Roar Rookie
Joined December 2020
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Author of Unashamed Football Novels, football writer, part-time blogger, Sydney FC member, Geordie boot boy, over 45s player, park football referee, football dad. Member of the Meadowbank Ultras.
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Football purists all over Australia were cringing this week at the announcement of three blockbuster end-of-season exhibition games bringing English Premier League’s perennial underachievers…
The halftime whistle goes at the Emirates Stadium and a bumper WSL crowd heads for the concourse. Queues have already formed for stadium food…
Mary Fowler delivered an incredible strike on the hour for a frustrated Matildas team as they finally clicked into gear to overcome the stubborn…
Tony Gustavsson’s press conference following the dismantling of closest rivals, the Philippines, in the second round of Olympic qualifying took us back to the…
The 2023 Australia Cup final at the Sydney Football Stadium almost emulates the famous Community Shield fixture in England and spells the beginning of…
Spain and England put on a show on Sunday night for the World Cup final that put their semi-final victories into perspective. These were…
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…
The biggest turnout for a 'MD-1' (match day minus one) press conference of this tournament descended on the media centre at Stadium Australia on…
After guiding Australia to the semi-finals of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, an emotional Tony Gustavsson broke away from his post-match on-field interview…
Caitlin Foord, fresh from a match-winning player of the match performance in Monday night’s FIFA Women’s World Cup round of 16 game against Denmark,…
The FIFA Women’s World Cup has been thrilling us all through the group stages, and now that we have a day to reflect and…
The Matildas came into Monday night’s crunch game at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium with only one thing in mind, and judging by what transpired on…
A lot has been written about the failings of Tony Gustavsson’s Matildas team on Thursday night as the desperate long-ball tactics failed to rescue…
Brazil cruised to a comfortable four-goal victory at Hindmarsh Stadium as they found their rhythm in front of a partisan crowd to ease to…
The art of queuing was on full display on Thursday night as the football community descended on Stadium Australia and tested the venue to…
For all those people stressing about tickets for the FIFA Women's World Cup, you needn't have stressed too much. Aside from the opening game…
Australia is a proud nation, a population obsessed with sports, with fans willing to travel great distances over land and sea at great expense…
We are another step closer to the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023. The provisional Matildas squad has been announced, and while we are no…
It's coming. The hype has started. The FIFA Women's World Cup is coming to Australia and New Zealand in a few short weeks, and…
As football fans, are we allowed to turn our attention to the FIFA Women's World Cup yet? Are we still glancing behind us for…
Agree – a whole week of hotels and flights adds up, and we’re not exactly living in extravagant times. Praying that the tickets aren’t ridiculously expensive. That turns the casual attendee away, even if they live right next to the stadium, and this will only work if there is a full house.
The potential Grand Final venue makes the finals series even more exciting – a trip to Wellington would be a blast.
Townsend’s Festival of Football finally comes to fruition - in another city
Now we’re talking. There are so many players funnelling into the SPL, it would definitely make sense. Their off-season seems to be only a couple of weeks though!
Townsend’s Festival of Football finally comes to fruition - in another city
The famous 39th round? You’re thinking more of one of the 38 rounds being played in Australia? Audacious. Asking a team to forfeit a home advantage to travel around the world to play and all their fans to make the journey. What’s the carrot?
Townsend’s Festival of Football finally comes to fruition - in another city
“…non moving log…” That tickled me!
Townsend’s Festival of Football finally comes to fruition - in another city
Texi Smith goes bang. Never thought I’d see that in writing! Okay, it’s true that my tipping season started off horrifically and left me way behind, but we’re back in amongst the pack now.
But look at the spread of the tips this week. This proves the unpredictability, the excitement, the thrill of the A-League. Even seasoned tipsters have no idea which way it’s going to go; well maybe one of us will come out smelling of roses, but two of us will be licking our wounds after a dismal weekend of predicting results from Australia’s top flight.
It’s been said before, and I’ll say it again. The A-League is a fantastic product on the field and we are lucky to have it, warts and all. All it takes is a little investment in understanding the narratives of every individual game and the entertainment takes care of itself. Enjoy your weekend everyone, hope we’ve got plenty to discuss come Monday morning.
The Roar's A-League Men tips and predictions: Round 18
The Toon live to fight another day. But yes, agree, what a load of sh*t.
'What a load of s--t': Newcastle left fuming after VAR 'robbery' cruels Magpies out of famous PSG win
Relegation would a massive shot in the arm though. If the A-League is big enough, the bottom team goes down to be replaced by the winners of the second tier, the second bottom team joins the second, third and fourth teams in the second tier for a play-off series. With the final being hyped up as the ‘most expensive game in Australia’ or something. Of course, we know that pro/rel has its challenges in Australia due to geography, but if we give incentives to those states who only have one team (or even none if relegated) then we can really make the second division an attractive proposition. Given context, I wouldn’t mind the tension of a conservative performance if it meant my team stayed up.
Australia's football fans still don't appreciate how spoilt we are by our A-Leagues
Agree! And those Eurosnobs would say it was great because there was an atmosphere. Colombia v South Korea anyone? Midday on a Tuesday and the place was going off. The marketing of the A-League is a tough one though – definitely needs some eager minds behind it.
Australia's football fans still don't appreciate how spoilt we are by our A-Leagues
So true. Now, with a bit of history behind us, we do have those rivalries. The Original Rivalry, the Distance Derby, F3 Derby, Sydney Derby and Melbourne Derby. The Big Blue. We even have the tour of duty, where supporter groups nominate away games to circle in the calendar and make the effort to get to en masse. There is a football culture in this country that just needs some love from the outside and this thing will take off.
Australia's football fans still don't appreciate how spoilt we are by our A-Leagues
Ah, yes, if you’re looking for an atmosphere, Melbourne City might not be the first club to tick that box. The big name players are there, but yes, we could use a bit of star power, a cult hero or a known name from a ‘big’ league.
Australia's football fans still don't appreciate how spoilt we are by our A-Leagues
Hey, I’m not saying don’t watch other leagues, but I applaud your dedication.
Australia's football fans still don't appreciate how spoilt we are by our A-Leagues
…and have a look at the entertainment that was served up this weekend. The good times are coming for the A-League, mark my words.
Australia's football fans still don't appreciate how spoilt we are by our A-Leagues
Wow, you’ll be happy with that result.
Not sure if being able to spread out a picnic blanket at a game is really a good thing, but we’ve seen it at Kogarah and Leichhardt. Problem with the hill is that it’s empty when it’s raining!
Australia's football fans still don't appreciate how spoilt we are by our A-Leagues
Thought the ball was kept in by Willock.
Thought Joelinton would have been penalised for the foul.
There was no suggestion of offside.
The huge delay while this was checked was farcical; a good advert for removing VAR altogether.
'It's embarrassing, a disgrace': Arteta fuming after VAR strikes again as Newcastle upset Arsenal, City take top spot
It’s our version of Posh and Becks perhaps. Mary Fowler appeals to all Australians, Nathan Cleary only to the subset of rugby league fans. It’s a match made in heaven from a publicity point of view, and Mary is already a well-known player internationally. Let’s see what transpires over the next few months. Maybe we’ll see Cleary in the stands in Vancouver cheering the Matildas on in December, or making an appearance in Manchester. I’m all for it! Football to finally take its place where it belongs in Australia.
Matildas 'Star Girl' Mary Fowler delivers again... With her whole career ahead, what is she capable of?
Yes, Fowler is an outstanding talent. She sees things that we see from the stands, little gaps, deft runs and had that shot gone in off the post in the first half, we might have been talking her up even more as a goalscorer. That’s where Sam Kerr comes in. She is just brilliant as the out-and-out striker.
Matildas 'Star Girl' Mary Fowler delivers again... With her whole career ahead, what is she capable of?
Yes, you can’t deny that the coach says all the right things, to the point where you just have to agree and go along with it. Whoever we get in the play-off, I hope we have the home leg second. Will be a massive game.
No longer the underdog: Have the Matildas finally beaten their hoodoo?
When asked about the newer players coming into the team, Tony said that we could have been sitting here talking up two-goal Amy Sayer. He has high hopes for her, and now that she is in a professional set-up at club level, the small amount that we have seen of her potential will grow.
Poor Chinese Taipei should have won against Iran. Brilliant open game, like the end of the Ghana v Uruguay game of the men’s World Cup in 2022. That would have given our game tomorrow a bit more edge.
Contrary to reports, we’re by no means guaranteed a spot at the Olympic Games. Round 3 will be tough.
No longer the underdog: Have the Matildas finally beaten their hoodoo?
Can’t help thinking this was prophetic.
Tasty Australia Cup final promises to set the table for exciting season of Aussie football
I’ve got a feeling that the terrain has changed and Sydney FC are now treating the youth with the respect they deserve. Not sure what the score is with Kealey Adamson though – he’s had a great pre-season but I’m hearing he’s not in the Sky Blues’ plans.
Tasty Australia Cup final promises to set the table for exciting season of Aussie football
Yes, now I’ve worked out how to play it on my TV, it’s made it even more accessible.
Tasty Australia Cup final promises to set the table for exciting season of Aussie football
Ha ha, you’re favourite team to jinx.
And how was that atmosphere at St James’ Park on Wednesday night? The Boulogne Boys from the West of Paris were full of it, and the football was incredible. Looking forward to similar scenes on Moore Park Road from the Roar fans on Saturday.
Tasty Australia Cup final promises to set the table for exciting season of Aussie football
All day Sunday to get over it. 7.45pm we can be assured that it’s dark, we’re under lights and the atmosphere is pumping. Allianz is a great venue.
Tasty Australia Cup final promises to set the table for exciting season of Aussie football
Everyone who is not a Sydney FC fan will be thinking the same.
Tasty Australia Cup final promises to set the table for exciting season of Aussie football
Arsenal’s foray to Australia will be the acid test. No one else really fits the bill as they don’t have enough Aussie contingent. Man City maybe? Really hope to see more of it in the very near future.
Townsend’s Festival of Football finally comes to fruition - in another city