The Weekender: Canberra Football stirs!

The Weekender: This week, of course, it's the journey of the new Canberra A-League website.

I've asked people from ANU 9th Grade, Canberra City Women's team, Capital Football Academies and more.
"How many people from your team will sign-up do you think?
The reply is the same.
"Over 80% I should think."
If that is correct, we've only just begun.

Well I've been a bit busy this week so this may be short.

Tim Gavel's article in the Canberra Times was welcomed. He outlined why we hadn't had an A-League bid from Canberra, how Ivan Slavich was now leading the bid, the benefits to Canberra of such a bid, and finally how the local support should raise it's voice.

CUE: Two Grumpy Old Men. Anthony Hatton with a little help from myself thrashed out the site this week. In the techno age we didn' meet, not once. I think we've only ever met three times in our lives face to face! But when we do we talk, talk football. You've been warned.

So the site was born. Through my blog and radio work I've built up quite a list of emails from football friends, and facebook, I knew it would come in handy one day; and of course, more importantly the goodwill of Canberra football folk.

And yes I apologise to anyone who received an email they didn't want. But I've had no complaints yet, not one. And some people have received the email three times as other friends send it on to their friends. You no how this stuff works!

Day One was interesting. Seeing the first few people sign-up. It was exciting. I get excited! That's me!
Real names, real people, real Canberrans, although not exclusively, but real football fans.

80% may invest in a Canberra team!
Northside led Southside respondents early but Southside has fought back.

Ben Williams, Steve Doszpot, David Lamont, Ivan Slavich, Anna Slavich, Jeremy Butler, Jeremy Haptemariam, Clare D'Arcy, Nicole Somi, Jenny Brew, the list goes on and on. Young and old, men and women from all clubs, all communities. Everyone knows someone, we're all connected.

Over 500 signed up in 24 hours with an average of 3 per household, that's 1500 people. 3,000 should not be beyond us.

3,000 members. Based on that, I believe when the real thing starts we'd get 5,000 members signed up.

That is the basis for a 10,000 plus average crowd. no bother!

And how many would be at the first game. People are confidently saying 15,000 plus...for football in Canberra. I've no doubt. We may even have to close the gates. Can you imagine!

Of course there would be hurdles and difficulties, it's professional sport.

But TV coverage, the salary cap, the junior base, the links to Asia, the growth of the Socceroos and Matildas, it's quite simply a different time for football.

Can Ivan Slavich pull it off?

Who knows but within a week he has received significant support.

With a continued noise in the next week as the Kanga Cup comes to town, the Grand Final A-League rematch hits Buce Stadium, I expect us to increase our fan base, and that can only be good for Ivan's discussions and for engaging financial investors.

We're showing Investors it's a worthy investment with a bright future.

We can sell our players on for financial windfalls, just look at Nicky Carle, Bruce Djite or Nathan Burns. What could a Canberra club have earned from Joe Simunic, Carl Valeri or Ned Zelic over the years?

We'd like them to stay our Canberra players but if they go we wish them well and hope to strengthen our club and football community.

We can attract sponsors who want a male/female audience, a national TV audience, an Asia exposure. The A-League is beamed into 70 countries already. Friends in Singapore, England and Japan have reported watching the games.

It's an interesting time.

I've asked people from ANU 9th Grade, Canberra City women's team, and Capital Football teams.

"How many people from your team will sign-up do you think?

The reply is the same.

"Over 80% I should think."

If that is correct, we've only just begun. Spread the word, you're doing a great job.

I'm off to meet Ivan on Monday, I'll pass on the good news.

We're off, who knows where we'll end up, but everyone who has signed up is contributing to the new team, their Canberra A-League team.

Thanks

Eamonn