Ventured to my first Anzac Day A-League match for the first time and my first A-League match in Sydney for a while since the western Sydney derby clash between West Sydney and Macarthur in Parramatta. Today would be a contrast to what I had seen back then with Campbelltown Stadium being a rather interesting experience. It was also my very first time that I have ventured to Campbelltown and the stadium. So, there will be opinions on these matters throughout the article.
The stadium is originally for rugby league and union and the layout of the stadium certainly show this as it feels like a National Premier Leagues venue and with the demographic to match that feeling also. The stadium only has two grandstands where there is very little cover even for the grandstand. As it was raining on and off during the day, it would be a problem for fans where watching the last 5 minutes of the game where they would be exposed to the elements and if you didn't have anything to protect you from the elements, you would be in trouble. This would also be a problem during the day as there is little shelter to protect viewers from the harsh Australian sun. I do not understand why Australian architecture and engineering do not incorporate these factors into buildings.
To Macarthur's credit at Campbelltown, there were no areas in the ground that were restricted or areas where it would be difficult to watch the game. This was evident with so many children at the game and they were playing football. They could be watching the game as well as playing their game. Which makes me raise the next question, as it ties into Macarthur's stability as well as the leagues'. How can such a team sustain itself when from based off what I had seen, the demographic of the fans would be overwhelmingly youthful. There were not very many adults.
While this is great for generating grass roots support for the team as well as for the region. You do need to have adults become more engaged with the team and to get behind them. The nature of the team is still rather new and they simply do not have a concrete club culture. So far it is dictated my the Football Federation of Australia and the culture of the team just seems deeply forced and contrived. Team culture needs to be created from somewhere, but it just does not seem to be growing and flowing in a positive direction because of the sanitised manner in which the FFA treat and deal with the football teams in the A-League.
I think that one reason why going to a Macarthur match is because the ticket prices for an adult are just way out of step, even for these high prices labelled as "cost of living", the prices for the tickets are high. For example, grandstand tickets are 60 dollars. Why would these seats cost so much at a venue such as at Campbelltown? It just doesn't make sense. The price for an adult grandstand ticket shouldn't be no more than 40 dollars tops. General admission was in the 20s which is understandable as there are many places to sit down and watch. Campbelltown stadium is a typical rugby league venue where there are grassed banked seating at both ends of the ground and with the corners with grassed banked seating too.
I should get on with the game itself. Macarthur just did not seem to be in the game as Melbourne Victory dealt a massive blow to the Bulls spirits with the opening goal in the 4th minute. From that point on-wards, Melbourne just seemed to be in complete control. Melbourne just seemed to be the quicker team when they pressed forwards, they were connecting their passes far more quicker than Macarthur, they were positioning themselves with more intent and far more vigilance than Macarthur and they would be able to track back with ease and ensure their defensive lines were not under pressure.
Macarthur just could not regather themselves after that goal and they were just not quick enough to beat the man when they would try and take on the defensive lines of Melbourne. The communication just seemed to be also lacking and they would either over-run the ball when trying to string passes, miss-queue their passes when trying to venture into their attacking third and also they just could not switch the play fast enough where Melbourne would simply have enough time to shut down their telegraphed passage of play.
It wasn't until the 36th minute when the second goal was scored. Melbourne looked constantly threatening to kick open the door and the floodgates to open. The second goal occurred, ironically as I ventured to gather food and a drink when I went behind the grassed bank northern end and Melbourne doubled their lead and 2-0 up. In the 68th minute the Bulls' hard work paid off with getting one through the Victory's defense and showed some spark and some life. However, it was too little and too late where they just were not good enough to score that elusive second to draw the contest. Though while they were busy at it, Melbourne were constantly threatening to score their third, or potentially their 3rd and 4th in rapid succession.
The food was a lean affair, which is rather saddening but I mean for A-League matches, I shouldn't be shocked, nor horrified given the nature of me going to Perth Glory matches. I only saw a food truck by the main gate of the stadium, so I could have missed another food truck. However, I really doubt that there were any other food offerings available as many people, or children I should say, were going to this one large food truck. They had Mexican on offer and chips with hotdogs also on offer. There were many topping offerings available for the chips. However, I decided to order chips with gravy as it was cool and a but chilly in the evening. So thought that this would hit the spot while watching the contest with a can of coke to just keep me perked up and sharp.
The coke was 3 dollars with the chips and gravy being 16 dollars. The chips were not too bad and were not badly salted. However, they could have been salted more and the gravy could have been slightly thicker and more applied over the chips. But all-in-all, the chips were not too bad but could have been much better. Though were suitable given the nature of the contest and for the demographic attending the game. I think that if there were more people attending and a better venue, the food offerings would be there for the locals.
Macarthur have a long way to go to build up their fan-base as well as to creating and developing a culture for the team, their supporters and the region. The potential is there and I think that it is progressing there, though thanks to the sanitised nature of the FFA and the officials running the competition with the Australian Premier Leagues, there are so many more people out there in all Australian cities that are not being engaged with the local A-League teams because of the lack of atmosphere. Or I should say because of the lack of atmosphere, with fans wanting to create one, being prevented and even forbidden to create a unique fan culture turns many football fans away from watching the games.
That wraps up my first A-League match out further west and another football match in New South Wales ticked off the list. I haven't been going to many Perth Glory games for obvious reasons, it was nice to get out there and to watch some football. Looking forward to another football experience in Sydney.
