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The induction of the Western Sydney Wanderers into the A-League may be the best thing the FFA has done since the A-League was founded.
Listening to the demands of a passionate footballing base and consulting its community has resulted in a footballing success story, one that provides a blueprint for future expansion clubs.
While replacing the Bunnings chairs with state of the art benches was very much appreciated, it does not exceed the impact the Wanderers have had on the greater football community, as well as the A-League’s profile domestically and internationally.
In April 2012, the Western Sydney Wanderers were officially announced as the tenth addition into the league, following the FFA’s decision to revoke the license of Gold Coast United.
Though this might have been seen as a long time coming for football fans in Western Sydney, it is safe to say that not even the biggest optimists could have predicted what has since transpired.
The Wanderers are currently competing in their fifth season and within that time they have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with, claiming both domestic and continental success.
Football fans across Sydney’s west had been pleading for the FFA to incorporate a team representing their football heartland, particularly as it is possibly Australia’s biggest community footballing region, producing Socceroos such as Lucas Neill and Scott Chipperfield.
The FFA had initially decided to play it safe by having one team in each of the country’s major cities. Football NSW originally proposed that Sydney FC should be based in Parramatta, but this was rejected by the FFA. Instead, they based the club at the Allianz Arena in Sydney’s east, adding to the geographical tension between Sydney’s eastern and western suburbs.
The implementation of the Wanderers was thus significant due to the voice it gave to a population of football supporters.
The Wanderers have since revolutionised the A-League.
On the field, the Wanderers immediately set the scene by cashing in on international marquee Shinji Ono, who to this day is one of the best marquees we have seen in the league.
They defied all the odds and shocked the league by winning the Premiership in their first ever season. Many of the players in this Premiership team, such as Aaron Mooy and Tom Juric, have since moved on and made a name for themselves in Europe and with the national team.
The team then did the unthinkable, becoming the first Australian club to win the Asian Champions League in what was an arduous yet memorable campaign that solidified Australian football.
However, the biggest contribution has been off the field.
The fans, otherwise known as the ‘RBB’, have revolutionised active support in Australia. The atmosphere is loud enough that it makes you believe as though you are at the game when you are watching it at home.
The ‘RBB’ has made a vital contribution to the expansion and enhancement of active support in the league.
Active support in the A-League has been taken to the next level through the innovation and ardour displayed by the Wanderers. The RBB has unknowingly impacted other supporter groups, who have since been inspired and have thus expanded themselves, creating an incredible atmosphere on match day.
The passion demonstrated by these fans symbolises how significant the football club has been in creating a greater sense of belonging and community across the Western suburbs of Sydney.
Hence, the Wanderers are more than a football club.
Their formation has laid the foundation for a greater sense of unity and helped take the league to new heights.
The Sydney derby is one of the most anticipated fixtures on the A-League calendar. An A-League record was set when 61,880 spectators turned out for the opening match between Sydney FC and Western Sydney.
Recently, the Wanderers have also broken their membership record, having 18,811 members signed up. Many more are expected to join, once the renovations are completed at Parramatta stadium. This then opens the door to catching Melbourne Victory in the membership stakes, who have been generally been the standout club, with over 25,000 members.
Five seasons on and the Wanderers have become the biggest success story in Australian football. Despite many fans being aggrieved with many FFA decisions in recent times, this is one that they certainly got right.
This is possibly the blueprint in establishing new A-League clubs.
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