Yes and unsurprisingly those people who have long time associations with the club are ethnic, and therefore the employment opportunities for other-ethnics at board or staff level are virtually none. I have no issue with this, I'm just highlighting once again your clubs are predominantly ethnic/migrant centric and not greatly connected with the wider community.

And generally don't want to be!

At an international football friendly between Australia and Serbia in Melbourne in June 2011, fans lit flares both inside and outside the stadium, and in city streets. Banners supporting Ratko Mladic, the Serbian military leader charged with war crimes by the International Court of Justice, were displayed. A laser light was seen in use. Seating at the stadium was also damaged.

Ethnics football supporters can't leave their foreign grievances away from these shores and continue to repeat (even recently) their unruly behaviour.

How is this blamed on local clubs? These people setting off flares etc, do they actually show up to any state league games? I think not.

They did ion the NSL and likely to return as can be seen they have not gone away.

I read a few months back that South Melbourne Hellas supporters let flares off at a youth match FFS. I repeat a youth match. If this isn't a cutural thing nothing is.

That in itself may not a major deal but the behaviour of mono ethnic clubs from the NSL days shows little evidence of abating and not worth the risk.

Yes and unsurprisingly those people who have long time associations with the club are ethnic, and therefore the employment opportunities for other-ethnics at board or staff level are virtually none. I have no issue with this, I'm just highlighting once again your clubs are predominantly ethnic/migrant centric and not greatly connected with the wider community.

If you had Croatian or Italian blood you might feel differently, or go for another team..

Doesn't grate at me at all that a team playing in the A-League, with live Fox coverage, newspaper (however limited) exposure and no competition from AFL, etc., have a better average crowd than a team playing in a state league, with no live coverage worth talking about and virtually zero press exposure. Nor does it bother me that Heart get better crowds now than South got back in the NSL days. The lack of media back then can't be underestimated.
You've tried that angle before but it is not supported by any evidence, teams which played in both leagues experienced no rise in crowds from playing in the a-league.

The heart being included left you even more bitter than normal, you don't need to deny that as it was very transparent in how you acted.


Still curious about this notion of yours that a local league side with no ethnic association would pull crowds - because it doesn't happen for non-ethnic clubs in any state league in Australia.

the reason its like that is because none of these people get paid by the club so whats your point? they are only ethnic clubs cause they are being run for free by volunteers

i just dont know what the solution is but i agre ethat alot of old soccer fans have been left hanging and i think thats unfair, they need to find a way to bring those fans back. anyway i think none of the roar management would be there if they werent getting paid.


South Melbourne

President
Leo Athanasakis=FREE
Chairman
Nick Galatas=FREE
Treasurer
Peter Parthimos=FREE
Board of Management
Dr George Triantos - Corporate Sales, Marketing & Events
Tony Margaritis - General Business / Merchandise
Tom Kalas – Youth Development
Tom Karatzas - Football / Sales
Nick Maikousis
Lucky Chrisomalidis
Administration
Peter Kokotis - General Manager
Nick Szkilnik - Office Manager
George Kouroumalis - Digital Media and Marketing Manager
Michael Dimoudis - Web Manager
Cindy Nitsos - Club Photographer
Paul Zarogiannis - Video Production (SMFC TV)
David Henning - SMFC TV & SouthRadio host
John Kyrou - SMFC TV, SouthRadio host, Club Historian
Tim Dovas - SMFC TV Filming

Brisbane Roar

Football Department
Head Coach - Ange Postecoglou=PAID
Assistant Coach - Rado Vidosic=PAID
Football Conditioning Coach - Ken Stead=PAID
Goalkeeper Coach - Fernando vaz Alves=PAID
Youth Team Coach - John SimePAID
Team Manager - Ian Dalzell=PAID

Administration
Interim CEO - Michael Bowers=PAID
General Manager, Football - Paul Trimboli=PAID
Financial Controller - Sean Dobson=PAID
Commercial Manager - Steve Guise=PAID
Commercial Sales Manager - Ben Mannion -PAID
Marketing Manager - Kurt Brutton-PAID
Media & Communications Manager - Daniel Lato -PAID
Events Manager - Bruce Stalder -PAID

Excellent point

They do put their own money in and some of them actually have their house at stake to keeP this club and many many others like it afloat

True football stakeholders

The problem with some on this forum is there too young to understand how ethnics kept this game ticking for so many decades. And when the NSL came to a end it was a slap in the face to many who gave up their free time to help soccer tick in this country, and it dosnt matter what the FFA do those people will never pay to watch a game in the HAL my dad included. The amount of free tickets ive thrown at him he just shrugs his shoulders and says no way. And i know many many people like my dad, there has to be some sort of a solution soon because it would be a shame that my dad and other people like him dont see top flight soccer in this country anymore.

So Croatians and Italians can't mix with Greeks but Pommie bastards can? I'd say that's a pretty poor attitude toward Croatians and Italians...

Then a lad of Croatian heritage comes out and says he has no problem. Then a lad with an Italian background says the same... And they are simply the exception that proves the rule..

I read a few months back that South Melbourne Hellas supporters let flares off at a youth match FFS. I repeat a youth match. If this isn't a cutural thing nothing is.

Why don't other backgrounds at state league clubs want to give their time for FREE?

LOL at Rusty who has proven himself to be an absolute asshole and his little Hemroid mates

Look at it this way Rusty

If the HAL CLUBS are all encompassing and all inclusive then where the cuck are the fans

Are you trying to tell me that the 5 HAL GAMES each week with an average attendance of just over 10k each which equates to about 52k fans each week is a success and these all inclusive clubs have captured the nation???

Considering the parade the HAL has enjoyed I would call this result as underwhelming and certainly not a result which has captured a deep rooted football market or any mainstream market to its potential

Get online have a look at all the clubs at all levels this nation has and guess what - the vast majority do have an ethnic influence and that is for a reason - because these clubs evolve in a catchment that represents the community ...... And does the HAL REPRESENT THEM??? Well I think the obvious answer is no.

I am first and foremost a football lover and having a club of a ethnic influence reach the top would mean that all clubs at all levels can have an aspiration and then guess what - the HAL HAS ENGEGEMENT

the only thing that can save this game in this country is promotion and relegation

The privatized system appeals only to stakeholders - not communities

I'm curious why you think that only certain backgrounds are capable of supporting and being involved in running state league sides.

why not here you say? because the round ball is number 1 sport in all countries except here in aus,nz and the us thats why.

Most number 2 and 3 professional sports operate on a privatised business model

Who said Anglo names were Australian? You created the racial distinction, not me.

During the nineties there was also a growing opinion from sponsors and benefactors and the new board of Soccer Australia, that the NSL would not become a mainstream competition because of the overt ethnic flavour of many of the clubs and the league itself.

Some of the NSL clubs were seen as introverted, self concerned with their own ethnicity and not welcoming to the general follower of Australian sports.

Apart from the violence, here are other factors why ethnic clubs couldn't and still can't cut it with mainstream appeal.

Contrary to popular belief, McDonaldized systems in society are not reasonable, or even truly rational systems. They may generate many problems for consumers such as inefficiency rather than increased efficiency, relatively high costs, illusionary fun and reality, false friendliness, disenchantment, threats to health and the environment, homogenization, and dehumanization. Even though the McDonaldization process does have its many advantages, these irrationalities can clearly counterbalance if not overwhelm them.