Football in OZ - from personal experience ...

[thepom]

I first started to post a reply to Joeinoz - just responding to his thread of the ozzie playoffs - then as I typed the thread just got biggger & bigger ....

Obviously this my personal experience ....

But thought it would be good to let fellow Stokies of what it was like coming from Stoke travelling in Oz in 94 ...

I used to have to phone a specific number - just to get the results on a Sunday morning

( Cuz I was travelling and this thing called the internet was starting to get established in peoples homes ) I still didn't have access on a daily basis

One thing I do know is I missed all of Cantona taking the premiership by storm ( which when I look back - I wished I had seen him play at the top level just not just jumping in the crowd )

Anyway back to the forming of the A-League as it is now ...

You used to think we were bad with violence ETc: Most clubs in Perth were made up of Ethnics - so you had the (Croatia clubs - Serbia Clubs - Italian Clubs - Bolivian Clubs) just name a few honestly there were suburbs where there were no go zones depending on where you were from ...

Then the Glory started up and all of the English expats started to attend the games ( probably starved of football ) and we took over "The Shed" and all the other ethnics over the first 4 games or so joined us in the 'Shed' ...

All the English / Scottish lads had that 'longing' to be part of something ... So we became the 'Glory boys"

I have to admit that when the Glory started it did bring the whole of Perth together (obviously we hardly had any away supporters cuz the 1000 mile trip) but you ended up with a stadium full (think it was 24000 at the time) full of Every European nation and Aussies banding together to make ( Stoke were getting 13000 odd then cuz I used to check) but the Glory were playing like a non - league standard .. (every match even though Stoke were in the depths thinking - fuck me we'd dick this league and looking around at a full stadium with got to admit a good atmosphere !!!)

'we were turning soccer into football'

Now I thought I would turn the thread back into why I replied to Joein oz


Joe - I was here when the Glory started up was good mates with Paul McVitte who played for them during the 1st 3 or 4 seasons - I was probably one of the reasons that the Glory Supporters were renowned for starting the 'football atmosphere' in oz - but as time dragged on it became ( In Perth ) a place where 'ex pats' just wanted to sing songs that got everyone singing - There were about 40 of us 'driven by me' would change the words to 'YNWA' - we would sing in tune to the scouse shite " and i'll never sing scouse songs fuck off "

But it was like hitting your head against a brick wall .... ( I came in 94 backpacking directly from hanging with the 'lads' ) so coming from an environment of ' total emotion ' in all aspects of following Stoke - to (don't get me wrong we had some great days in the pub funnily enough it was called the Brisbane hotel) but putting up with the sheer amount of knobs who thought they knew everything about football - was just so frustrating - good example Glory were 4-0 up and the crowd starts singing "All we are singing is give us a goal" - "Fuck me this is what used to be sung when you were 4-0 down" - so eventually I stopped going and Foxtel took over and then many years later when Stoke got to the premier league - my life became a bed of roses - can't think of anything better than waiting till 10/11 pm (depending on the time difference and watching every single Stoke game ...

Classic example of how the world of football has changed - was that when the glory were training in their 1st year at 'Perth Italia Club Northbridge' I used to turn up with Paul and got invited to training on many occasions (actually scored a couple of great goals) then used to stand next to the coach making my observations of the team - albeit this only lasted during the first month of Glory starting up = still look back with very fond memories ...

Now do I ever go to Glory games - do I fuck the last time I went was Glory's 1st Grand final - 40 odd thousand ( Glory hunters / IN FACT try to explain that one to Aussies when the team is called Glory)

But I do keep a look out for the score each week - win or lose I don't really give a fuck !!!

(Looking back I met Robbie Fowler when he was landing to sign to Glory) and a couple of us thought this is the 'change' - bit this never really had much affect on Glory (the crowds picked up) but was a 'fleeting moment' in the short history of Glory ...

So as Joeinoz has probably stated numerous times the game in "Oz" is changing for the better - but the game overall is evolving at a quicker rate in my opinion ....

[JoeinOz]

May 1, 2015 13:39:06 GMT thepom said:

I first started to post a reply to Joeinoz - just responding to his thread of the ozzie playoffs - then as I typed the thread just got biggger & bigger ....

Obviously this my personal experience ....

But thought it would be good to let fellow Stokies of what it was like coming from Stoke travelling in Oz in 94 ...

I used to have to phone a specific number - just to get the results on a Sunday morning

( Cuz I was travelling and this thing called the internet was starting to get established in peoples homes ) I still didn't have access on a daily basis

One thing I do know is I missed all of Cantona taking the premiership by storm ( which when I look back - I wished I had seen him play at the top level just not just jumping in the crowd )

Anyway back to the forming of the A-League as it is now ...

You used to think we were bad with violence ETc: Most clubs in Perth were made up of Ethnics - so you had the (Croatia clubs - Serbia Clubs - Italian Clubs - Bolivian Clubs) just name a few honestly there were suburbs where there were no go zones depending on where you were from ...

Then the Glory started up and all of the English expats started to attend the games ( probably starved of football ) and we took over "The Shed" and all the other ethnics over the first 4 games or so joined us in the 'Shed' ...

All the English / Scottish lads had that 'longing' to be part of something ... So we became the 'Glory boys"

I have to admit that when the Glory started it did bring the whole of Perth together (obviously we hardly had any away supporters cuz the 1000 mile trip) but you ended up with a stadium full (think it was 24000 at the time) full of Every European nation and Aussies banding together to make ( Stoke were getting 13000 odd then cuz I used to check) but the Glory were playing like a non - league standard .. (every match even though Stoke were in the depths thinking - fuck me we'd dick this league and looking around at a full stadium with got to admit a good atmosphere !!!)

'we were turning soccer into football'

Now I thought I would turn the thread back into why I replied to Joein oz


Joe - I was here when the Glory started up was good mates with Paul McVitte who played for them during the 1st 3 or 4 seasons - I was probably one of the reasons that the Glory Supporters were renowned for starting the 'football atmosphere' in oz - but as time dragged on it became ( In Perth ) a place where 'ex pats' just wanted to sing songs that got everyone singing - There were about 40 of us 'driven by me' would change the words to 'YNWA' - we would sing in tune to the scouse shite " and i'll never sing scouse songs fuck off "

But it was like hitting your head against a brick wall .... ( I came in 94 backpacking directly from hanging with the 'lads' ) so coming from an environment of ' total emotion ' in all aspects of following Stoke - to (don't get me wrong we had some great days in the pub funnily enough it was called the Brisbane hotel) but putting up with the sheer amount of knobs who thought they knew everything about football - was just so frustrating - good example Glory were 4-0 up and the crowd starts singing "All we are singing is give us a goal" - "Fuck me this is what used to be sung when you were 4-0 down" - so eventually I stopped going and Foxtel took over and then many years later when Stoke got to the premier league - my life became a bed of roses - can't think of anything better than waiting till 10/11 pm (depending on the time difference and watching every single Stoke game ...

Classic example of how the world of football has changed - was that when the glory were training in their 1st year at 'Perth Italia Club Northbridge' I used to turn up with Paul and got invited to training on many occasions (actually scored a couple of great goals) then used to stand next to the coach making my observations of the team - albeit this only lasted during the first month of Glory starting up = still look back with very fond memories ...

Now do I ever go to Glory games - do I fuck the last time I went was Glory's 1st Grand final - 40 odd thousand ( Glory hunters / IN FACT try to explain that one to Aussies when the team is called Glory)

But I do keep a look out for the score each week - win or lose I don't really give a fuck !!!

(Looking back I met Robbie Fowler when he was landing to sign to Glory) and a couple of us thought this is the 'change' - bit this never really had much affect on Glory (the crowds picked up) but was a 'fleeting moment' in the short history of Glory ...

So as Joeinoz has probably stated numerous times the game in "Oz" is changing for the better - but the game overall is evolving at a quicker rate in my opinion ....

IMHO get what you can from it. Although I do think it's stunningly shit when people (usually fans if big English teams) immediately dismiss it as crap because of a lack of quality. One thing is though the A-League is a better entity than it's predecessor. There is a national league with TV access and decent analysis.

[huuuuuth]

I remember watching the Roar in Joe's back yard at the Suncorp a few years back and it was painfully poop.
I believe the A league will get better over the years as long as it gets support. Same as MLS.

[bolders]

I had the pleasure of watching Del Piero play against the ROAR a couple of seasons ago, he did nothing all game then popped up with 2 good goals looked like he couldnt be arsed. I wasnt really expecting much from the game to be honest but surprised that it was of a higher standard than id imagined. The support was abit crap but that could be expected from away support.

Now i get to see decentish support and emotion whenever i watch WSW when im in town at my 2nd home.

Its growing but i cant see it ever getting to championship level for a long time Cricket and Rugby are too popular for the Aussies for them to give their all to football. Most of the supporters i see are expats and what they call wogs (not the derogative term used in this country) it means of wester origins like Italians, Greeks and such they use it about themselves. It will be the support of immigrants that will push the game on i think. just my opinion

[Clem Fandango]

I was so hoping this was the return of Chugga.

[potterpaul]

May 1, 2015 13:39:06 GMT thepom said:

I first started to post a reply to Joeinoz - just responding to his thread of the ozzie playoffs - then as I typed the thread just got biggger & bigger ....

Obviously this my personal experience ....

But thought it would be good to let fellow Stokies of what it was like coming from Stoke travelling in Oz in 94 ...

I used to have to phone a specific number - just to get the results on a Sunday morning

( Cuz I was travelling and this thing called the internet was starting to get established in peoples homes ) I still didn't have access on a daily basis

One thing I do know is I missed all of Cantona taking the premiership by storm ( which when I look back - I wished I had seen him play at the top level just not just jumping in the crowd )

Anyway back to the forming of the A-League as it is now ...

You used to think we were bad with violence ETc: Most clubs in Perth were made up of Ethnics - so you had the (Croatia clubs - Serbia Clubs - Italian Clubs - Bolivian Clubs) just name a few honestly there were suburbs where there were no go zones depending on where you were from ...

Then the Glory started up and all of the English expats started to attend the games ( probably starved of football ) and we took over "The Shed" and all the other ethnics over the first 4 games or so joined us in the 'Shed' ...

All the English / Scottish lads had that 'longing' to be part of something ... So we became the 'Glory boys"

I have to admit that when the Glory started it did bring the whole of Perth together (obviously we hardly had any away supporters cuz the 1000 mile trip) but you ended up with a stadium full (think it was 24000 at the time) full of Every European nation and Aussies banding together to make ( Stoke were getting 13000 odd then cuz I used to check) but the Glory were playing like a non - league standard .. (every match even though Stoke were in the depths thinking - fuck me we'd dick this league and looking around at a full stadium with got to admit a good atmosphere !!!)

'we were turning soccer into football'

Now I thought I would turn the thread back into why I replied to Joein oz


Joe - I was here when the Glory started up was good mates with Paul McVitte who played for them during the 1st 3 or 4 seasons - I was probably one of the reasons that the Glory Supporters were renowned for starting the 'football atmosphere' in oz - but as time dragged on it became ( In Perth ) a place where 'ex pats' just wanted to sing songs that got everyone singing - There were about 40 of us 'driven by me' would change the words to 'YNWA' - we would sing in tune to the scouse shite " and i'll never sing scouse songs fuck off "

But it was like hitting your head against a brick wall .... ( I came in 94 backpacking directly from hanging with the 'lads' ) so coming from an environment of ' total emotion ' in all aspects of following Stoke - to (don't get me wrong we had some great days in the pub funnily enough it was called the Brisbane hotel) but putting up with the sheer amount of knobs who thought they knew everything about football - was just so frustrating - good example Glory were 4-0 up and the crowd starts singing "All we are singing is give us a goal" - "Fuck me this is what used to be sung when you were 4-0 down" - so eventually I stopped going and Foxtel took over and then many years later when Stoke got to the premier league - my life became a bed of roses - can't think of anything better than waiting till 10/11 pm (depending on the time difference and watching every single Stoke game ...

Classic example of how the world of football has changed - was that when the glory were training in their 1st year at 'Perth Italia Club Northbridge' I used to turn up with Paul and got invited to training on many occasions (actually scored a couple of great goals) then used to stand next to the coach making my observations of the team - albeit this only lasted during the first month of Glory starting up = still look back with very fond memories ...

Now do I ever go to Glory games - do I fuck the last time I went was Glory's 1st Grand final - 40 odd thousand ( Glory hunters / IN FACT try to explain that one to Aussies when the team is called Glory)

But I do keep a look out for the score each week - win or lose I don't really give a fuck !!!

(Looking back I met Robbie Fowler when he was landing to sign to Glory) and a couple of us thought this is the 'change' - bit this never really had much affect on Glory (the crowds picked up) but was a 'fleeting moment' in the short history of Glory ...

So as Joeinoz has probably stated numerous times the game in "Oz" is changing for the better - but the game overall is evolving at a quicker rate in my opinion ....

If memory serves me right Perth Oval never had the capacity to hold 24000 in the early days more like 16000. They were great days until you realise it will never replace the wintery walks down to the Vic.

[tijuanabrass]

Those days of trying to find the Stoke results pre-Internet . Trying to pick up an English paper or a copy of BrItish Balls. We're spilt these days with live coverage every week. We expats now tend to see more game time than those who live locally though my fox subscription is probably not far off season ticket pricing .

[thepom]

Don't know where I got 24000 from - but I know what I was trying to say - but being totally drunk whilst typing it came out as above ....

Got to remember never go on the internet when pissed - I say this but i'll do it at least once a month - ( usually facebook etc: ) then regret it afterwards - least the above wasn't all crap !!!!

[crowey]

That took me back. Having to phone the result line pre-Internet. Used to enjoy watching NQ Fury now & again. Even went to one away game on the Gold Coast

[JoeinOz]

It's to get chatting to football fans who rarely attend A-League matches because they consider the quality of football on offer to be poor. Of all the reasons not to go to matches the perceived low quality of play is lame. Not least because the A-League is improving. It isn’t, and has never claimed to be, a rival to the European Champions League. It does however have some decent matches and holds it’s own as a national competition. To dismiss an entire league on the basis of poor quality is to suggest the only football worth spending time on is the absolute pinnacle. Why watch Brentford when they aren’t as good as Chelsea? Why watch Piacenza when you can watch Milan? For that matter, only Bayern Munich Barcelona and Real Madrid would attract crowds at all. Is this a healthy scenario?

[scfc2014]

Fuck'n ell the Pom,if I ever get married I'll give you a bell and you can write us a speech

[marwood]

May 2, 2015 10:26:14 GMT scfc2014 said:

Fuck'n ell the Pom,if I ever get married I'll give you a bell and you can write us a speech

Is it back on with Tiff the Barmaid?

[duckdownunder59]

Got to Adelaide in 1980 and had to go out and buy a short wave radio so at 10 10 on a Sunday morning,I could pick up the BBC world service and here the football results.Things have changed a bit since then.Thank you Foxtel.

On the local scene there was only one game of importance and that was Adelaide City Juventus v West Adelaide Hellas.
These games would draw crowds of 12-14 000.
50% Greek,50% Italian.

The local Brits like me were busy playing football at local level and there were some quality players around the place.

At present,Adelaide United are supported by everyone with crowds going from 8,000 to 15,000 depending how they are travelling and especially if were playing Melbourne Victory.
Fridays game against Brisbane was a good game with a crowd of around 21,000.Plenty of European teams would be happy with a crowd like that.
If its a Melbourne v Sydney final,expect a crowd close to 50,000.
The standard is improving but as any young up and comer comes onto the scene will find out.
If you are any good,overseas clubs from all over the world will come with more money than we can pay.
Look at the Aussies playing in the Malaysian,Chinese,European leagues.
Dont know how much more it can improve,but it is getting better.

[JoeinOz]

What got my back up was when the grandfinal in 2013 got a crowd of over 40,000 and the press said it shows football has arrived in Australia. to that I say.....BOLLOX .

The previous two grand finals both in Brisbane each had crowds of over 50,000, as did last years. So what the media really mean is nothing has arrived until it does something in Sydney or Melbourne. The greatest team in the history of Australian sport is the Brisbane Roar 2011/12 team yet they are rarely lauded. if they had been a Sydney or Melbourne team we'd have heard about nothing else for the last few years.

[kingdong]

I am going to the Melbourne Victory V Melbourne City match on Friday with a couple of workmates.

It should be a cracker with a possible crowd in excess of 40k.

Goarrrrn City!!

[Parkerson]

I lived a stones throw away from the Allianz in Paddington, i only managed 3 Sydney FC games, one against Wellington our very own Chris Greenacre was in their starting line up, along with long time target Paul Iffil!

My last was a game against the Jets, i only went to catch a glimpse of Del Piero (as the jets star man Emile Heskey was injured) as mentioned before he was pretty anonymous for the entire game, then produced a bit of magic, scored and won them game.

After the game i decided it was probably my last, the standard was woefully poor and the atmosphere....well, some idiot on a megaphone is a little cringey. However there is some chant about Melbourne which includes the lines, "f*ck you, you f*cking c*nts", lyrical genius.

If you're desperate to watch a game it fills a void, unfortunately i personally just couldn't adopt them as my team away from home.

The Roosters on the other hand.....wrong sport sorry

[scfc2014]

Joe in oz will come looking for you Parkerson

[scfc2014]

Joe in oz will come looking for you Parkerson

[JoeinOz]

May 4, 2015 10:04:52 GMT Parkerson said:

I lived a stones throw away from the Allianz in Paddington, i only managed 3 Sydney FC games, one against Wellington our very own Chris Greenacre was in their starting line up, along with long time target Paul Iffil!

My last was a game against the Jets, i only went to catch a glimpse of Del Piero (as the jets star man Emile Heskey was injured) as mentioned before he was pretty anonymous for the entire game, then produced a bit of magic, scored and won them game.

After the game i decided it was probably my last, the standard was woefully poor and the atmosphere....well, some idiot on a megaphone is a little cringey. However there is some chant about Melbourne which includes the lines, "f*ck you, you f*cking c*nts", lyrical genius.

If you're desperate to watch a game it fills a void, unfortunately i personally just couldn't adopt them as my team away from home.

The Roosters on the other hand.....wrong sport sorry

The megaphone stuff. I don't get that. It's silly.