Till Death Do Us Part

The passion of the fans in football is what makes it so special, writes Phill Chadwick.

There is a famous quote from Bill Shankly about football: "Football isn't a matter of life or death, it's much more important than that".

As it turns out, that isn't exactly what he said, but it is close enough. What did he mean? Surely it is only a game. Isn't it, as we are regularly told, just another form of entertainment, competing with television, movies and other sports for the hard-earned entertainment dollar?

That may be true for most, but there are those hapless few, known as "Fans", who know exactly what Shankly meant.

In "Jerry McGuire", Renee Zelwegger's "You had me at hello" neatly sums up the feelings of these hardcore fans of the new A-League teams. For every club there is that small group that have become instant Fans.

They will turn up at every game. They will buy every item of merchandise. They will travel interstate, whenever possible, to see the team play. They will infest internet forums endlessly debating, complaining, praising and hoping. But above all they are always supporting.

For those poor souls, it was love at first sight, and while they will enjoy watching the games, don't tell me they see it as just another entertainment option. This group are hopelessly in love. They may be ignored, or even betrayed by the object of their obsession, but they will always be loyal.

They are the sports fan equivalent of stalkers. By the way, these are the ones who should anoint the club with its nickname, but that is another story.

Another group are also supporters, but they are less committed. Their love is for the game itself. These are the football lovers. They probably have played the game, or have an historical connection to a club overseas.

Most of them would follow a team in the local league. While they are not feverishly fanatical, they will more than likely have season tickets and will come out to most of the games.

They are there for the football and in rare cases, may even sportingly applaud the opposition for a passage of good play. Make no mistake, they are supporters of the local club, and it is probably this group the make up the bulk of the crowd at home games.

While they are not desperately in love with the club, perhaps it is more like a mild crush, they certainly care. They are committed, both emotionally and financially.

Then come the rest. The general public. Here in Adelaide, they would follow the Crows or Power in the AFL. They would be interested in the success of the 36'ers in the NBL, and would like to think that the Thunderbirds could win in the Netball as usual.

This is the group that the A-League has to get on board if this new competition is to be a success. Unlike the other groups, they need to be seduced.

They truly need to be persuaded to part with their cash to go to the football regularly. For them, if it is not entertaining, they will not return.

The new TV campaign is a good start. Showing off the skills of the players, building an image of glamour and excitement is all very well, but if the product that is put out on the park does not live up to that, we will lose them very quickly. If they turn up expecting scissor and bicycle kicks every five minutes, they will be disappointed.

On the excitement front, I must admit that Adelaide United's lack of goal scoring ability has me worried. I am one of those that can be completely satisfied by a 0-0 draw - but this is not the case for the uncommitted.

If dour, defensive, low-scoring games are served up week after week, we will lose that third group. These are people used to the free-flowing pace and 15-goal scoring of AFL.

Once the AFL season finishes in September, they will be looking to the A-League for a sporting fix. Purists like me may be happy with 0-0, but they will not be.

So Vidmar's replacement had better be able to put the ball in the net, because we haven't seen any of the current players do that regularly. Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory have played three 0-0 draws. That is not good enough. If the teams are really that evenly matched, why can't we have 2-2 draws instead?

From a Club's point of view, not losing is important. Gaining a valuable point by grinding out 90 minutes of desperate defense against superior opposition is, in pure football terms, the way to go.

If the A-League was five years old, with a large group of committed followers, I would agree. But in these early years, I have the feeling that the game would be better served by a few 4-3 losses than by 0-0 draws.

Time will tell. I am still hopeful of regular 12,000 plus crowds to Hindmarsh when the real season gets underway, the weather improves and the AFL season is over.

And if we can produce a truly exciting brand of football and get enough to the stadium to generate that electric atmosphere, maybe some of the newcomers will be seduced.

A few may even fall into that first category of the hopelessly besotted Fan, and become lifelong football tragics for whom football may be more important than life or death.

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