My life as a Sydney inhabitant is only six weeks old after moving over from England for work purposes. However, my education in the ways of Australian football is already well under way.
Whist sitting in a Sydney bar recently, a new work colleague described the English game as “football in fast forward”, due to the pace of my homeland’s game. I didn’t truly appreciate his comment until my first taste of Australian football at the recent Sydney FC and Newcastle game. However I didn’t understand why this was the case until the following week…
Having moved to Sydney on my own, I knew joining a local football team would be the best way to source some Australian drinking partners. What binds the common man better than the beautiful game?
A work colleague recommended Lokomotiv Cove, a newly formed outfit for Sydney FC fans. Considering the recent form of my team West Ham and the fact I now live in Sydney, I thought I could assume the role of a Sydney FC diehard. I also liked the sound of them. Like the Russian mafia.
The trial date was set at the aptly named Brazilian Fields in Centennial Park. On arriving at the park, unsure of where I should be, I saw a group of football-ready lads being informed of a trial set-up. So I joined in. After the game finished I had learned two things. First of all why the Australian game is played at a gentler pace. 40 degree heat saps the fittest of athletes and I certainly don’t fall into that category. And when asked how I heard about the club, I said someone at work had recommended Lokomotiv Cove. To which I got a look of disgust from the treasurer before he said: “yeah, but this is Dunbar Rovers.”
So I’d joined the wrong club, but assuming fate had bought me and Dunbar together, it would remain this way.
As for the new Australian friends at Dunbar, they are thin on the ground. Not because I’m grossly unpopular, but because everyone is English or Irish.
My first impressions of the Australian game have been encouraging. The turnout and atmosphere at the aforementioned Sydney game was exceptional considering the new found set-up of the club. Most English support comes from a passed down allegiance to a family team. “You don’t have a choice son. Altrincham has always been this family’s team.” If you don’t know who Altrincham are, I’ve proven my point.
Okay, Sydney may be a big city with Sydney FC having a near monopoly on football fans, but 21,112 fans for the Newcastle game, in a cricket and rugby dominated city, is not be shirked at. While a further 55,436 made the Melbourne and Adelaide grand final. Great figures for such an immature league.
Through the eyes of a Pom freshly migrated from a football obsessed land, I can see no reason why the A-League cannot continue to move forward in a similar fashion.
Whist sitting in a Sydney bar recently, a new work colleague described the English game as “football in fast forward”, due to the pace of my homeland’s game. I didn’t truly appreciate his comment until my first taste of Australian football at the recent Sydney FC and Newcastle game. However I didn’t understand why this was the case until the following week…
Having moved to Sydney on my own, I knew joining a local football team would be the best way to source some Australian drinking partners. What binds the common man better than the beautiful game?
A work colleague recommended Lokomotiv Cove, a newly formed outfit for Sydney FC fans. Considering the recent form of my team West Ham and the fact I now live in Sydney, I thought I could assume the role of a Sydney FC diehard. I also liked the sound of them. Like the Russian mafia.
The trial date was set at the aptly named Brazilian Fields in Centennial Park. On arriving at the park, unsure of where I should be, I saw a group of football-ready lads being informed of a trial set-up. So I joined in. After the game finished I had learned two things. First of all why the Australian game is played at a gentler pace. 40 degree heat saps the fittest of athletes and I certainly don’t fall into that category. And when asked how I heard about the club, I said someone at work had recommended Lokomotiv Cove. To which I got a look of disgust from the treasurer before he said: “yeah, but this is Dunbar Rovers.”
So I’d joined the wrong club, but assuming fate had bought me and Dunbar together, it would remain this way.
As for the new Australian friends at Dunbar, they are thin on the ground. Not because I’m grossly unpopular, but because everyone is English or Irish.
My first impressions of the Australian game have been encouraging. The turnout and atmosphere at the aforementioned Sydney game was exceptional considering the new found set-up of the club. Most English support comes from a passed down allegiance to a family team. “You don’t have a choice son. Altrincham has always been this family’s team.” If you don’t know who Altrincham are, I’ve proven my point.
Okay, Sydney may be a big city with Sydney FC having a near monopoly on football fans, but 21,112 fans for the Newcastle game, in a cricket and rugby dominated city, is not be shirked at. While a further 55,436 made the Melbourne and Adelaide grand final. Great figures for such an immature league.
Through the eyes of a Pom freshly migrated from a football obsessed land, I can see no reason why the A-League cannot continue to move forward in a similar fashion.
