing up as the centre piece. Almost zero interest in A-League (in summer), even with the interest created by the Matildas. As for the Socceroos? Also close to zero. Very different if the group contains football fans, but in QLD that is rare. And in summer, when the lunatics in charge decided A-League should be a summer sport, it is almost invisible. As a nation, we appear to be infatuated with high scoring sports contests. A nil all draw in football is automatically classified as "boring", even though some of these contests I have found to be absorbing and highly entertaining. You will, naturally, be aware of the football skill factors. Do you think the average parent at Saturday morning junior football is? If you do, you haven't been paying attention. Give them a football, and they can't kick their way out of a paper bag. Herein lies part of the problem. No awareness of required skills. I could go on and on, but if you think we are a football country, so be it. I will politely disagree. Cheers.
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
Kids playing sport is a different issue. In lots of Asian countries kids are expected to have tutors or do extra academic study rather than play sport. One of the reasons Australia usually does reasonably well in sport is because it’s our “religion”.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
If people say its cheap to buy a club, they are thick as planks. Cheap club with big debts, wage bill more than revenue etc. Fantasy island nerds gone bonkers.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Outside of Japan, none of these countries are 1st world countries. Yes maybe 'busy putting food on their tables' is maybe a bit over the top. However, leisure & sport are not a priority in these developing countries, you don't see on Saturday morning cheering these kids on football fields or swimming pools for squads.
chris1
Roar Rookie
lol - ouch
chris1
Roar Rookie
FIL - Tuffanose is now in the scroll over and don't read bracket for me. Just another tr oll (who loves all sports mind you) but has a particular dislike for our local football. And he thinks people are interested in his diatribes.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
should be 3000 word pieces second part. I only did a few such articles.
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
I stand corrected, the NRL is the second worst league in the world.
Skoose
Roar Rookie
There's a great pod cast on The Guardian called Football Weekly (Episode 'Qater's World Cup, one year on..') that discusses the merits of buying a football club for sports washing, as it's actually cheap to buy a club. As there are a lot of discussions about the City Group in the discussions below. Take a listen and decided for yourselves why City Group bought Melbourne Heart.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
mate, I try to see the good in people but you are illustrating yourself to be nothing more than a societal struggler. Contribute to discussion, provide constructive input. I feel for your family mate.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
So in your mind where do you seed interest and establish a supporter base from? I have been involved in football for over 40 years, and now my nephews love the game, they enjoy going to the Jets, they bring their mates and talk about Buhargiar and Archie Goodwin. Where do you think English football supporters get their interest from. Do you think they're walking down the street one and just spur of the moment decide to support Plymouth Argyle? Mate, you obviously wagged school right!!! If you are going to post, post with logic, substance and evidence.
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
It is a generalisation because you’ve labeled Asians as “busy putting food on their tables”. I live in Malaysia and I’ve previously lived in Japan and China. I’ve travelled to every country in SE Asia. I was in Vietnam 3 weeks ago and I was in Cambodia last year. I think more relevant is ticket prices for football in each country, for example I went to an AFC Cup match, purchased a premium ticket and it was $10, but there were also cheaper tickets. And as I’ve said, the average person is interested in the Premier League not their local league.
Punter
Roar Rookie
That is not a generalisation. The only first world countries are Western Europe, Nth America, both US & Canada, Japan, Sth Korea, Singapore & Australia & New Zealand.