It’s June 11 in the first year of the new millennium. Y2K has come to pass, the GST is about to be introduced and the ‘Wolves’ are trying to live up to their intimidating new moniker in the 2000 NSL Grand Final.

The club hadn’t won anything since 1988 and in the sort of bizarre format choices reserved for Australian football, had actually lost to their finals opponent, Perth Glory, in the semi-finals. But here they were, in front of a 41,000 capacity crowd at Subiaco Oval, and they were getting thrashed.

Perth had scored three times in 20 minutes to send the Wolves into half-time, tail-between-their-legs, copping what must of sounded like mad advice from coach Nick Theodorakopoulos - "Let's score a goal in each of the next 15 minutes, get it to 3-2, and see how they react.”

The rest, as Wolves' CEO Chris Papakosmas says, is history.

“We played the most memorable Grand Final in Australian history,” he recounted.

“Coming back from 3-0 down at half-time to win against Perth, in Perth, in a penalty shootout. I had an email from a Perth supporter a while ago, which began with ‘I absolutely detest the Wolves, I’ll hate you until I die.’

“He went on like that for awhile and then finished with ‘I’ll be at the front of the line, supporting you as strongly as I can for your re-inclusion into the national competition – not because I like you, don’t get me wrong, I hate you – but because I want to be at WIN Stadium when we play you to watch our boys smack you 3-0 and fly home with a smile on my face.’

“You can’t buy that passion. You can’t manufacture that level of engagement with the team.”

Only four years after their involvement in the pinnacle of NSL excitement, Wollongong were battling it out in the state leagues, $240,000 in debt. They were homeless after leaving Brandon Park and the ‘Wolves’ name was gone again.

It took monumental effort from the proud ‘Gong community to save the club from the brink of extinction, but Wollongong pulled through and now, vying for an A-League licence, Papakosmas believes Wolves fans deserve their reward.