It would be good if there was one song that everybody knew, active support or not. I was listening to Triple M in Sydney in the lead up to the Honduras game. They were doing the history of Socceroo world cup qualifiers. They played a snippet of a song that was recorded and released commercially in 1974 by the Socceroo players: "Sock it to 'em Soceroos". http://www.ozfootball.net/museum/index.php/en/downloads/123-1974-world-cup-socceroos-songs I imagine it was really corny back then, but today it would be a fantastic tribute to those pioneers that put football on the map in Australia. It is a very familiar tune, so I think it could catch on if given enough publicity. I note that the song got a little attention in the lead up to the 2006 world cup, by a  German fan who adopted the Socceroos for the tournament: http://www.theage.com.au/news/aussie-update/a-germans-love-for-the-socceroos/2006/06/10/1149815361815.html.

The trouble with choosing a song is that most would seem plastic. But at least this song has a history attached that would be nice for us to honour. 

Good points made there Timmo. 

I think plenty of fans have thought similarly and attempted to implement things in the past but it is a problem all national teams find somewhat difficult due to playing of home games in so many cities (which is otherwise a good thing) and lack of getting used to making the same chants every couple of weeks as in club football in particular.

Hopefully it improves as it would be great to have loud and passionate fan support at every game and have this at a much higher level in 15-20 years than now.

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.

Just had a thought and this is the closest to an active support thread that I have found. After seeing the Warren and Murray banners last night wouldn't it be great if we had a song that involved them? I think Australia's chants in general need some work 

It is probably cringe, but at least it gets the ball rolling and hopefully someone more creative can come up with something better.

To this tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1knOMdW3YrM
We're a bunch of sheila's and wogs as well,
But Johnny had a story to tell,
Play the world game with Murray too,
The thing I love most is being a roo
Being a roo, Being a roo etc

As much as any self-respecting pom should

Welcome LK - Just on the 'keep it simple' tips coming from forumites - You guys just posted on your FB page one of the well-known chants from Australias WC06 Games - the 'Aus-tra-li-aaa na ni na nana naa' chant and that's a great example of simplicity and familiarity for wider football fans. Most when hearing it, may recognise it and even join in. The WC06 is what I mean - MANY Aussies got on-board with football in Australia through the Golden Gen and their performance at WC06. The recesses of those fond memories, qualifying after 32 years and performing on the big stage - they will never leave!

All the more reason why it can work! And I disagree on the bolded point, there are more who can rise up and be passionate in supporting our country and indeed that's how and why many of us got into the 'local game' in the first place! It's just harnessing, organising that, that's the challenge.



Agreed with 'Terrace Australis' - though a shame G&G Army went by the wayside - there is a void, room for just this kind of active support for our NTs and if these guys seek to fill it, seize this opportunity, then all power to them!

And =d> awesome man, great to have you on the forums - given you have heard and seen it all, then it's great to hear from and receive the wisdom from such supporters. I'm sure you have more insights as to what works and what doesn't - people would love to hear it!

Edited by GloryPerth: 26/8/2015 10:13:37 PM

Do you hate the socceroos as well?

Exactly...

Edited by Buggalugs - you should have listened... : 26/8/2015 03:57:27 PM

Rumour Mill

We recently posted this article which resonates with what we are about...

http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/07/08/sing-when-youre-losing-australian-fans-need-to-find-their-voice/

The Socceroos Active Support is a concept to encourage fans to be vocal, active supporters, not just another backside on a seat.......

We don't care which "group" you associate yourself with whether its an "official" group or just a group of mates who regularly attend matches.

M80 has had more active support overseas than the GGA, and Terrus Australia ever had!

M80 is love. M80 is life.

If thats the only question arising from all this....

if this is G&G army people - how come you don't run under that name?

1st Rule: No club colours. Should either be in green or gold and maybe a dash of blue

2nd Rule: Go back to Rule 1

Remember Active support for Australia could be made up by more than just people from A-League Active supporter groups. It could contain ones who are passionately waiting for a future A-league team or support clubs in the lower tiers via NPL or state.

It should be bigger than the some of its parts not a dick measuring contest on which A-League Active support is better.

The national team is bigger than that.

Socceroos Pre-game in Perth...

Yeah mate.... I would love to be if I had the time.... Will try and keep you guys in the loop as much as a I can..

Australian cities are so far apart that it is difficult to get the same people to all the matches. It am pretty sure that Perth is as far from Sydney as the moon, and has just as little to offer.

Perhaps the more pertinent question then is has there been a Serbia game without pyro?

As usual with these things, if the A-League and NPL supporter groups don't get behind it or something has not signifigantly changed in how the latest group is operating then it will not get off the ground for more than a season. We'll get to 2017 and another group will pop up for a crack.

Edited by melbourne_terrace: 14/8/2015 10:43:12 PM

Is this BT?

If so, you should be on here more often.

yes, last time I remember was serbia game

Has pyro been let off at a Socceroos game before?

We welcome all ideas and contributions... Please send us a message via FB...

We are currently working on having Live-sites in Syd, W Syd, Melb, Adel and Bris for the upcoming qualifier against Bangladesh. And we have a few events set up for those travelling to away games check out the FB page for more details

Thanks again for your support guys..... Its appreciated

The problem is at away games you have a few expats there for novelty value and the same group of 15-20 guys who are old enough and rich enough to take a week off work whenever they feel like it but have been drinking non stop for about 3 days. Not conducive to chants but great fun.

I really hope this kicks off.. I'm there with bells on for any Melbourne games.

M80 is the true Socceroos Active Support.