I am a Melbourne Heart supporter - but why support them when Melbourne Victory have the biggest crowds and are (currently) the most successful A-League club?
I support Melbourne Heart because I missed out.
I missed out on the chanting, missed out on the excitement of new signings and missed out on the euphoria which came with the beginning of a new national football league in 2005.
At the time, I was overseas and unable to follow the many names, colours and emblems which proudly arose from the ashes of the NSL. I remember returning to Melbourne in 2006 with a sense of guilt; I had missed this new beginning, this chance for every football fan in Australia to come out and pledge allegiance to their newly formed local football club.
The vibrant colours of the A-League immediately appealed to my senses, grabbing my eyes with their commanding lure and tempting me with their sweet sense of belonging and unison.
However, I defiantly resisted.
I did attempt to establish a connection with my local club (Melbourne Victory) by attending a handful of matches over the years; my first was against Adelaide United (the first match of the 2006/07 Championship year). Kevin Muscat and Brazilian Claudinho both scored, sending the tightly seated fans into ecstasy! Whilst the surrounding crowd echoed their united voice of praise, I sat and blankly stared at the pitch, feeling empty as if I was back overseas watching a neutral match.
This team was not mine and I had no connection with them, as much as I desperately wanted to belong, there was nothing inside.
I always kept up to date with A-League news and rumours, perhaps in the vain hope that one morning I would suddenly wake up and find myself sentimentally attached to a club.
Then it came.
The day that changed the way I felt about Australian football, the day football started to beat through my veins again. A second Melbourne team was confirmed and suddenly I was welcomed back into Australia's football family: a family which is comprised of bitter relatives who don't get along, but are eternally bonded by an unbreakable connection.
This was my chance to finally recreate the excitement and uncertainty of a new beginning: the chance to be part of a club from inception.
2010 has become my 2005 and I have become an inaugural member. Now I am searching frantically through the morning papers for any scent of Melbourne Heart news, desperately refreshing each one of my bookmarked football websites for a sudden update regarding the club.
I feel the passion and belonging associated with football and am proud to be a part of Melbourne Heart.
Melbourne Heart has reconciled me with football and given me the chance to belong, something for which I am forever indebted to the club and have vowed to repay with my life's support.
Thank you, Melbourne Heart.
