You think you’ve seen it all until something totally unexpected happens which leaves you in awe and lost for words.

As many know, this past Sunday the Red and Black Bloc staged a silent protest in regards to the lack of transparency and appeals process for bans issued by the FFA. I’m not going to go into detail about the protest itself because it has already been done in various other articles and discussions over the past week.

Whether or not you agreed with the protest matters little to what was witnessed in Wanderland on Sunday, March 10, 2013. A day which go long remembered in the memories and hearts of the majority of those that attended the match.

Organisers of the protest had to get their message across that the RBB will be silent for the opening 20 minutes of the match and the reasons for it. There was an online and social media campaign leading up to the day and also there were hundreds if not thousands of flyers handed out throughout Parramatta and at various entrances to Parramatta Stadium to ensure all the fans in Wanderland were aware of what was going on.

I, and many others, were rather shocked to see the entire stadium all but proceed to support the protest. Usually on game days a fan is given the chance to lead the “Who Do You Sing For?” chant with the stadium before the players come out. On this occasion however, the fan grabbed the mic and simply stated “Hatamoto out” and stormed off. This led to the MC to attempt to lead the chant himself, firstly with the RBB bays - which were met with crickets chirping. He then proceeded to try and get the rest of the stadium responding to his attempts. Amazingly, the entire stadium did not respond. I feel somewhat sorry for the MC, but surely he knew there was a protest going on? Perhaps he didn’t anticipate the entire stadium to take part in it.

Following that, as most clubs do, the team lineup is announced with the announcer saying the first name of the player and the stadium shouts out the player’s surname. Again....silence from the entire stadium.

The players, the coaching staff and the club knew about the protest. They were informed it was not about them and knew we were 100% behind them. I concede the protest was perhaps staged not on the most desirable of games - playing for a record winning streak and playing at home for the first time as outright first place - but it was either this game or the derby in two weeks. So I hope the players understood the subdued applause they received when they walked onto the pitch.

The stadium applauded when “A silent stand for our brothers banned” was held up in Bay 56. They booed when security and the police tried to have it removed, even though it was approved by the club. They booed again when the “Hatamoto Out” banner was taken away. That was nice to hear, and the banners being taken away rather enforced the points being made. But nothing could prepare all of us in the northern end of what would happen a little while later.

The clock struck the 19th minute.

And then it began.

“RBB! RBB! RBB! RBB!”

We looked around stunned. The entire stadium was chanting for the RBB. They knew the protest was about to end when the clock struck 20 minutes. To hear all the Wanderers fans chant for the active supporters in a sign of unity, supporting them and willing them on to the end the protest with a bang was absolutely spine tingling.

I thought I had seen everything this season.

Clearly not.

My heart is beating rapidly as I type this - 24 hours later.

Our capo urged us to stand up and we did so to a rapturous cheer amongst our own ranks and the entire stadium. Naturally we led the Wanderland involving “Who Do You Sing For?” chant to the east, west and both stands to deafening heights. Then proceeded to one of our main chants that the stadium has increasingly been getting involved in over the past few months.



I don’t think anyone truly realises what this moment meant for everyone. It highlighted that we are all part of the Wanderers Family. There is no them (people in the stands) and us (active supporters). We are all in this together. This club has been built with the people involved since day one. And it continues to amaze me every week how that bond amongst the Wanderers fans just strengthens every week. Last week I wrote about the solidarity of protecting a fellow fan, albeit a stranger, from harm. This week just enforces it all even more so.

Apparently Wellington scored whilst the entire stadium was chanting. I think half the stadium didn’t even realise. Oh and the team scraped a victory, went 5 points clear at the top, equalled the NSL record of 9 straight wins, beat the A-League record, and are now in pole position to win the Premiers Plate. You’ll forgive me if more sappiness ensures in the coming weeks.