Wet Conditions at the "Home of Football"

Well the Punctual Football Fan decided to try a different version of football in what is the amusingly dubbed "Home of Football" being Pattersons Stadium for sponsorship reasons or for our older readers or "bitters" you would call it Subiaco Oval.

Home of Football you say? Well it is referring to Australian rules football and being more specific the Western Australian Football League (WAFL) but for those fans who are ardently against the more popular and worldly versions of football would be rather annoyed to have others call it "home" also from time to time.

Australia participates in the Rugby Championship, which for the second year has been conducted in its expanded format. Four nations now participate in this competition these being South Africa, 2011 world Cup winners New Zealand and the newest member being Argentina.

The weather for this match was hardly an ideal welcome to our South American visitors but they showed the fans and the Australians that they are no push over. Was a tight match with Australia not capitalising on Argentina mistakes and poor unforced errors but was enough to win the match 14 to 13.

Now to what this is all about; the food, the venue and thirdly the area.

Pattersons Stadium tends to have a not so endearing reputation about it which you think is rather unfair. However these have been perfectly justifiable and would have to be one of the most poorest venues to watch ANY sporting event in Australia.

Food at Pattersons is extremely expensive, i mean for Perth prices it is a joke. Burgers are pushing beyond 12 dollars and before you read this and think; "Hey PFF! State league grounds charge on average 10 dollars for a burger?" My response would be one with agreement but in saying the food produced at state league grounds are fresh, good quality and you get what you pay for quantity wise. Food here is bland, nasty, lifeless and minimal. To add to this farce you have hot dogs at 6 and pies are 7 dollars which are just Mrs Mac's pies. Nothing essentially wrong with the brand but for such a price it is highway robbery. Gourmet sandwiches and salads are not spared either with these ranging from 6 dollars to 10 with virtually nothing to pack a punch with you would be feeling hungry after your purchase.

Drinks are also party to this with coke and other soft drink (diet coke and fanta, not much choice) being 5 dollars for 600mL and bottled water is also the same price. Perhaps an interesting aspect of Perth sporting venues, especially Aussie rules venues is the prevalence of flavoured milks. Most notably Masters is on offer, which for so-called "proud" western Australians; it is rather amusing that things like this slip by. These drinks were also not cheap at 4 dollars at 600mL.

Beers are probably the biggest rort of this venue. They are mid-strength and they are priced at 9-12 dollars a drink with ready to drink spirits also costing you in the low teens.

With that in mind i STRONGLY suggest that any visitor to Pattersons for rugby, WAFL or football please make purchases to a bare minimum and if you dont well you wont get much for 50 dollars if you go in with an empty stomach. Either do three things:

1) Eat at home before you go to the ground. Or Afterwards.

2) Eat at a restaurant or casual dining venue outside the ground. (Celtic club do good pies or Nandos or other places around the ground)

3) Smuggle food/drink into the ground. There is a Woolworths at the Subiaco train station so load up and work out how you will conceal your items.

The sooner this place is demolished the better.

Wednesday Night Football - Perth Glory Friendly

Wasn't sure if I was able to make this one but turns out I was able to watch the entire match and head out to work so win-win all round. Stirling Lions played host to Perth Glory for a pre-season friendly for Perth's preparations for their upcoming A-League season.

Not really much to say about this outing, why? Because firstly at Macedonia Park they always make you feel welcome and secondly they have great food too. Shame about no olives or feta at the bar, must have gone in a blink of an eye; one of many signatures of what is so good about this ground. Despite my disappointment i ordered a Stirling Burger which is a burger with the lot.

The Burger was a brilliant way to warm me up on a rather cold windy night. Burger had onions, bacon, tomato, egg, lettuce, beef patty with fresh bread and delicious sauce. all for 9 dollars was a good sized burger and worth the price tag. Throw in a coke and for 12 dollars cannot complain. Would go well with a nice cold beer which I considered but with work in an hour after the game I decided not to!

Stirling played well and good support for them and to see Perth play too. Perth not able to brush Stirling aside with a big score unlike against Cockburn City yet winning 4-0.

The Voyage North - From Forgettable to Fabulous

Decided to check out a few Sunday league games near where I was and thought why not venture to Craigie to see Whitfords take on southern Spirit at Warrandyte. Have to say was there for the last 20 minutes of the first half and although it was end to end stuff from both sides it wasn't enticing enough to make me stay and watch the second half. Didn't see a decent canteen set up and thought it was BYO picnic style like North Perth so decided to head over to Charonia to watch Joondalup United play Perth Royals.

Well Joondalup were 3 goals down to Perth in the first half I believe but ended up watching another 8 goals in the second half. Perth running out 8 goals to 3 winners with Joondalup having their keeper sent off with a clumsy tackle and stopping a certain goal scoring opportunity. (NOT the last man for goodness sake!) The substitute keeper didn't have a spare keeping shirt so they had to change as they changed over! That is the thing that I laugh and love about Sunday football, the little things like that.

Despite the rather dark grey clouds looming over the Mullaloo skies I ventured over to the canteen and thought I should sample the delights. Although the sausage rolls didn't look home made but rather gourmet from a small bakery they were delicious and with a can of coke only $5.50. The roll was a good size, perhaps length of your hand from middle finger to base of wrist. Pastry was seemed fresh and crumbled as you sank your teeth. I generally don't have sauce with my rolls but thought I'd try some. went down a treat while watching the entertainment. Also there was a selection of alcoholic beverages there to choose from and no more than 5 dollars from what I saw on the board.

The action was heating up as Joondalup pegged 2 goals back I thought I should go back to sample a pie. Similar situation I assume from the same bakery and there was a choice of 4 styles. I went for the chicken curry pie and for 5.50 with a can of coke was a perfect way to spend a winter's day and in my way the Punctual Football Fan says thanks Joondalup despite the loss my contributions over the canteen bench top was my method of showing my gratitude.