Having a further thought on Socceroo's active support and having been involved with it for the Adelaide games against Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia I have two points.
POINT ONE - LOCALIZE When games are played in cities that have only 1 based A-League team you should encourage the local supporter group to take the lead in organizing chants, banners and capos for the match. Should not be left to too few to do this and it will get more people on the same page around the country. The Socceroo's active is trying to get more supporter networks set up around the country so hopefully we can get more local subgroups to get involved.
For example the 2nd half of the Saudi Arabia match in Adelaide the Red Army capo encouraged by others lead the chants adapting to the Australia chant and basically just adopted Red Army chants for the national team when people in the active end weren't getting behind the current Australian chants.
While I personally didn't like how the situation eventuated that night (long story), I had to swallow my pride here and say it did work as people did get more involved and into it.
This is something that will likely work where games are held in Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane currently adapting to local supporter groups. Time for the Den and the Shed supporter groups to take the lead when they host Socceroo games in their respective cities.
However Sydney and Melbourne will be an issue if the Cove/RBB or NT/Melburnians can't work together and fuse a style worthy of being a host city for the national team.
I really wish we had more long sustain universal chants that everyone will get behind and not turn their nose up to and not worry if a certain chant is used by one particular supporter group over another.
POINT TWO - BIGGER THAN A-LEAGUE ACTIVE SUPPORT Do not try to run Socceroo's Active like an A-League supporters group. Remember while most maybe a part of A-League Supporter Groups there will be ones not familiar with it who need to be encourage to sing stand and contribute and not scolded if someone decides to do Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi. Rather them do this than not contribute at all.
The active support for the Socceroos represents more than just supporters of an A-League club or a particular city/region/demographic.
The socceroos represent a nation of over 24 million people (24 million people, 1 heartbeat) This would include the football family and ones who hate the world game with a passion but once every 4 years deep down will get behind the national team regardless of their bigotry and hatred.
The socceroos active is mainly made up of not only A-League Supporters, but also ones who are waiting for a team, NPL fans, EuroSnobs, casual observers and even curious first time invitees who may not have an A-league but would get involved with the national team.
Try and make them feel welcome and a part of active support. You just never know where a good experience might drive them and encourage them to love the game even more.
When you wear your green and gold its no longer about club rivalries. Its about National Pride. That is our identity.
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