Melbourne City starts Tomorrow
The future of Melbourne City starts tomorrow. Yes, I am well aware the takeover was completed last week and club officials both current and future have stated there will be no major changes until the end of this season out of respect for the current regime.
Maybe I am putting the cart before the horse, but for me City starts tomorrow. Friday night will be a greater insight of how Melbourne Heart fans have received the news of the takeover. We can only read into social media, newspaper articles, and casual conversation. The first home crowd will be the barometer for how real supporters feel about the biggest news in our short history. Ironically we play the Sky Blues tomorrow.
The name change isn’t official yet, but to me the club is now Melbourne City FC (sorry Ticker). Some things in life just feel right, and this is one of them. Already I feel City gives the club more of an identity that what we have fought hard to forge over the past 4 seasons. Heart now reminds me of the days of constant struggle, having to rely on our fighting spirit, continually being in the shadow of our Melbourne brother Victory. I think through a solid financial base and some very good football practices we can become one of the super powers of the league; and yes I am aware it will take time but once again I am prepared to wait patiently whilst City take over the league, or at least compete with the likes of Brisbane, Melbourne and Western Sydney on a yearly basis.
Those thinking I have already sold out to the new owners and have been blinded by the gold in their pockets couldn’t be further from the truth. I am proud of Melbourne Heart and always will be. Over the past four seasons I have been a staunch supporter of the Heart and whilst I have not always agreed with things about the club have been there week in, week out supporting the boys in red and white. I now feel the timing is right to turn the history pages over and start writing a new chapter in the club’s history.
I am not saying we forget about the four years previous, we should always celebrate the beginnings of the club and reflect on the highs and lows that occurred under the Heart moniker. Our first 112 games should always be represented by more than an asterisk in the history books. Sure we may have only played one final in four seasons, but fans will always have fond memories from the first chapter of the club, after all everything in life must start with a Heart.
We have six home games (at AAMI Park) to show the new owners how much the red and white colours mean to the fans. We must carry the momentum we discovered from the Newcastle game and continue to support our players. We should also ensure those who have recently decided to jump on board City a great experience on and off the pitch. The new owners will be doing all they can to ensure the current fans stick with the club, 7000 members is a great starting base and we must stick together. Combine this with a few thousand new fans next season and we will start to be a force to be reckoned with.
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