Getting behind the A-League

[David Votoupal]

In the last week, a few troubles surrounding the A-League have come to light, namely the uncertainties surrounding one club (Newcastle Jets) and some of the crowds thus far.

Many of us who follow the game have at least one club we follow overseas, and have done so for years. And it's easier to support your club from afar in this day and age, when there's quite easy access to coverage of leagues worldwide. And it's this that's seen in some corners as a challenge to the growth and popularity of the A-League.

But I'll lay it out like this. Shunning the A-League because of the perception that it is an "inferior" product and not at the highest level of the sport, is really a pathetic reason. If people thought the same way about the SANFL, WAFL, etc then places like this wouldn't exist, for one. It's all about the game you love, no matter what level you play in. Never mind that many clubs worldwide have the sort of fanbases which stick by them regardless of how bad times may be. The A-League certainly isn't the worst professional league out there, and there's quite a few who are hardly better if at all. This season, the standard of the league has improved and the calibre of players and coaches is as good as ever.

Football (or soccer if you insist) clubs worldwide, and to add to that AFL, SANFL, WAFL, and local league Aussie Rules clubs, have had all the time in the world to build up generations of support, decades old legacies and traditions, and whatever aura and mystique that may surround them. A-League clubs have simply not had the time do so, and it may be harder in this day and age. But there are clubs like Perth Glory who have been around for a while, whilst Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory both seem to have steady fanbases that will stick by them. But the A-League deserves to be given a go by those who love the game, and want to see it grow.

[Dogwatcher]

Nice post.
We need to get over the cultural cringe.