FFA Cup – The First Night

 

 

 

So far this month I have watched endless karaoke competitions, men baking cakes, room reveals, ventriloquists lip synch worse than Milli Vanilli and last night’s FFA Cup coverage.  I can clearly say the FFA Cup was the best Reality television I have seen this year on Australian TV.

The Cup had everything; cult heroes were born, brothers lifted a club above and beyond and we even received the timeless tale of the minnow of the cup keeping their journey alive.

Last night was the birth of a concept that many thought would never come to fruition.  Australia has been screaming out for cup football and it took 10 years of A-League football, three successful World cup qualifying campaigns, the financial backing of one of Australia’s richest men, and a sports network willing to put fans first.

If this was an Oscar’s speech I’m sure we would all have a list of willing participants to thank for starting the FFA Cup on the right path.  Many hours of behind the scene work by clubs and associations saw last night happen and paint football in Australia in the correct light so many of us fans see it in.  The football community came together to achieve last night, but we must remember that was only the first few steps of this long journey.  There is no time for basking in the sun and reflect on this success, this is where the hard work commences and we build this cup into the best sporting competition in Australia.

For Fox Sports last night’s coverage was worth sitting through hours of meaningless reruns of Sex and the City amongst others earning brownie point for midweek control of the remote, it was also worth your extensive (some would say exorbitant) monthly fee.  The script couldn’t have gone any better; you had Michael Zappone and Mark Rudan in the studio, both great fans of our game and a great knowledge of second tier football in Australia.  You had the voice of Australian football Simon Hill (Les Murray is now retired, so I think I’m safe to say this) and the cherry on top was South Springvale, the cup minnows going to a penalty shootout with your best known presenter Adam Peacock standing at the ground.  You cannot script this type of reality television, and thank goodness you can’t.  Well done to all involved.

Four games seemed the perfect amount to cover for those playing at home.  The FFA chose wisely with their locations Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney and Melbourne spreading football as best they could throughout the East coast.  The synchronised kick off added to the occasion, with fans finding themselves cheering for teams they previously had never heard of, or only seen briefly.  Six or eight would’ve been too many, two or three too few.

The travelling contingent of fans must be congratulated.  I saw the Melbourne Knights had a relatively large active fan base, and at Southern Cross Railway Station I saw a few South Cardiff fans. I can only imagine travelling midweek to see your local team play in the cup to be a pretty special moment, and one all fans will now add to their bucket list.  I myself am travelling to Ballarat to see the mighty Melbourne City, hardly a stretch but I’ll be sure to rug up.  I’m still opposed to the idea but am slowly warming to it (as long as I get a ticket).

It was disappointing to see Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory playing friendlies on such an occasion, but as you know you can’t please everyone.  Personally I was more surprised by the Pascoe Vale v Werribee clash in the Victorian NPL.  I’m sure everyone had their reasons but it would’ve been great to see clubs playing tonight, and letting the FFA Cup enjoy a monopoly on night one.  Brisbane Roar was welcome fans at the Olympic FC v Melbourne Knights game, something I thought was great to see for the game.

There are still many things we need to work on to improve the FFA Cup but last night was a positive first night.

Now back to my reality television addiction, I wonder what those girls will do for a rose

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