Tag: Soccer

If in doubt, sit them out: New concussion guidelines for grassroots sport

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Concussion has become more of a subject in professional sport in recent years – but grassroots still lags behind

Awareness of concussion injuries in professional sport has been at times dramatically highlighted in recent years.

Across several sports, involving both female and male athletes, numerous head injuries have been seen by thousands in the stands and millions on the TV. Much more work in research, mitigation and aftercare is widely recognised as a priority though.

However, professional sports account for just a fraction of the amount of people who take part in sport across any given week. The vast majority participating in sport are hundreds of thousands of children, teenagers and adults playing just for the love of it. The ‘grassroots’.

But just how aware are coaches, teachers, parents and those who play when a concussion injury may have occurred and how to deal with it?

The Government, Sport & Recreation Alliance and a panel of medical experts are hoping that from today that new guidelines will increase awareness greatly as a huge difference between professional and amateur sport is that the pro’s will typically have dedicated healthcare professionals on site, while grassroots sport does not.

The government guidance isn’t medical advice, it’s about being aware and doing the right thing. In this case, it’s following what has been used in Scotland for several years now. A catchy headline: “If in doubt, sit them out.” It kind of does what is says on the tin.

It’s to make people think first and then know how to act. So why would you be ‘in doubt?’ A concussion is a brain injury that affects the way a person thinks, feels and remembers things, and in sport concussion can arise from an injury to the head.

Former England defender Matthew Upson said earlier this year football's approach to concussions should be the same across the board

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Former England defender Matthew Upson said earlier this year football’s approach to concussions should be the same across the board

Former England defender Matthew Upson said earlier this year football’s approach to concussions should be the same across the board

A clash of heads, falling heavily to the ground and hitting your head, even a heavy collision that doesn’t involve a blow to the head can cause a concussion. The key, say the guidelines, are to look out for 4 key elements; physical, mental processing, mood and sleep.

  • Physical – for example headaches, dizziness, vision changes.
  • Mental processing – for example not thinking clearly and feeling slowed down.
  • Mood – for example being short tempered, sad and emotional.
  • Sleep – for example not being to sleep or sleeping too much.

The full guidelines give greater details on visible clues of concussion.

If any of those traits are obvious, there must be doubt, so ‘sit them out.’ Remove the player from the field of play. The guidelines recognise that in fast moving sports it can be difficult to spot visible clues of concussion, but they urge players, coaches, teachers, referees, spectators and families to watch out and remove anyone with a suspected concussion from play immediately.

The guidelines also advise on not returning anyone back into play. That is crucial. The next step is an evaluation by a healthcare professional. That practically means accessing the NHS by calling 111 within 24 hours of the incident.

Rest and sleep as required within the first 24-48 hours is now seen as good for recovery while limiting smartphone, screen and computer time for the first 48 hours has also been shown to improve recovery. The don’ts are classic bits of advice, don’t leave someone on their own, don’t drink alcohol and certainly don’t drive a car.

As most grassroots sports don’t have professional healthcare professionals on site, the onus is on players, coaches, teachers and those watching on. Hence these guidelines are really about creating greater awareness.

Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said: “Sport keeps us healthy and active, but it is not without risk and major injuries to the head can and do happen.

Rugby League's Stevie Ward recently hosted a panel discussion on concussion in rugby league with fellow professionals James Graham, Tom Johnstone, Tyrone McCarthy and Greg Burke

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Rugby League’s Stevie Ward recently hosted a panel discussion on concussion in rugby league with fellow professionals James Graham, Tom Johnstone, Tyrone McCarthy and Greg Burke

Rugby League’s Stevie Ward recently hosted a panel discussion on concussion in rugby league with fellow professionals James Graham, Tom Johnstone, Tyrone McCarthy and Greg Burke

“Research has shown the importance of fast and effective tailored treatment and we are issuing expert guidance to help people spot and treat head injuries. Whether used in a local leisure centre during a swimming lesson or on a village green during a cricket match, the guidance will make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Development of the guidelines has been led by the Sport and Recreation Alliance, Professor James Calder, chair of the expert drafting group, and Laurence Geller, the government’s adviser on concussion in sport.

The expert drafting group drew upon existing field research, with the aim of producing a consistent and preventative approach across all sports in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It builds upon the world-leading work conducted in Scotland, which was the first nation in the world to produce guidelines covering all types and levels of sport. Its guidance was updated in March 2021.

Professor Calder said: “For the first time we have UK-wide guidance that raises awareness of concussion in grassroots sport at all levels. It provides practical evidence-based advice for those who may have sustained a concussion and gives a step by step plan for their safe return to work, education, exercise and full sport.

“Participation in sport and exercise is crucial for the nation’s mental and physical health and, with appropriate management, the vast majority of those who sustain a concussion during sport should make a full recovery.”

Professor Willie Stewart of Glasgow University added: “The release of these guidelines represents a world-leading landmark in sports concussion management.

“Based on the pragmatic, precautionary approach to immediate concussion management of ‘if in doubt, sit them out’, followed by an emphasis on individualised, self-managed return to normal life and sport, these guidelines set the standard for grassroots concussion management that all sports across the UK will follow.”

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ANZAC Soccer Ashes rediscovered in former football chairman’s garage after almost 70 years

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For decades, Australian football has been hunting down an object described as “the greatest domestic treasure there is”: a small, hand-carved wooden box containing the ashes of two cigars smoked by the captains of Australia and New Zealand after their first ‘A’ international match on Australian soil in June, 1923.

Known as the Soccer Ashes, this precious relic was the first trophy that was ever contested between the two trans-Tasman rivals, and forms a key chapter in the larger history of the Socceroos.

The trophy was the brainchild of New Zealand team manager and trophy-maker Harry Mayer, who was convinced the two nations needed to play for something physical, something real, like what they had in cricket.

Mayer designed the casket with a combination of woods — New Zealand honeysuckle and Australian maple, to be precise — and adorned its lid with iconic national imagery, a kangaroo and two silver ferns, symbolising the relationship between the two nations.

The lid of the Soccer Ashes contains symbols of Australia and New Zealand.(Football Australia)

Inside the box, nestled into deep blue velvet lining, was a small silver-plated razor case that belonged to Private William Fisher, then-secretary of the Queensland Football Association, who’d carried it with him during the landing at Gallipoli in 1915 — the event that began the ANZAC legend.

For 30 years, Australia and New Zealand contested the Soccer Ashes, with the trophy travelling back and forth across the Tasman, paying homage to their wartime origin story.

But in 1954, the trophy completely disappeared.

Rumours swirled as to the trophy’s whereabouts, with some fearing it had been thrown away or destroyed entirely by someone who did not appreciate its significance.

And were it not for the ongoing efforts of historians Trevor Thompson and Ian Syson — who, with the backing of Football Australia and some government funding, spearheaded a project to track down the trophy in 2019 — it may have faded from Australian football’s collective memory, too.

Until now.

69 years after its last known sighting, the Soccer Ashes have finally been found.

The Soccer Ashes were found in the garage of Sydney Storey, former chairman of the Australian Soccer Football Association (ASFA) in the mid-20th century.(Football Australia)

Discovered by the family of former Australian Soccer Football Association (ASFA) chairman Sydney Storey, who helped run the game between 1922 and 1966, the trophy was identified amongst a treasure trove of football memorabilia, documents, photos, and other items as they sorted through old boxes in his garage after his death.

The sheer volume of artefacts meant the family took over a year to actually go through each box and verify their contents, but once they realised what they had on their hands, they immediately got in contact with FA.

“The large shed was literally full of relics of past days, and not easy to move around in,” Storey’s son Peter said.

“Most of these boxes had sat there untouched, decade after decade, until we started to go through them.

“There were so many historical, classical last-century items in the garage — even in the house — and the items we came across were of great interest. These included team photos, annual reports of the ASFA, an ASFA’s official badge, newspaper clippings, souvenir soccer match leaflets.

“And, importantly, found inside a well-sealed box, a wooden football match souvenir, which we identified as the Australia-New Zealand Soccer Ashes trophy.

“At that time, we didn’t realise that people might have been looking for it, or that it was of any interest, rather than just something 100 years old.”

Why Storey kept the trophy and all the other memorabilia hidden away remains a mystery.

Thompson, who authored the book Burning Ambition: The Centenary of Australia-New Zealand Football Ashes, thought Storey may have wanted to keep it safe as a political tug-of-war occurred between the old administration and newly arrived clubs and federations that were being created following post-war migration in the 1950s.

Thompson had reportedly tried to contact Storey about it 20 years ago, having narrowed down the suspects given their role inside Australian football at the time, but was rebuffed by the family.

For Syson, who first learned about the Soccer Ashes back in 2009, its disappearance was more than simple forgetfulness; it was a symptom of a broader cultural transition that football went through during the mid-20th century.

“It’s an interesting phase in Australian soccer history, where 1954 is very much the beginning of the end,” he said.

“Concern about representative football begins to decline as club football becomes much more important. The continental Europeans come into Australia and they bring professionalism, they bring quality, they bring in close[r] grounds. But they also bring club focus, to the detriment of other considerations such as international football.

“At this point, the idea of Australia and New Zealand as being an important contest starts to decline. I think we lose track of the Soccer Ashes because we lose our game’s focus on that international contest.”

However, FA are determined to fill in the gaps of Australian football’s history.

They hope to rediscover many more objects imbued with cultural memory that have faded into the dusty boxes of the game over the past century and install them at a new national Home of Football, which is slated to be built in the next few years.

Recognising its own past has already begun. Last year, FA celebrated the Socceroos’ centenary, lining up a pair of friendlies against New Zealand to mark 100 years since their first ‘A’ international, which took place in Dunedin in 1922.

The Socceroos played their first “A” international game against New Zealand in Dunedin on June 17, 1922.(supplied: NSWSFA)

And there are already calls for the Soccer Ashes — or a replica of it — to be used as a trophy once again, and for the trans-Tasman clash to occur every year to not only mark the occasion, but to also recognise the game’s rich, storied past and ensure it does not slide into insignificance, as it has so often threatened to do over the past century.

“This trophy is symbolic of something really important, and its discovery is also really important as well,” Syson said.

“Its absence was a symptom of Australian soccer’s tendency to forget itself, and for the surrounding culture not to care at all.

“This trophy is replete with sacred significance to a country that is so obsessed with its ANZAC mythology. For that to go missing, it says a lot about the way this game manages to shoot itself in the foot all the time.

“And so maybe this is a sign that the game can correct itself, can fix itself, can remember itself — if there’s enough people caring about it, if there’s enough people taking an interest in the history.

“It means so much for the game.”

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Neurodiversity Celebration Week: British rower Caragh McMurtry, ironman Sam Holness on being autistic

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Neurodiversity Celebration Week: Caragh McMurtry and Sam Holness talk to Sky Sports News reporter Nick Ransom about being athletes with autism

Neurodiversity Celebration Week: Caragh McMurtry and Sam Holness talk to Sky Sports News reporter Nick Ransom about being athletes with autism

This week is Neurodiversity Celebration Week, celebrating the one in five people who think differently. These include autistic, dyslexic, dyspraxic athletes, or those with ADHD, who often face invisible barriers in sport.

In Neurodiversity Celebration Week, former British rower Caragh McMurtry and ironman triathlete Sam Holness talk to Sky Sports News about life thinking differently.

McMurtry, founder of Neurodiverse Sport, an organisation supporting athletes who are neurodivergent, was initially diagnosed with bipolar disorder while competing.

Five years later, she was diagnosed as autistic which allowed her to access more support. She is now using her platform to campaign for better access and understanding within sport.

She explained: “It completely revolutionised my performance and my well-being and I went from being spare to making the Olympic team. I got 17 seconds faster on my 2K and I was generally a lot happier.

“Ultimately, I still faced quite a lot of stigma and discrimination and a lot of that came down to a lack of understanding from the people around me and that’s where I decided to step away and create Neurodiverse Sport.

McMurtry was initially diagnosed with bipolar disorder while competing, before a correct diagnosis of autism five years later

McMurtry was initially diagnosed with bipolar disorder while competing, before a correct diagnosis of autism five years later

“Neurodiverse Sport is ultimately there to change people’s perceptions around neurodiversity, to show them in a positive light or that they can be positive. Difference is not less, it’s not scary, it requires out-of-the-box thinking. It could provide that extra edge.

“We want to create role models because that is something that is really lacking, particularly in sport, because athletes are advised not to disclose their neurodivergence.

“We want to do those things by campaigns, raising awareness and educating sports teams and sports organisations and that’s something we’ve really started to do.”

“There have been a lot of athletes that have come forward and it increases exponentially. A month ago I would have said I’d had 100 athletes come to me and now I can probably say I’ve had 150. A lot of them are elite or people on the Olympic programmes.

McMurtry said many who have contacted her have said, while they are not ready to talk publicly about being neurodivergent, the organisation’s presence has made a difference.

While competing as a rower, McMurtry’s blunt and honest manner often caused issues, as did sensory challenges. She points towards unconscious bias and wants coaches to be aware of neurodiversity.

“It could make a real difference, if something goes wrong with the team, to not pinpoint it down to the person that looks different. It’s human nature really, but it really sent me on a downward spiral.

McMurtry says her autism diagnosis 'completely revolutionised my performance and my wellbeing', as she 'got 17 seconds faster on my 2K'

McMurtry says her autism diagnosis ‘completely revolutionised my performance and my wellbeing’, as she ‘got 17 seconds faster on my 2K’

“It baffles me that neurodiversity is something that is still stigmatised in sport. I just don’t understand how you’re trying to get 0.001 out of your performance, like why are we not looking into that?

“I really think that people, athletes that are different, shouldn’t be made to feel as bad as they do, as isolated as they do. Their differences can be embraced, optimised, then if they don’t make it, that’s fine, it’s fair.”

One athlete McMurtry has already endorsed through her work is Sam Holness, an ironman triathlete who was diagnosed as autistic aged three. He did not speak until he was six and lives in west London with his parents.

Now a Guinness World Record holder for being the first autistic person to compete in the Ironman World Championships, Holness wants to inspire others.

While preparing for this week’s ironman in Lanzarote, Holness said his aims for the next year are to complete a full Ironman in less than 10 hours and complete a marathon in less than three.

On his achievements, he said: “I get comments on Instagram about how inspiring I am during races and training. It’s very enjoyable but sometimes I feel like ‘wow’.”

Holness is an Ironman triathlete who was diagnosed as autistic aged three, and didn't speak until he was six

Holness is an Ironman triathlete who was diagnosed as autistic aged three, and didn’t speak until he was six

Holness continues to overcome communication difficulties, something his dad Tony says is one of his biggest achievements. Meeting new people in new environments is particularly hard.

Enthusiasm for exercise and routine is what Holness puts his success down to: “It helps with my confidence and self-esteem. It takes my anxiety away and makes me feel more relaxed.”

Life away from the soothing repetition of training and competition is more difficult. He says: “At the track, sometimes I have to get away because it gets overwhelming”.

Holness is a Guinness World Record holder for being the first autistic person to compete in the Ironman World Championships

Holness is a Guinness World Record holder for being the first autistic person to compete in the Ironman World Championships

Despite this, Holness has got better at managing crowds. He grew up struggling with parties and gatherings, even attending church, but it was at university, fellow students helped introduce him to new environments.

Thanks to the support of parents Tony and Marilyn, Holness is now able to travel all around the world and compete. As well as difficulties socially, he struggles with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) which requires a carefully constructed diet.

Despite all the difficulties, Holness is clearly enjoying breaking stereotypes as an ironman and using his love of repetitive activity to his advantage.

Holness says for the next year, his aim is to “get to the podium and become a professional triathlete.” This year’s World Championships will be held in Finland, for which he hopes to qualify again.

McMurtry and Holness’ experiences offer an insight into the strengths and challenges of thinking differently in sport. However, like many athletes, they wonder when sport will more openly discuss neurodiversity.



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Jessica Ennis-Hill: Returning from maternity leave to elite sport was ‘one of my biggest challenges’

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Jessica Ennis-Hill gave birth to her son in July 2014, before returning to win a third world title in 2015 and claim a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics; “It’s one of the most challenging things I’ve done… There is no clear maternity package; it’s still very much a grey area”

Last Updated: 09/03/23 5:20pm


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Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill says the conversation around women’s health in sport is changing, but progress still needs to be made in many areas.

Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill says the conversation around women’s health in sport is changing, but progress still needs to be made in many areas.

Two-time Olympic medallist Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill described the birth of her first child and her return to elite-level athletics as “one of the most challenging things I’ve done.”

The London 2012 heptathlon champion gave birth to her son Reggie in July 2014, before returning to win a third world title in Beijing in 2015 and claim a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio before announcing her retirement.

With Paris 2024 on the horizon, Ennis-Hill claimed she still gets “that adrenaline rush” when watching her heptathlon event, but stressed that her time at the top is over and she is instead eager to see how an exciting, young Team GB perform on the biggest stage.

Ennis-Hill was speaking to Sky Sports News on a range of topics, including maternity policies in elite sport and the “important conversation” to be had around women’s periods and breaking that taboo…

Ennis-Hill on new government funding for women’s sport

Girls will be granted equal access to all school sport in England as part of a package of measures unveiled by the government to coincide with International Women’s Day.

The government is now promising more than £600m to improve PE across the next two years and up to £57m in funding for facilities outside school hours.

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“It makes a huge difference.

“High-profile female athletes performing on the greatest stage, winning medals and taking trophies – doing what they do in such a gracious, incredible way – that transcends down to young girls everywhere, inspiring them.

“And where does it start? At school level.

“So if we can have that funding and that support to really keep those girls engaged at that time, it’s an amazing thing.”

Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill says the success of high profile sportswomen can help inspire younger females to take part.

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Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill says the success of high profile sportswomen can help inspire younger females to take part.

Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill says the success of high profile sportswomen can help inspire younger females to take part.

Ennis-Hill on importance of International Women’s Day

“We’re making steps forward. And we’re seeing it more visibly now.

“We’re not just seeing more high-profile athletes out there performing, but we’re seeing them in the public domain more frequently – hearing their back stories and journeys.

“That’s transcending into younger age groups, which is starting to make a big difference.

“It takes time. It’s a process. But we are making change.

Ennis-Hill on her experience with maternity policies in sport

“I think the conversation around women’s health and female athletes’ physiology – delving deeper into what makes us different and how we perform differently – is so important.

Jessica Ennis-Hill returned to win gold at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing a year on from the birth of her first son

Jessica Ennis-Hill returned to win gold at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing a year on from the birth of her first son

“For me, having my son during my career and then coming back was a real catalyst to that. I didn’t see many athletes do it.

“I didn’t really know it was a thing you could do. I thought you had to have your career, retire and then start your family. But that is beginning to change now. We’re seeing more and more athletes do it – Allyson Felix, Serena Williams.

“And it’s not just athletes starting a family and coming back to participate… they’re coming back to win, at the top of their game again.

“It’s one of the most challenging things I’ve done. There’s so much to navigate your way through. There is no clear maternity package; it’s still very much a grey area.

England's Abbie Ward hopes other nations and other sports' governing bodies will follow the RFU in reviewing and improving their maternity policies.

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England’s Abbie Ward hopes other nations and other sports’ governing bodies will follow the RFU in reviewing and improving their maternity policies.

England’s Abbie Ward hopes other nations and other sports’ governing bodies will follow the RFU in reviewing and improving their maternity policies.

“The likes of Allyson Felix campaigning against big brands, putting policies in place and creating real change makes a difference for so many female athletes thinking about doing it.

“It is a challenging time and it still needs some clear definition about how to support those female athletes.”

Ennis-Hill on breaking the taboo topic of women’s periods

“We have to break so many taboos, but it’s an important one for all of us. Not just for young girls and women, but also for men, for dads, for husbands to understand.

“There’s the physiological changes that female athletes go through, and the barriers they face during those hormonal fluctuations throughout their life, but also the mental side of things.

“We see it with tennis at Wimbledon, and the conversation with high-profile tennis players about how uncomfortable they feel wearing certain colours like white.

“That’s a great conversation to have. We have to move with the times, we have to adapt the way we compete and the kit we have in order to feel comfortable and supported, so we can be the best we can be.”

Ennis-Hill on Team GB’s Paris 2024 hopes

“I’m not going to say I miss it. I feel like I’ve had my time at the top and I really enjoy being part of athletics in a different way now.

Keely Hodgkinson celebrates winning gold in the Women 800 meters at the European Athletics Indoor Championships

Keely Hodgkinson celebrates winning gold in the Women 800 meters at the European Athletics Indoor Championships

“It’s looking very strong. There’s some incredible Team GB athletes coming through, like Keely Hodgkinson, Dina Asher-Smith.

“There were some great performances at the European Indoor Championships – we had three gold medals from three female athletes, Hodgkinson, Laura Muir and Jazmin Sawyers. All had sensational performances.

“I’m really looking forward to the Olympics and seeing how Team GB perform, and how many medals we can get.”



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Live: Matildas face Spain in second Cup of Nations match

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Can the Matildas exact revenge against a Spanish side missing 15 of their biggest stars? Or will Spain’s depth shine through?

Follow below for live updates.

Key events

46′ Spain out of the gates early

By Samantha Lewis

The visitors unleash the first shot of the half after Australia fail to clear the ball from near the top of their own box.

Jenni Hermoso had the open of sending through Redondo Ferrer down the left, who was completely free, but instead shoots herself – right into the chest of Mackenzie Arnold, who has been excellent so far this game.

Second half kick-off!

By Samantha Lewis

Key Event

Chloe Logarzo getting recognised at half-time

By Samantha Lewis

The Matilda is currently recovering from a foot injury, after spending most of the past 18 months on the sideline with an ACL tear.

In the meantime, though, Logarzo has been really leaning into advocacy work, particularly working with the LGBTQIA+ community (of which she is part) on various causes.

That includes being named one of a handful of 2023 Sydney WorldPride Rainbow Champions: ambassadors for the event who have been working in their own spaces to progress inclusion and diversity.

Chloe will also make an appearance at the finals of the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association World Championships, which kicks off tomorrow in Sydney, to present the trophies and medals!

Congrats, Chloe.

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Update

Audience comment

I agree 100% that first half blew me away.

– Natty

Update

Audience comment

No first half jet lag this time! Nicely paced open playing from both sides (would love to see the sideline view of Polk’s goal – she steps goalside of that defender and the ball before taking possession and shooting… there was another defender out of frame…). Halftime talk? Back line; calm down, improve anticipation now you’ve seen ESP’s style. For the rest; keep doing what you’re doing till you run out of puff, then we’ll sub you.

– Stop Moving the Goalposts!

HT: Australia 3 – 0 Spain

By Samantha Lewis

Key Event

That was, without doubt, one of the best halves of football the Matildas have played under Tony Gustavsson.

Almost from the opening whistle, they were intense, organised, and direct in their attacking moves. They know exactly where Spain’s weak-points are, and have been pressing and pushing and prodding them all half.

Spain have had a handful of decent chances, though, mostly coming from delightful little through-balls that carved open Australia’s back-line. You have to wonder whether a more experienced starting line-up would have made that opening 45 a much more even contest.

What did you think of that, beloved blog-watchers? Is that the kind of half you were expecting from the Tillies? What do you think the second 45 has in store for us?

Comment below!

44′ Hayley Raso is down

By Samantha Lewis

The Manchester City winger is clutching her wrist and looks to be in some pain after tumbling to the grass.

The fourth official adds three minutes of extra time as Raso is helped off the pitch, with what looks like strapping being wrapped around it tightly.

Let’s hope it’s not as bad as it looks on the big screen!

43′ Kerr almost adds a fourth!

By Samantha Lewis

Direct, precise, lethal football from the Matildas.

Foord picks up the ball in midfield and spins, knowing Kerr is racing off the shoulder of the last defender.

The Arsenal winger clips a perfect ball into Kerr’s path as the Chelsea striker takes a steadying touch and fires…

…but it just fizzes wide of the far post.

42′ First yellow card of the match

By Samantha Lewis

And it goes to the goal-scorer Caitlin Foord for accidentally elbowing Codina Panedas.

41′ GOAL AUSTRALIA

By Samantha Lewis

Key Event

Caitlin Foord marks her return with an easy header off a perfect Steph Catley free-kick.

Spain have only got themselves to blame here: not only did their players give away the set-piece totally unnecessarily, bundling Hayley Raso to the ground when she was off the ball, but they didn’t even watch Foord ghosting into the six-yard box as Catley’s cross sailed towards her.

3-0.

37′ Almost a third for Australia!

By Samantha Lewis

A bullet Sam Kerr header almost rips the back of the net clean off, but the linesperson raises their flag to bring an abrupt end to the crowd’s wave of screams.

The replay shows Kerr’s shoulders leaning juuust over the line carved into the grass, so technically she’s right, but, like, spiritually? Say it with me: Kerr was robbed.

34′ Charlie Grant gets away with one there

By Samantha Lewis

The right-back was in a bit of a pickle, getting boxed-in near her own corner-flag and having the ball stolen by Jenni Hermoso.

The Spanish striker shapes to cross before feinting back inside, with Grant swinging a wild leg to try and intercept, with the ball spinning off upfield.

The referee signals a throw-in… for Australia.

Lol.

30′ Drinks break!

By Samantha Lewis

It’s pretty warm here in Parramatta, so each half will have a drinks break.

The players have got ice towels around their necks as Tony Gustavsson is gesturing wildly and giving quick tips to his players.

Their energy has dropped off somewhat in the last five minutes, so let’s see what the next ‘quarter’ of football brings.

Would you like a Matildas kit with rainbow numbers?

By Samantha Lewis

Key Event

A Football Australia representative just confirmed to us that customisable jerseys will be available on their online store from tomorrow!

Get in quick, because they’re reaching the end of their current cycle before their 2023 Women’s World Cup jerseys are released.

23′ Things starting to settle now

By Samantha Lewis

It’s been a wild opening 20 minutes to this game, with both sides playing a really energetic, pro-active style of possession football.

The Spanish side look a little shell-shocked, but they’ve shown some glimpses of danger every now and then.

The Matildas need to keep their concentration and ensure they don’t let this intensity drop.

18′ Spain trying to get back into it…

By Samantha Lewis

Some nice one-touch passing slices through Australia’s defensive third and finds a Spanish player all alone near the penalty spot. Her shot looks for all money like it’s flying into the net, but Steph Catley sticks out a strong left boot and sends it spinning out for a corner, which comes to nothing.

Phew!

15′ GOAL AUSTRALIA

By Samantha Lewis

Key Event

CLARE POLKINGHORNE!

Now you don’t see this every day: that’s two goals in two games for Australia’s all-time leading appearance-maker.

Spain fail to deal with a corner properly, with the ball being recycled immediately by the Matildas before it finds Raso stationed out on the left.

She clips in a lovely cross to the box, with the deflected Sam Kerr header being bundled around by a Spanish defender.

Polkinghorne bodies her off inside the six-yard box and slams it into the top left corner.

2-0!

14′ Matildas with the first corner

By Samantha Lewis

Hayley Raso has been an absolute menace down the right wing so far, regularly getting the best of Spain’s young left-back.

Another cut-and-cross deflects off a red sock and flies out for the first corner of the match.

Update

Audience comment

Thanks Sam. If this is what we’ve got to look forward to in July and August, bring it on.

Spain are at another level compared to Czechia.

– Mark

Update

Audience comment

YYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!

– Natty

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Premier League Darts schedule and TV times: Michael Smith, Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price and Peter Wright star

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Darts’ biggest party is back in 2023 as the Premier League roadshow heads to a venue near you!; the SSE Arena in Belfast plays host as the first of 17 individual venues from Thursday February 2 with the Play-Offs returning to The O2 in London on Thursday May 25

Last Updated: 30/01/23 4:50pm


Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith will clash on Premier League opening night in Belfast

Full schedule and TV times as Michael Smith takes Michael van Gerwen in a repeat of the World Darts Championship final on the opening night of this year’s Premier League.

This year’s tournament will see eight of the sport’s top stars contesting 16 mini-events during the season, with each league night comprising quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final over the best-of-11 legs.

The Premier League season gets under way at The SSE Arena in Belfast, with the opening night’s quarter-finals headlined by a blockbuster showdown between Smith and reigning champion Van Gerwen.

Van Gerwen was one dart away from a nine-darter before Smith nailed the hold grail in the World Championship final

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Van Gerwen was one dart away from a nine-darter before Smith nailed the hold grail in the World Championship final

Van Gerwen was one dart away from a nine-darter before Smith nailed the hold grail in the World Championship final

Dan Dawson looks at the growing rivalry between MVG and Smith

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Dan Dawson looks at the growing rivalry between MVG and Smith

Dan Dawson looks at the growing rivalry between MVG and Smith

This will be the pair’s first meeting since their Alexandra Palace epic on January 3, which saw Smith land a history-making nine-darter en route to clinching his maiden World Championship crown.

Two-time world champion Peter Wright plays newly-crowned Masters champion Chris Dobey, who celebrated his first televised triumph in Milton Keynes on Sunday night.

Gerwyn Price hit TWO nine-dart finishes in one night in Belfast

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Gerwyn Price hit TWO nine-dart finishes in one night in Belfast

Gerwyn Price hit TWO nine-dart finishes in one night in Belfast

Dimitri Van den Bergh marks his Premier League return with a clash against 2021 champion Jonny Clayton, while 2020 runner-up Nathan Aspinall plays Gerwyn Price – who famously landed two nine-darters in Belfast last year.

Night Two will take place at Cardiff’s International Arena on February 9, with Price pitted against Dobey on his homecoming, while Clayton makes his return to home soil with a tie against Smith.

Wright will headline Night Three at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro when he takes on Van den Bergh, with six-time champion Van Gerwen up against Aspinall in a repeat of October’s World Grand Prix final.

Michael Smith will be looking for Premier League success having claimed World Championship glory earlier this year

Michael Smith will be looking for Premier League success having claimed World Championship glory earlier this year

The sport’s biggest roadshow rolls into Dublin’s 3Arena on Thursday February 23, as Smith and Wright lock horns in a repeat of the 2022 World Championship final.

Night Five in Exeter will then see a repeat of two televised finals from 2022, with Van Gerwen meeting Price in a repeat of July’s World Matchplay decider, before Aspinall and Smith battle it out in a rematch of November’s Grand Slam showpiece.

Quarter-final fixtures for 14 of the 16 league phase nights are listed below in draw bracket order, with fixtures for Night Eight and Night 16 to be determined by league standings heading into each night.

All matches will be played over a best-of-11 legs format, with a £10,000 bonus on offer to each night’s winner.

Watch every nine-darter that has been hit in the Premier League

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Watch every nine-darter that has been hit in the Premier League

Watch every nine-darter that has been hit in the Premier League

2023 Premier League Fixtures

Night One – Thursday February 2
The SSE Arena, Belfast
Quarter-Finals
Dimitri Van den Bergh vs Jonny Clayton
Michael Smith vs Michael van Gerwen
Peter Wright vs Chris Dobey
Nathan Aspinall vs Gerwyn Price

Live Premier League Darts

February 2, 2023, 7:00pm

Live on Sky Sports Arena HD

Night Two – Thursday February 9
Cardiff International Arena
Quarter-Finals
Michael Smith vs Jonny Clayton
Nathan Aspinall vs Peter Wright
Gerwyn Price vs Chris Dobey
Michael van Gerwen vs Dimitri Van den Bergh

Live Premier League Darts

February 9, 2023, 7:00pm

Live on Sky Sports Arena HD

Night Three – Thursday February 16
OVO Hydro, Glasgow
Quarter-Finals
Nathan Aspinall vs Michael van Gerwen
Peter Wright vs Dimitri Van den Bergh
Gerwyn Price vs Michael Smith
Jonny Clayton vs Chris Dobey

Night Four – Thursday February 23
3Arena, Dublin
Quarter-Finals
Michael Smith vs Peter Wright
Gerwyn Price vs Dimitri Van den Bergh
Jonny Clayton vs Nathan Aspinall
Chris Dobey vs Michael van Gerwen

Night Five – Thursday March 2
Westpoint Exeter
Quarter-Finals
Michael van Gerwen vs Gerwyn Price
Nathan Aspinall vs Michael Smith
Dimitri Van den Bergh vs Chris Dobey
Jonny Clayton vs Peter Wright

Night Six – Thursday March 9
M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
Quarter-Finals
Gerwyn Price vs Peter Wright
Michael van Gerwen vs Jonny Clayton
Chris Dobey vs Nathan Aspinall
Michael Smith vs Dimitri Van den Bergh

Night Seven – Thursday March 16
Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
Quarter-Finals
Dimitri Van den Bergh vs Nathan Aspinall
Jonny Clayton vs Gerwyn Price
Peter Wright vs Michael van Gerwen
Chris Dobey vs Michael Smith

Night Eight – Thursday March 23
Utilita Arena, Newcastle
Quarter-Finals
Fixtures based on league table following Night Seven

Night Nine – Thursday March 30
Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin
Quarter-Finals
Dimitri Van den Bergh vs Michael Smith
Nathan Aspinall vs Chris Dobey
Jonny Clayton vs Michael van Gerwen
Peter Wright vs Gerwyn Price

Night Ten – Thursday April 6
Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Quarter-Finals
Michael van Gerwen vs Chris Dobey
Nathan Aspinall vs Jonny Clayton
Dimitri Van den Bergh vs Gerwyn Price
Peter Wright vs Michael Smith

Night 11 – Thursday April 13
The Brighton Centre
Quarter-Finals
Dimitri Van den Bergh vs Michael van Gerwen
Chris Dobey vs Gerwyn Price
Peter Wright vs Nathan Aspinall
Jonny Clayton vs Michael Smith

Night 12 – Thursday April 20
Rotterdam Ahoy
Quarter-Finals
Chris Dobey vs Jonny Clayton
Michael Smith vs Gerwyn Price
Dimitri Van den Bergh vs Peter Wright
Michael van Gerwen vs Nathan Aspinall

Night 13 – Thursday April 27
First Direct Arena, Leeds
Quarter-Finals
Michael Smith vs Chris Dobey
Michael van Gerwen vs Peter Wright
Gerwyn Price vs Jonny Clayton
Nathan Aspinall vs Dimitri Van den Bergh

Night 14 – Thursday May 4
AO Arena, Manchester
Quarter-Finals
Peter Wright vs Jonny Clayton
Chris Dobey vs Dimitri Van den Bergh
Michael Smith vs Nathan Aspinall
Gerwyn Price vs Michael van Gerwen

Night 15 – Thursday May 11
Utilita Arena, Sheffield
Quarter-Finals
Gerwyn Price vs Nathan Aspinall
Chris Dobey vs Peter Wright
Michael van Gerwen vs Michael Smith
Jonny Clayton vs Dimitri Van den Bergh

Night 16 – Thursday May 18
P&J Live, Aberdeen
Quarter-Finals
Fixtures based on league table following Night 15

Play-Offs – Thursday May 25
The O2, London
Semi-Finals and Final



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‘We need to find players, and quickly’: Changing tastes leading to struggles for once-great team

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There are fears one of Tasmania’s former powerhouse football teams is dangerously close to not being able to field a team, with sporting greats likening the situation to a canary in a coalmine for other clubs.

The Glenorchy Magpies, famous for being the former home of all-time Australian rules greats Peter Hudson and Roy Cazaly, have struggled to attract players to the club for more than 12 months, but ahead of this year’s Tasmanian State League season, the situation has worsened.

At least one recent training session saw just 12 dedicated players on the track, prompting fears for the future of the club, which boasts 17 premierships and has been a traditional powerhouse of Tasmanian football.

But Tim Woodham, who will contest the presidency of the club at its upcoming annual general meeting, believes the tide will turn in the coming weeks.

“I don’t want to go into recession, because I believe you don’t come back but we do need to find some players and quickly,” he said.

“We haven’t got any quick fixes at the minute, and it might take a little while to turn around but one day Glenorchy will be back as a powerful club again.”

The club has some famous exports, such as all-time great Peter Hudson.(Supplied: www.tasmanianstateleague.com.au)

Interim president Scott Donaghy told ABC Radio Hobart on Tuesday that while numbers were low, the Magpies situation had been overblown and that he was expecting a steady return of players to the club in the coming weeks.

A young man stands on a run track and smiles.
Sprint star Jack Hale has been signed by the club as a high-performance coach.(ABC News: Luke Bowden)

“We’ve told AFL Tas that we’ll be putting a team on the park. As far as we’re concerned, we will be putting a team on the park, and hopefully a second team,” he said.

Things are already starting to turn, with about 30 players attending a pre-season running session at Risdon Brook Dam this morning.

The club has also signed sprint star Jack Hale as a high-performance coach.

But answers are being sought as to how the famous club has declined so rapidly.

Glenorchy a ‘warning sign’ for other clubs

Glenorchy, which went winless at senior level last year, and was forced to forfeit two second-tier development league games, is a canary in the coal mine, according to former greats.

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How Socceroo Awer Mabil became 2023 Young Australian Of The Year

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When Awer Mabil was a boy, growing up in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, he got word that a grassroots football clinic was being organised by a couple of Adelaide United players at a community club about 20 minutes’ drive from his house in Hillbank.

Mabil had never met a professional player before, but had been kicking a ball around for as long as he could remember, including in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya where he lived until he was 10. He knew this could be his chance to impress them.

The problem? Nobody in his family was around to drive him there. His mum, Agot, was at work and his older siblings were elsewhere. 

However, Mabil would not give up. Undeterred, and burning with ambition, Mabil grabbed his scooter and rode the 45 minutes along suburban streets to the clinic by himself.

Awer Mabil made his debut for Adelaide United at 17 years old, paving the way for more representation of African-Australians in football.(AAP: Dean Lewins)

“I was like, ‘Man, this is my opportunity to impress and get recognition by these professional guys,'” he laughs over Zoom from his hotel room in Prague.

“[I thought], if I train hard, then they will be like, ‘Hey, we should sign this guy!’ I thought that’s how it worked.

“When I went there, I saw Travis Dodd and Scott Jamieson taking the clinic. And Travis realised that I didn’t have a jacket. So he gave me his Adelaide United jacket. I still have a photo of it on my old computer.

“From that day on, that was a big motivator for me. At that time, I was playing for [Dodd’s] former club, St Augustine, which is an amateur team. That motivated me to also become a footballer.”

There are a number of formative moments like this that Mabil, now 27, is looking back on after being named the 2023 Young Australian Of The Year: the red Kakuma dirt where he first kicked around a “ball” made from rolled-up socks or plastic bags, the two-hour walk he’d make regularly to the nearest television to watch games, moving to Australia in 2006 and seeing the Socceroos first compete in the World Cup.

However, it’s that act of kindness from Dodd that stands out. Not only did it provide inspiration for Mabil to pursue professional football, debuting with Adelaide United in 2013, but it also laid the foundation of charity and “giving back” that has motivated his life off the field.



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Quad Series 2023: England head coach Jess Thirlby calls for more ‘maturity’ ahead of Netball World Cup

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England sealed third in the 2023 Quad Series by beating hosts South Africa in Wednesday’s third-place play-off; the Roses suffered defeats to Australia and New Zealand to miss out on a place in the final

Last Updated: 25/01/23 9:02pm


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England head coach Jess Thirlby says it was important her team ended the Quad Series with a win ahead of the World Cup this summer.

England head coach Jess Thirlby says it was important her team ended the Quad Series with a win ahead of the World Cup this summer.

England head coach Jess Thirlby praised her side for showing “grit” to seal third place in the Quad Series but has admitted more “maturity” is needed ahead of this summer’s Netball World Cup.

The Roses came through a tightly contested third-place play-off against hosts South Africa to claim a first victory in their four matches at the tournament.

England had drawn with South Africa in the opening phase of the tournament, either side of defeats to champions Australia and runners-up New Zealand.

The competition marked the final opportunity for England – and their rivals – to prepare for the World Cup, which begins on July 28 in Cape Town.

“It was scrappy, it wasn’t the prettiest of wins,” Thirlby told Sky Sports. “But I think given the journey through the Quad Series that we’ve had, I thought it was a good way for us to finish and show the grit, in particular, that I think this team have become known for.”

Watch the highlights of the third-placed playoff between England and South Africa in the Netball Quad Series.

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Watch the highlights of the third-placed playoff between England and South Africa in the Netball Quad Series.

Watch the highlights of the third-placed playoff between England and South Africa in the Netball Quad Series.

“It’s been a good journey. We’ve just got to keep finding away to compete with those ranked above us.

“We’re respectful of the likes of New Zealand and Australia, but we’ve actually found ways to get a foothold against them, which is a little bit of new territory for us that we’ve got to grow a maturity around how to finish those games and punish them more.”

The Quad Series quickly followed England’s three-match home contest with Jamaica, against whom Thirlby’s side delivered an impressive 2-1 triumph.

England are ranked third in the word, a place ahead of Jamaica. Australia top the rankings from New Zealand, while South Africa are fifth.

Thirlby reflects on a 'bittersweet' loss against New Zealand but says several players have stood out for selection to play in the netball World Cup this summer.

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Thirlby reflects on a ‘bittersweet’ loss against New Zealand but says several players have stood out for selection to play in the netball World Cup this summer.

Thirlby reflects on a ‘bittersweet’ loss against New Zealand but says several players have stood out for selection to play in the netball World Cup this summer.

“In the couple of weeks after this, there’s going to be so much information for us to take, and it’s important to acknowledge that,” Thirlby said.

“These games are here for a purpose. We put ourselves out in two back-to-back series, it’s a big ask of the group but it’s exactly what we needed ahead of the summer.”

The Quad Series brings to an end a congested period for England, which saw them miss out on a medal at a home Commonwealth Games in the summer, and then beat Uganda at home before losing 3-0 as they toured Australia in October and November.

Highlights of the Netball Quad Series clash between England and New Zealand.

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Highlights of the Netball Quad Series clash between England and New Zealand.

Highlights of the Netball Quad Series clash between England and New Zealand.

“I don’t think I can combat all of the noise and the criticisms, but I will absolutely defend this group to the hilt,” Thirlby said.

“Their cohesion, togetherness and loyalty to one and other is unquestionable. They review wins and losses exactly the same way, which is exactly what any championship winning side that’s on track to try to learn to win more consistently should be doing.

“So this team for me, they’re the most together group that I’ve worked with and it’s an absolute joy to see their team resilience grow over the course of January.”

‘No ignoring Fadoju’ | ‘Wrap her up in cotton wool’

Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of England’s performances during the Quad Series was the continued emergence of Funmi Fadoju, who has established herself as a key player ahead of the World Cup.

Having made her senior international debut against Uganda in October, the 20-year-old defender looks set to become one of the biggest stars in the sport.

Funmi Fadoju showed off her quick reaction skills with two stunning interceptions against South Africa in the netball Quad Series.

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Funmi Fadoju showed off her quick reaction skills with two stunning interceptions against South Africa in the netball Quad Series.

Funmi Fadoju showed off her quick reaction skills with two stunning interceptions against South Africa in the netball Quad Series.

Her brilliance was on show against South Africa as a series of turnovers helped England to victory.

“There’s no ignoring Funmi Fadoju,” Thirlby said. “If there’s anyone to give a little bit more credit to, I think it’s Funmi today.

“She really picks her moments, with such maturity, to sense that intuition when in the game we need it the most.

“I just think her contribution was excellent, but those around her really allow her to flourish.”

Fadoju reflects on England's win over South Africa in the Quad Series third place playoff and praises teammate Jade Clarke on her 200th cap for England.

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Fadoju reflects on England’s win over South Africa in the Quad Series third place playoff and praises teammate Jade Clarke on her 200th cap for England.

Fadoju reflects on England’s win over South Africa in the Quad Series third place playoff and praises teammate Jade Clarke on her 200th cap for England.

Former England player Pamela Cookey agreed with Thirlby’s assessment that the Roses have found the ideal setup to allow Fadoju to thrive.

“This was the defensive team that we know and love,” Cookey said on Sky Sports.

“That support that Fadoju had from Geva (Mentor) at the back allows her to go and play out the front – she had Jade (Clarke) at centre and Layla (Guscoth) at wing defence.

“That combination is safe, it’s tried, it’s tested and we’ve seen them get so much ball, so once you put that on there, she can then fly.”

How can England prepare for the World Cup? Tamsin Greenway and Pamela Cookey discuss ahead of England and South Africa in the semi-final in the Quad series.

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How can England prepare for the World Cup? Tamsin Greenway and Pamela Cookey discuss ahead of England and South Africa in the semi-final in the Quad series.

How can England prepare for the World Cup? Tamsin Greenway and Pamela Cookey discuss ahead of England and South Africa in the semi-final in the Quad series.

Former Roses player Tamsin Greenaway was also wowed by Fadoju’s performance, but expressed concern over England’s deficiencies in attack.

“Defensively, they were brilliant,” Fadoju said. “I can’t fault it all through the court, they are doing such a good job.

“But attack was static at times, the highest quarter was a 13-goal quarter. Even if that last quarter where Funmi got us about seven balls, we still only put 13 on the board.

“We’re going to have to look it and adjust. I think playing the strongest line-up just helps you get a good run.

“Defensively brilliant, and just wrap Funmi in cotton wool (until the World Cup).”



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Did A-League Men attendances benefit from the Socceroos’ Qatar World Cup bump?

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Late last year, in scenes reminiscent of the most exciting football crowds in Europe and South America, tens of thousands of people packed into city squares, stadiums, and public parks around Australia to cheer on the Socceroos’ historic World Cup campaign in Qatar.

For many of the country’s footballing faithful, the huge crowds that flocked to these places confirmed something they already knew: the round-ball game is one of Australia’s biggest and most popular sports, with a vibrant and passionate fanbase unlike that of most other domestic codes.

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Celebrations in Federation Square as Australia qualify for World Cup knockouts

But you wouldn’t know it from watching the A-League Men (ALM), Australia’s top-tier domestic league, every week.

In contrast to the images from Federation Square in November, pictures of fans scattered around half-empty stadiums have become the norm in the ALM over the past few years.

Following the World Cup, players and coaches alike expressed hope that the Socceroos’ strongest-ever performance might re-ignite the spark that saw the ALM bouncing a decade ago.

“We hope that what we’ve achieved here can help grow the game back home because the A-League is better than it’s perceived,” Adelaide United winger and Qatar goal-scorer Craig Goodwin said.

“The message to [the public] is ‘get out and see the Socceroos players that are playing in the A-League.’ Support your local teams and embrace Australian football; help it grow. It’s about building on what we’ve done here, not just as a playing group, but as a nation as well.”

So has it worked? Has the Socceroos’ World Cup ‘bump’ seen waves of new fans flock to the ALM?

According to an ABC News analysis of data collated by austadiums.com and worldfootball.net, no.

In fact, in the seven rounds of the ALM held since Australia were knocked out in Qatar by eventual winners Argentina, the league has recorded some of its worst average match attendances so far this season — and some of the lowest overall in its history.

Round 7, the first weekend of games held after the Socceroos’ exit from Qatar, attracted an average attendance of just under 6,000 people: lower than all the rounds held before the World Cup.

Figures haven’t improved much from there, with the seven rounds since the tournament containing six of the least-attended weekends this season.

The highest attendance point so far in the 2022/23 ALM season was in Round 6, the last round before the World Cup break.

However, the higher-than-average figures were boosted by two key derby games: the Sydney Derby between Sydney FC and Western Sydney (34,232 people) and the “Original Rivalry” derby between Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory (13,504 people).

Without these, the current ALM season was trending towards its lowest average attendances ever, only just topping the two pandemic-hit seasons that saw several games played behind closed doors.

This mid-season slump has only been made worse by the Melbourne derby pitch invasion of Round 8, whose punishments have included restrictions on ticket sales and negative headlines that have potentially driven away new and casual football fans.

Until then, Melbourne Victory had attracted the highest average attendances to all their games across the season. But following the sanctions, those numbers have plunged.

Victory aren’t the only club to experience a drop in numbers following the World Cup, though.

In fact, the biggest overall decline has been the Western Sydney Wanderers, whose average attendance across all games featuring them has fallen by more than 60 per cent, while Brisbane Roar, Sydney FC and the Newcastle Jets have seen overall decreases of at least 30 per cent.

But not all is doom and gloom. Some teams — mostly those that have the highest number of Socceroos within their ranks — have seen increases to their home attendance figures, or at least minimised the falls experienced elsewhere.

Looking just at home crowds, Melbourne City, where Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren and Marco Tilio play, has seen a 43 per cent boost to home match attendances since Qatar, while the Central Coast Mariners, where Jason Cummings, Danny Vukovic, and recently departed Garang Kuol were the headline acts, went up by 36 per cent on pre-tournament levels.

Indeed, when taking just home game attendance averages into account, Western Sydney and Western United have both seen slight boosts, too.

Melbourne Victory, with its sanctions, have seen the biggest average fall in home crowds. And while Sydney FC continues to draw the biggest home crowds in the league, average attendance has fallen by nearly half since the World Cup.

Perth Glory’s overall and home attendance figures have been excluded from this comparison because they did not play a single home game before the World Cup, while their post-tournament games (which have mostly been at home) have been temporarily moved to the smaller 4,500-capacity Macedonia Park, which they have regularly filled and created vibrant atmospheres in the process, arguably showing the potential benefits of smaller stadiums for the ALM going forward.

Stuck in the pandemic blues

While leagues like the AFL and NRL saw crowd numbers return to near-historic levels in the 2022 season, the A-League Men seems to be trapped in the pandemic doldrums.

The latest men’s AFL season saw attendances across the first 22 rounds average around 31,000 people — only about four per cent lower than the historic average.

Meanwhile, although the current ALM season is an improvement on the previous COVID-ravaged seasons, crowds are still more than 25 per cent below historic norms, with the past four seasons the worst in the 18-year history of the competition.

So, if the Socceroos’ best-ever run at a World Cup can’t even boost interest in the ALM, what can?

This has been one of Australian football’s “golden questions” for several years, and one that is increasingly shaping decision-making by the Australian Professional Leagues (the club-run governing body in charge of the A-Leagues), from negotiating new broadcast deals to controversially selling the grand final hosting rights to Sydney for the next three seasons.

But the dilemma of how to translate football’s booming participation base (almost two million people take part in football in some way in Australia), as well as the enthusiasm shown for the Socceroos and Matildas during major tournaments, into regular fans of the struggling local competitions is not as simple as that.

The A-Leagues currently sit in the centre of a bigger Venn diagram of forces including competing with rival summer codes, a lack of mainstream media coverage and marketing cut-through, television and streaming bungles, increasingly uncomfortable summer temperatures, few “big-name” star players, a perceived lack of quality, and unrest from dedicated active fan groups: issues that have existed for far longer, but which the World Cup slump has brought into sharper focus.

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