To see Fury fans in Townsville at yesterday's game...

 

au.fourfourtwo.com spent Sunday in Townsville with Fury fans and attending Sunday's Queensland derby at Dairy Farmers Stadium against Gold Coast United.

The passion and atmosphere generated at the game showed the club has made huge strides in two roller-coaster seasons.

But with the FFA - currently 100% owners of the Fury - still holding out on allowing the club to re-sign or sign new players for next season, speculation is rife that the national governing body may drop the club, with some speculating the final decision will come after the World Cup bid announcement.

However Fury fans believe they have brought new A-League fans from rival code the NRL and say they see the club making genuine steps to promote their brand and the A-League in the league's most northerly outpost.

As an example of Fury fan passion, Marcus Ellison (pictured) drove over nine hours from Gladstone to Townsville to see Fury play on Sunday against Gold Coast.

"That's my commitment and it's just one example of the fans' commitment up here. And with corporate support up on last year there are fairly strong indicators that support has increased from fans and corporate," he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

He said most support the community ownership model the FFA have put forward but said Fury need the time to implement it.

"But the club is growing," he said. "It seems to be dragging on without any real clear indication of whether we have a future or not. If they just came out and told us what the reality was I think we'd be able to live with that.

"That's the problem, there isn't anything concrete on whether we are or not or whether it's tied to the World Cup. We just don't know. And while our future is under a dark cloud it's hard to get corporate support and new fans."

He added that being the closest A-League club geographically from Asia lends Fury to potentially look at further corporate support and friendly games throughout the AFC.

But it's the support from rival codes' fans that brings a smile to this fan's face.

"Townsville and North Queensland is a bit of a frontier for football," he said. "There is a football culture here but it's not as widespread.

"My experience is that once people go with the F-troop or just go to a game they love it.

"There are certainly some in F-troop who are ardent rugby league fans and the comments I've had from them is they really appreciate the crowd involvement and the build up and the camaraderie."

Wheelchair bound Fury fan Tony Dominguez added that the club and players were good ambassadors for football and the A-League in general.

And without Fury he'd be devastated.

"The players are out in the public, they've made a big connection," said Tony. "You'll lose 6-8000 fans who won't watch another A-League game if Fury get kicked out.

"A lot of these fans you see with us today, they were following the Cowboys [in the NRL]. Last year they didn't like Fury but this year they've come along for one game and loved it for the atmosphere.

"Football supporters are different. Fury have added to the A-League... on the forums many say we're most people's second team. So everyone keep supporting us.

"I can't see the FFA kicking us out if everyone backs us." 

To see Fury fans in Townsville at yesterday's game...