Thursday 15 March 2007

Look out Joey Johns


Before I moved into the Newcastle area I knew that Andrew Johns was a popular figure on the local scene. I knew that he was a local boy done good and that the Novacastrians were proud of him.


What I didn't realise was HOW proud of him they are. He does ads for just about everything under the sun, is always being talked about and there is a news story on Joey Johns every single day. 'Our Andrew' is everywhere.


I am not exaggerating. Every single day there is a story on Andrew Johns in the paper, on NBN (home of RL) and on every radio station north of Gosford.


Every little trivial detail about his life is big news. Yesterday it was 'Joey goes surfing before the big match'. They love the guy - I got no problems with that.


But lately there has been a new face that has been appearing in the papers and on the tele more than is normal.


I keep hearing the unmistakable voice of a bloke who has grown up playing the wog ball game around us effniks. Nicky Carle. Last week it was on the back of the Newcastle Herald showing Nicky in a local climbing Gym. Nicky Carle. A fortnight ago, he had just won the HAL Player of the year and Newcastle couldn't get enough of him. Nicky Carle.


And the big news this week, Nick Carle has been selected to play for the Socceroo's against China on March 24 in Guangzhou. There he was again, in the papers.


The town that has the Greatest Player in the WORLD in Joey (Ray Warren, 2005), now has a new face to pin its hopes on.


Lets hope he does us proud.

Sunday 11 March 2007

Somebody Pinch Me

Somebody pinch me,

It's late on a Wednesday night and I'm clicking furiously on my mouse trying to refresh the world game website live match commentary. It's the first night of foray into the AFC Asian Champions League by Australian teams - the much heralded and anticipated entry into Asian club football that would ice the cake that was baked by the Crawford Report just 4 short years ago.

Sydney FC lead 2 goals to 1 against a team of Chinese I had not heard of until a couple of months ago. The goals have been sensational.

I see the highlights on a commercial free to air sports show that night (I don't have Fox), preceding rugby league, afl and even the cricket. Names like Ufuk Talay and Stevie Corica roll off the presenters tongue, and 'do it again for Sydney.....'.

Wait a minute this is Australia - How the hell did we get to Asian Champions League highlights on Channel 10, home of Neighbours, AFL and The Simpsons???

When the Pratten Park 'riot' happened in the mid 80's, who was involved? - Sydney Olympic, obviously but who else? (Was it Sydney City?) Although I can honestly say I can't remember, I could Google it and find it in an instant.

But I do remember the important bit. I remember the sinking sinking feeling of shame and embarrassment as my sport was dragged through the mud by anyone who could put hooligan and soccer in the same sentence. Blown out of all proportion ala White Eagles bus windows.... but mum and dad Australia said soccer is for thugs, so lets go watch rugby league (!).

I admit it, as a kid growing up I would play in 2 comps of 'soccer' during the week with a passion - get to training early, get dressed 5 hrs before the game on Saturday (some things don't change even in o35's), kick the ball around the house incessantly....but my heroes were Slippery Steve Morris, Rocket Reddy, and Dougie Walters, not Gary Phillips, Peter Katholas or Marshall Soper....

Soccer as a mainstream entertainment sport was off the radar, except for those FA Cup nights or late Saturday nights EPL on ABC where we cheered for teams we sort of knew about, like Liverpool, Everton, Notts Forest - as an alternative most of us at best followed the premiership and that was that. The hard core read Australian Soccer Weekly and knew about Greek teams or Serie A. The Wold Cup disappointments would come and go, which would spark some interest. But at Aussie club level?

Not to say there was not some quality football on offer in the old NSL. But it was not in the mainstream psyche.

Of course, I know that there is an obvious reason to the focus on football these days - much has been written about the launch of the A League, Dwight Yorke, Foxtel deals, THAT night in November, the World Cup and THOSE mornings in June with the Socceroos, the 50k crowds at the Dome, Dutch football directors and Weetbix Kids.

And I know there is a damn long way to go.

But I have a feeling that at last the game is on the mainstream radar.

Now let me just Google Uruwa Red Diamonds.......