Natural attrition of fan bases. The Italian diaspora migrated here earlier so now up to 3rd generation. They have no need for the clubs anymore. Basically the fans are either dead, in nursing homes or don't care

Same way you see previously well supported Sydney United, Rockdale and Bonyrigg fan bases have been decreasing and disappearing the last few years. It's a credit to a core group of young guys at each of those clubs who keep the fire burning. Unfortunately though, most fans of each of the clubs are older guys and pensioners. What happens when they fade away? It's a sad but inevitable progression that the old clubs are struggling to find a way to counter.

I remember in the 90s going out to Bonno on a Saturday night and having 1500 hostile Serbs going berserk. Used to be a cracking atmosphere and away teams could never win there. Same as Bankstown Lions on a Sunday with Macos. Or even 15 years ago, heading out to Belmore on a Sunday with 10K other football fans. Same for Sydney United.



Edited by ralerasic: 23/6/2015 09:28:54 AM

Spot on. The youngies would rather be part of the cool crowd at WSW/SFC

The FFA Cup will help some of these clubs in terms of awareness. But turning that into the week in week out support that's needed is very hard, if not impossible. In a few years time, hopefully some sort of national second tier can be formed. That's the only chance.

Sounds about right, our crowds were top notch up until 2011 i would say, just went downhill from there

Second division averaging 1000-2000 at times, would hit 3 when we versed Bossy, i remember FNSW writing up a article praising us about our great crowds etc.

Sad to say i think we have another 5-10 years in the Premier league before we go down a few tiers, like they say ''jebiga''

Yes, it is sad seeing some of the pioneering Sydney clubs struggle for support.
If you weren't in the know some people wouldn't even know what happened to x club yet is named now xy and z for eg.
Pandoras box going over this but its a crying shame.

Ivan Necevski.

Everybody dreams of a team of Ivan Necevski's.

come see him in action this sunday at ilinden sports centre. 5pm v olympic. should be a cracker!

What makes you say this?

Well said Rale Rasic

Unless we change seasons and play in summer this comp is fuked

As for that happening it nearly happened but ffa didnt let us
Unless we can get this comp on foxtel some form of highlights show we are
going to really struggle

Every year i see less and less fans on all the clubs

We need a 2nd division media coverage and some form of prisemoney for winning it

Used to buy the Sunday Telegraph or Monday papers and it gave you all
the results we get nothing know

Its only about the A league

5 pm wtf

Relax, it's not like you have a job to go to on Monday.

Too expensive, you spend enough too much for f**k all return, the prize money i believe is 15-20 grand which is like basically two home game income.

Also dont think people like being constantly treated like shit, for us to get back into the league we had to meet all this bullshit criteria in terms of our ground etc which we smashed, fastforward to a few years ago clubs like Blacktown Spartans are let in which in all fairness their facilities dont meet the criteria, dont even have 200 seats for undercover seating whilst we needed 1000.

Maybe not this board, the board after will pull the plug and drop down a few tiers.

I've been told that Hakoah are favourites to come up and the criteria was softened for them, just happens to be Frankies team.

there needs to be something done IMO to assist the npl clubs.
the entry fee for NPL1 is close to $40k. you win the double and you might get that back. its not easy.
the youtobe highlights and match reports are great, but there needs to be more assistance to clubs for promo purposes.
theres been a big push to have coaches qualfied, another great intiative (although not fool proof, i know of several coaches with the paperwork who couldnt coach tos ave their lives). but anyway, those courses need to be heavily discounted IMO.
Theres so mcuh we can do to enhance our product.

$40000 is piss all, have to probably spend 10x that just to be successful in this league.
The admin in the game is not professional, the highlights quality is poor compared to previous years & match reports are most of the time inaccurate.

They want all the coaches to be accredited yet wont subsidize the costs, for FFA C you're looking at paying almost $2000 FFS, at times have good coaches who cant get accredited because simply the cash is too much for some people.

Also junior fees 2000-3000, no surprise the quality of juniors have went down hill.

So I hear Blake Powell is over in Fiji trialing for Wellington Phoenix in their pre-season tour. That could hurt APIA in the run into the finals.

I agree with both of you on some points.
NPL is like dead man walking :(
The model hasn't changed since the HAL introduction....
It doesn't enhance new supporters but the hard core/club members/players relatives/friends and odd enthusiast.
Publicity is nothing but through the standard channel, only those interested look into FootballNSW website, has FB but how active as I'm not on it.
Jnr costs are high but its not lacking participants but how many of those parents/Dad take their son to games ?
Not enough I expect.
There is no enticement/incentive to attend.
People want more or at least be sold up there's more :)
Just bringing up conversation pieces.

Some other POV.
I'm a passionate participant/player at club level and also have a boy in a RYL club that their 1sts are in SL1.
So obviously Football is in our blood and actively watch mid week games between trainings - will get to FFACup game when possible and watch other SL games and NPL 1 or 2 when time allows.
I don't need to be enticed but I watch parents from U12 - 15's from attending trainings to weekend match days.
I never hear them talking of attending xyz game over the weekend - but these are the ones that should be considering their kid is playing rep (well some shouldn't be but thats another matter) and get them watching local or NPL games.
This is one area that can be addressed by all clubs.
There is not enough noise - no activation by FNSW or NPL clubs I expect offering xyz to x clubs beneath them to attend the big Derby for eg...some have affiliation with lower clubs do they actively work with them and incentivise match participation ?
I don't know I'm just waffling on, these modern times are more challenging - I love being around football Sat/Sun but others need a push and a shove !
Are clubs doing enough ?
What kind of $$'s come from bloody Play Station, IGA, Puma, NSR etcetcetc
Seems we've built a fantastic Valentine Park :lol:




Edited by M.L.: 26/6/2015 02:28:56 PM

There's absolutely no evidence to suggest that this will change soon although I hope it does and soon. Keen for highlights of the NPL being available to tv.

Powell with Phoenix for 7 days so only misses Demons match.

Initially trialled at Mariners but wasn't' considered good enough.

you bring up a lot of good points that many people from a range of clubs will undoubtedly agree with you on
Im just keen to know where you heard about bonno pulling the plug as thats the first I've heard it.. is it just a gut feeling? a rumour? or have you heard from club officials that it's likely to happen?

Ill just say one of the main figureheads who makes the club run has almost the same views and gives us 5-10 year tops before it dies down, the club will always be there but at the nsw npl, is hard to say.

What irks me is that the clubs in the league have to publicly give fnsws sponsors a plug despite receiving fk all in return, we sign to play in nsw npl so we have to, thats their reasoning........ Fmd sounds like communist Yugoslavia.

Wont be surprised if in 10 yrs the league is full of assoication backed clubs who are playing out of fields like Cook Park or so, we went back up with blood sweat and tears and had to change the club from bottom to top and spends 100s thousands in the process, then you get clubs like Hakoah/Blacktown Spartans etc who probably dont have undercover seating for more than 200 (requirement for us was 1000 ?) it makes a mockery

Then again the only times Spartans will ever see any supporters is when they verse the traditional heaveyweights, other than that you could probably almost count every supporter.

100% agree!
and don't even get me started on hakoah because i could go on for years ](*,) ](*,) ](*,)

mate when i heard they want promotion i said to myself maybe their facilities will hold them back, but its Frankies team and FNSW are licking his arsehole, theyll be promoted easily

ground criteria ? all thrown out of the door

Hard fought 3-2 win over Sutho last night, to be honest the new gaffer has them better than ive ever seen, played like a top 3 team, top notch game last night.

I think it was Moustakas who coudnt take some stick from the fans on the sideline and almost got a yellow for approaching them, was literally seconds after they conceded the 3rd goal.

Rockdale 2-1 LOLympic

Did you head out to the game?

I heard Ivan got sent off at half time too yet Olympic couldn't capitalise?

Where's the olympic warrior 'MACEDONIA'? lol

heard that a few of the treli boys went running from the komiti.. anyone who attended care to elaborate?

I did actually.

Yea was a dud call by the ref. Ahh well, just happy we got the result.

Oh Necevski. :lol:

Il rather talk about the waratah
Cup semi against united

Heard rockdale fans got belted
With bottles anyone apart from
Kolner who is a real fans want to tell
Us want happened that was funny

As for yesterday kids being kids
Both set of youths trying to start fight

This fixture is going to become a closed
Fixture i can see it happening very soon

I know lots of greeks from interstate
Wanted to come from south melbourne
And adelaide olympic

Lets hope rockdale dont draw a greek
Team from melbourne