Happy to read in this mornings Sunday Mail of the fortuitous conflict between the Redbacks and United in October of this year that will prevent the Owners of United from c*cking up royally and moving the home game against the tards from Hindmarsh to Adelaide Oval. With the tards landing HK, this now means the only way to guarantee a seat to see that particular game is to buy a season ticket:) I hate AdOval for football with a passion. I'd much rather see the Reds play all games, especially big rivalry games at fortress Hindmarsh. There has to be a way to let the owners know that we as fans hate watching football at an oval venue when we already play at the countries best football-only venue. Full Houses at Hindmarsh can only be good for brand United:) If we make money at the 'marsh, a full house ought to be great for the bottom line and better in the long run, esp if the glory hunters have to shell out on a ST to get into the Kewell games;)

the reds have a golden opportunity to push season tickets now. If people want the chance to guarantee to see Harry Kewell play here get a season ticket.

People did that for the ACL final so why not. The only positive thing about an Adelaide Oval game is the Red army march from rundle mall to adelaide oval. Other than that keep it at Hindmarsh.

Harry will help in bringing casual supporters to the games but will not be as the sunday mail put it today the saviour of the A-League. What will help and is happening now is that people jump aboard their favourite A-League club and support them through thick or thin. I was an A-league supporter before Harry and will be when his playing days are over.

ADELAIDE United's Evgeniy "Lev" Levchenko believes gay footballers should not fear coming out.

Heterosexual Levchenko became an advocate for gay rights after he was saddened by the suicide of ex-Adelaide City striker Justin Fashanu.

>

"I've been to more than 60 countries and I have taken chocolate from everywhere.

>

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/stars-life-in-the-fast-lane/story-e6frecj3-1226117755790




Edited by waggzzz2: 21/8/2011 11:39:45 AM

HOMOSEXUAL hunting in AFL circles should stop.

Two former AFL players are rumoured to have been offered $150,000 to be the first to publicly come out as gay.

And rumours in the past two weeks suggested a Victorian-based player was ready to out himself - rumours that have been baseless.

If a player wants to out himself, then I say good luck.

But I believe the world of AFL footy is not ready for it. To come out is unnecessary for a lot of reasons.

Imagine the publicity associated with a current player admitting he's gay. It would be international news and could break the fabric of a club.

Football clubs are very different environments. Locker room nudity is an everyday part of our lives and unlike any other work place.


I believe it would cause discomfort in that environment should someone declare himself gay.

I have played with a gay player in the twos for Mayne in Queensland in the mid-1990s who was happy to admit his sexual persuasion. He was a great guy who played his heart out and was respected by everyone in the team.

The only time I noticed a difference was when I was showering with 10 other players after a good win and I turned around to see all 10 heading out in a second with their towels. Sure enough, our gay teammate had wandered in.

For some reason I felt uncomfortable, so I left. I am sure most players these days would do the same.

I know he wasn't about to try and convert me to his way of thinking, but I was uncomfortable all the same.

What I should have done was to sit down and talk with him in an attempt to understand his life.

Away from football, I'm all for any initiative that helps lessen public bias against homosexuality, such as IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia), which was run on Monday.

If you thought suicide was bad among young men, it is four to six times higher for people who are attracted to the same sex. It clearly can be a difficult and lonely road, one that hopefully can be made easier.

Now try being the first AFL player to come out. That is too big a burden for any player.

I know there are many who think a public AFL outing would break down homophobia, but they don't live in football clubs. It's not the job of the minority to make the environment safer. Not now, anyway.

We have made massive steps in other areas of society and in time I hope the environment changes to a degree where coming out isn't a big deal.

In women's sport - tennis, golf, cricket, hockey and soccer - being gay carries no stigma. But men's sport is well behind in acceptance.

Take American-born British national John Amaechi, who became the first NBA professional to come out when he published his book Man in the Middle.

Amaechi claims he has spoken to a dozen professional players who are gay. He says none have asked him if they should come out, but if they did he would tell them not to.

After all he is not a gay rights activist.

In an athletic environment the rules are different from the cultural rules for men.

Never in a mall will you see two straight men hugging, a--- slapping and jumping around like kids after an important goal.

Locker room nudity and homoerotic activities are normal inside footy clubs.

Young people from the ages 15-24 are the main participants in organised sport in Victoria. Some of them must be gay and I hope they thoroughly enjoy their sporting lives without having to experience any form of prejudice.

But if they are thinking of telling the world, my advice would be forget it.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/stay-in-the-closet-jason-akermanis-tells-homosexuals/story-e6frf9ix-1225868871934

A packed Hindmarsh Stadium against Melbourne to make a profit, or a decent sized crowd at Adelaide Oval to make a loss - I know which one I'd pick.

The top 3 of my favourite football memories involve sold out stadia and 2 of 3 involve a jam-packed Hindmarsh.
1. 'that' game at the Olympic Stadium against Uruguay in Nov2005:)
2. the 3-0 win over Bundyodkor in the ACL, and
3. AUFC debut 1-0 over Brisbane strikers

Imagine the buzz in the city leading up to round 2 if Hindmarsh is a sellout against our hated rivals..huge:) Then imagine if we were to win that game with HK in the tard team:) what a huge boost for the profile of the Reds/football in Adelaide:)

Edited by vanbasten88: 21/8/2011 03:59:44 PM

Don't 'imagine'...expect. We'll beat them. Hindmarsh will go off. AO would be a sorry replacement for the pleasure of beating them at our spiritual home.

Hey AUFC fans, what is your strongest starting XI w/ substitutes?

A packed Hindmarsh Stadium against Melbourne to make a profit, or a decent sized crowd at Adelaide Oval to make a loss - I know which one I'd pick.

Something like:

Galekovic
Dilevski, McKain, Mullen, Cassio
Levchenko, Usucar
Djite, Vidosic, Slory
Van Dijk

Bench: Birighitti, Malik, Caravella, Watson/Ramsey

That looks about right. Though maybe the players behind the striker COULD be in this order: Slory, Djite, Vidosic. I know Vidosic is best as a number 10 but he can play anywhere, Slory is best on the right, and Djite will do much better as a second striker behind Van Dijk, rather than on the wing.

This.

And I'm usually optimistic about games at Adelaide Oval. For me, it's not about the spectator experience being decent or shit at AO, but rather it devalues the matches that are played at Hindmarsh. The only thing the Oval has over Hindmarsh (other than capacity, of course) is that the Red Army can do their pre-game march through the CBD.

Hindmarsh is our home so we should look at ways to grow at our home, not abroad. This would mean a series of upgrades in the coming years. I'd be satisfied if we could upgrade Hindmarsh to 22k.

Does a season ticket holder get first priority to purchase additional tickets (Yes, im thinking for the Kewell game)??

Well after an awesome weekend of watching the Federation cup final between Western Strikers and Adelaide blue Eagles Im so looking forward to the Gold Coast pre season clash. can't wait to buy tickets wednesday.

that cup final has reinforce that the FFA Cup can't come soon enough and state league teams will surprise a lot of people.

I was aiming to go but the kick off time flumoxed me :( Even more upset I had to miss with how it played out!

Anyone know when season ticket packs r being sent? Bloody taking ages. Also no sign of a new kit or the mythical 'memberships'. On field we seem to have it sorted. Off field we clearly don't.

Actually convinced a mate to become a member and he's not impressed. He's been a member of the crows since they began and definitely rates them over us in terms of member services, particularly communications. I had hoped after last years balls up and with new owners that things would have got better.