Fan of the Week – Steve Southworth
Steve Southworth currently leads up a group called Bay 22 The Cove who have done a few things towards our goal of making a more colourful home end for SydneyFC. Steve was part of a collective group behind the creation of Terrace Australis.
Twitter: @ssouthy_sfc ( Also contributes @covebay22 @TerraceAust )
A-League Club: Sydney FC
Other clubs: Preston North End
Favourite A-League player: Nicky Carle (current) Mark Rudan (No longer playing)
Favourite A-League stadium: I love the Sydney Football Stadium as it’s the home to Sydney FC but for watching football AAMI Park or Suncorp are the best.
First Football memory: Watching my older brother play when I was a few years old, he was pretty bad. First memory of professional football was back in 1994 looking over the FIFA rankings for the Socceroos wondering why we were so low in the rankings.
Favourite A-League moment: Would have to be Sydney FC winning the league in Melbourne. 5-4 Win for Sydney FC in Gosford rates highly also.
If you could make ONE change to the A-League what would it be: Get rid of the long off season
What was the idea behind Terrace Australis?
Terrace Australis is about building A-league level of active support for the national team or exceeding that what the blue samurai bring to their national support.
Terrace Australis aim to have each individual city look after their games with core groups from each capital city. We are looking at meetings for Perth in early September and Brisbane/Melbourne in Mid September.
We have been working closely with the Johnny Warren Football Foundation (www.JWFF.com.au) and will be looking to increase our commitment to them, over the World Cup Qualifying period we sold $4000 in scarves which all funds went back to the foundation. In the future we look to increase our support of the other foundations such as ATSOS, John Moriarty and Timmy Cahill’s programs.
In recent weeks we have meet up with the organisers for the Asian Cup 2015 and have already started planning. One of the main goals for Terrace Australis is to be a good host to the traveling supporters and assist them in bringing their own fan displays or even creating them in Australia.
TA will also be launching a new website in the coming months this will supersede the old forum and hopefully act as new hub. I have been blessed with meeting various supporters who have placed as much time into TA some even more time than me. To list a few Michelle, Furns, JohnG, Lee H, Tim 0, Anthony S, Noel S, Jimmy, Tim, Bodie, Simon and Jockey to name a few. The core group in NSW consists of every A-league club in NSW and even a guy who followed GCU.
How has Terrace Australis been received by Australian fans?
Terrace Australis has been received as slightly Sydney centric by some supporters this is one thing we are looking to correct by enabling other cities to look after active support. Some have seen TA as ousting the GGA (Green and Gold Army) this is not the case, GGA are focused on fan sites and looking after tours etc which is not a space that we would want for TA.
TA is to be focused on active support. Though overall I think the fans see this as a good thing and any one that has particular criticisms we are open to listen to them and we want others to contribute to the group.
Who Is your favourite Socceroo of all time?
Tim Cahill, his interactions with the fans is second to none in the current squad. Many of them could learn a lot from Timmy.
How do you think the Socceroos will go in Brazil?
I don’t think we will get past the group stage, but if we do that would be an achievement in itself.
Bay 22 information: In mid September we will be running a two stick workshop, the main thing with making two sticks is having the equipment, knowhow and facilities to do so. Bay 22 intends to have these in the one spot and enable any Sydney FC fan to have their own two stick. Bay 22 is just another extension of the core of the cove looking to assist in Tifo’s and spreading The Cove from bay 23.
