You've got to hand it the FFA. They really know how to attract as little attention to themselves as possible.
The World Cup bid has been remarkably unpublicised; many people I know don't even realise we're bidding for it, yet they know of something as insignificant as the latest NRL scandal.
The A-League has got the whole disappointing-turnouts-due-to-lack-of-advertising thing sorted. Now the National Youth League is in on the act too.
Not that it hasn't always flown under the radar. I've been writing about it from day 1 (well, nearly) and to my knowledge, I'm still one of the only people (possibly the only person) in the football world who provides something other than match reports as publicity for the NYL.
I do it because I love them. Really, truly, completely. Every single one of the guys who plays in the NYL for next to nothing has my respect.
Unfortunately there's a pretty large combination of factors which has led to the youth league being underpublicised, none of which can really be eradicated until the problems in the A-League are solved.
1. Expansion & Publicity
A-League expansion has had its problems, most notably the disappointing crowds. Overall crowds have also fallen, even for the established clubs that have previously been attracting good numbers.
I believe publicity is key to this. I can speak only for the clubs in my region (Sydney & the Mariners) and what I'm seeing is that although there are attempts to engage the community from both clubs, their respective crowds show that they have evidently not been that successful.
Lower revenue from attendance means that clubs simply can't afford to stage youth league games before A-League games. Opening the gates three hours earlier almost instantly doubles the cost of stadium hire, security, catering and everything else that contributes to the running of a football game. Until problems in the A-League are solved, the youth league will suffer. Few fans, however diehard they may be, would be willing go to two football games a week. People have lives and spending the best part of their weekend at football games, as good as it sounds, is impractical for most.
2. The TV deal
A free to air TV deal would publicise the A-League and, hopefully, raise crowds. Higher crowds = higher revenue = more money to spend on playing youth league games before A-League games. Personally, I don't buy what the A-League clubs feed the public - that they stage NYL matches in different parts of their region to attract more supporters.
No.
People are more likely to see a game if involves turning up 2-3 hours before an A-League game than if they have to trek up to Budgewoi or out to Campbelltown at some ungodly hour.
3. Financial Difficulties
Again, this comes down to crowds and publicity. Already this year, we've seen the Mariners W-League team fold due to a lack of funds from Football NSW, although the funding for the W-League is structured in such a way that the clubs have little to do with it. It does make you wonder how close struggling A-League clubs are to pulling the plug on having a team in the NYL though.
It's not really the fault of the NYL or anyone connected with the NYL that there is such little publicity for it. With the A-League in its current state, you'd want all efforts to be concentrated into bringing the level of fan support up to a higher level.
Hopefully, all the effort the FFA has put into the World Cup bid pays off because, in my opinion, a lot of it has meant that issues in the A-League have been ignored.
A World Cup would surely generate more interest in football and the A-League. More interest in the A-League means more interest in the youth league.
As much as I'd love to believe that the FFA are going to pull a surprise on us all and announce that Fox Sports has agreed to cover the NYL this season, I know that this will never happen until the A-League reaches greater heights.
