I have been to my first A-League game!
My two sons agreed to come along as more or less neutral observers, the younger having been disaffected from the NSL many years ago by what he considered the poor quality and the elder another disenfranchised STRIKERS' supporter, so I bought tickets in Bay 311 - the away supporters' section. It was the perfect day and evening for football - clear and Brisbane Spring cool so the 20 minute walk from the bus (free on production of match ticket) was pleasant enough and so we rendezvoused in O'Leary's which immediately brought back pangs of memory of happier times.
The petrol crisis seems to have badly effected Kilkenny which was now $7.000 a pint. The place was packed at 6 o'clock and the back room wall to wall Oranje shirts the street tables were full but for one with reserved signs so we sat there and negotiated with the bouncer to leave when the reservers arrived, being careful, as directed, not to move the chairs within 1.8 meters of the front steps and agreeing not to stand up when we were drinking (Sit down if your drinking scans well). The demographics of those attracted by the Roar's excellent publicity efforts looked to be in the second decade of life, white and well educated - sort of Uni types I thought. A brittle youth in an orange shirt politely asked if he might join us and we told him of our temporary status and he sat down. A nice lad who had never been to football before this season, but seeing the club's cheap season ticket offer for students, had signed up with a few mates.He had never played football nor had any previous association with the code, but nevertheless purported to be a Liverpool fan! "Typical" I told him. [Dave's a ManU fan - Ed (not a ManU fan)]
We discussed the politics of the Roar's successful application to the league and the STRIKERS' arsing and he said he had heard that some STRIKERS' fans were very bitter - I told him I was one of them. Just before we left the pub I heard some guy telling his friends that in the back room that night he had sold 90 shirts.
The approach to the ground sure has changed - now there is this glittering edifice all glass, metal work, lighting, uniformed and smiling officials and signs. The ground itself is all class, wonderful surface, huge video screens, good steep seating, wide seats and easy access to both plentiful urinals and, sadly, crap beer. There were 20 to 30 SFC supporters standing at the back and a few locals who had deliberately infiltrated the area to stir. I joined the former group and it though I didn't know any of them it was comfortable to be able to sing and enjoy some improvised chants and it helped me to improve my feeling of connection with the team. Now I'm feeling that my life long love affair continues solidly as it always will, my relatively brief dalliance over the last few years has been interrupted by bereavement and I have had my eye caught be someone new. We shall see how things transpire.
As far as the game was concerned, I thought the overall standard was poor. Both sides seemed to be unable to sort out a bulging mid field and first touches and passing were awful pretty well all night with exception of great raid up the left by the Roar in the second half and a few good movements around the midfield by us early on. You could see Yorke's class, but he looked as though he couldn't be arsed a lot of the time and was booed very time he touched the ball perhaps by ABUs or out of fear - dunno.
The atmosphere was strange - quite noisy, but sort of shrill and I thought quite unsophisticated which, if a lot were new to the game, is understandable. Any Roar progress into the attacking half had the screamers at it - but I didn't for example hear a cry in unison round the ground such as "Hand ball!" all night.
There is one mystery remaining to me and that is all those inflated orange condoms that I have seen on the telly recently being bashed together by prepubescent kiddies and older folk who should no better. I had assumed they must produce a noise - they don't - I suppose they are colourful and unlikely to put out an eye - anyone know what they are called? Funny the Roar mascot is a lion, but I suppose you might argue what else roars? We advised him/her to "Leave the kids alone".
A couple of things I didn't like were the frequent PA encouragement to the crowd to "Get behind the Roar" and the usual national league obsession with chaotic pre schoolers milling apparently aimlessly all over the park at half time. Funnily enough where I was the sound quality of the PA was muffled and poor so if my house had been on fire or something similar, I doubt I would have got the message.
Just outside the gates the sound was very good. After our third goal went in (well fourth actually as theirs was an OG) we were able to start wishing quite a lot of locals "Cheerio" starting about ten minutes from the end, but I must say that, but for one of the plants just below us, everything was taken in good spirits and on the way back to the bus it was noticeable to me that here was still quite a cheery mood considering the final score. I am, admittedly, hopelessly biased, but that aside, I don't think I'll be back again to watch the Brisbane/Queensland reps in the AL and both my sons were adamant they won't be either. On reflection this morning, it seemed like a visit to see perhaps a baseball or basketball event in the USA. Mildly interesting, but no passion from the locals - yet.