It’s now seven years since the demise of the National Soccer League and the summary demotion of the vast majority of its member clubs. It’s understandable that the supporters of those long standing clubs that kept the game alive in Australia, would be bitter about the change from what Frank Lowy called “Old sokkah” to “new football”, but has the time come for us to move on?
Supporters of the old clubs will argue that the lack of respect shown before, during and after the transition to the A-League has been close to criminal, and all but racist in its execution. They would ask the question, why would I be supportive of the very clubs that replaced my side in the national league? But it’s not the lack of support that hurts out game, it’s the active vitriol, the anti-support that does the damage – not so much damage to the A-League, more damage to the game itself. Berate and belittle the A-League and its members and you are damaging all the leagues and clubs below that level.
Those who are constantly told that the A-League is rubbish and lacks atmosphere are unlikely to venture out on a Saturday evening to watch a less attended, lower quality match in Oakleigh or Bentleigh. With this attitude we kill – stone dead – any chances of attracting A-League fans to state league games. Supporters of the new clubs are bemused and baffled by the anger directed in their direction. Long time supporters often use the ‘new dawner’ label to dismiss their interest in the game. In my experience as a supporter of the old and the new (at the same time) there are plenty of former NSL fans going to the A-League, many of whom are being driven further from the old clubs by the attitude shown to them by one time fellow supporters.
As for those supporters who are genuine new dawners, why berate them? They are going to football, they are part of the football family. With the media starvation of the latter years of the NSL its entirely possible that they didn’t even know there was a league before 2005! However, the flipside is that it’s somewhat comical to hear many Aussie fans complain that they miss the lack of football during the A-League’s extended off season over the winter months, yet never consider attending their local side playing in a state competition.
Similarly, those who claim they would attend a state league game but fear that they would be unwelcome due to ‘ethnic’ issues, are so far off target with their fears that the claim is laughable. It’s a sad comment on the Australian psyche that the Anglos still appear to be afraid to ever be part of the minority. Surely we’re not that scary? Fans of both the old and the new need to get over their dislike/distrust for one another.
Those who suggest that there is a problem with supporting both old and new, being a member of South Melbourne and Melbourne Victory like myself for example, are missing the point. You don’t have to support both, but you don’t have to belittle one another either. In short, both sides, build a bridge and get over it.
