Fan Of The Week – Blayne Treadgold

Tells us a little about yourself…

I’m Blayne Treadgold, 32 from Perth.  Started to get into the local football scene properly around 1997, Perth Glory had been launched a year or so before and the Socceroos were an inch away from making France 98′.  In 2005 when the A-League started was when I started to get properly involved in club active support as we know it now.  In 2007, myself along with a few other Perth fans formed Glory Fans United (GFU) which is an unofficial supporters group for Perth Glory. I stepped away from GFU in 2014, deciding it was time for some fresh leadership in the group.

In 2015 I travelled the east coast and attended the 2015 Asian Cup, in the aftermath of some ordinary experiences during the tournament, particularly to do with the lack of unity, cohesion and active support in the home end, and with tremendous feedback and help from other passionate fans from all parts of the country, it was decided that we would launch the Socceroos Active Support concept.

Favourite A-League team:

Well it has to be Perth Glory…

Favourite A-League moment:

Josh Risdon’s added time goal against Melbourne Victory to win 3-2 in 2012/13 or Jacob Burns penalty against Central Coast to send us to the 2012 A-League Final.

Earliest Football Memory: 

Probably watching the Italia 1990 World Cup…

Football Teams I support:

Perth Glory, Australia and Leeds United

Best football memory:

That Socceroos game in November 2005 to see us make the World Cup in Germany 2006. Followed by winning the Asian Cup in 2015.

What is Socceroos Active Support?

Socceroos Active Support (SAS) is an Australia-wide, 100% fan-made concept for the improvement in active support for Australia’s national football teams. Launched in February 2015,  the main aim of the SAS concept is to encourage all groups and individual supporters in the Aussie home-end be actively involved in the support of our national football teams. We have 5 project-administrators from all different corners of Australia and football backgrounds. We are supported by a sub-committee of 25 of the most dedicated and passionate Socceroos fans from all over Australia and the world, collectivity they would have attended hundreds of Socceroos matches both at home and away.

Do Socceroos fans in Perth feel detached from the national team because of the lack of games in the West?

I’d probably have to say yes, in a way some do, but those reasonable people out there realise that its not always financially or logistically viable to hold matches in the West. We have a pretty decent following for the national team in Perth and us West Aussies seem to travel well both overseas and to the east coast for matches. Hopefully we can give a good account of ourselves for the upcoming match against Bangladesh.

What is the feeling from Perth fans after the salary cap scandal last season?

The salary cap incident was the final straw for many fans (And players, it seems). It may sound cynical but every year there’s almost a feeling of “In what area will we stuff up this season?”. I’ve been quite vocal in suggesting its time for new ownership and a full clean out of the board, from my feedback there are many other fans hold the same view. Blunders due to incompetence, and a lack of accountability, seem to be regular themes over recent years and many fans have lost faith in the owner. It’s only the love for the once great club and pride in the purple shirt that keeps many of the die-hard fans attending matches, many others have simply lost the passion. I for one still feel let down and deceived by the board and the administration and there are still so many questions that either haven’t been answered or simply don’t compute when it comes to the whole salary-cap saga.

If you could make ONE change to A-League what would it be:

Sustainable community ownership models and Fan representatives as board members.

Best A-League XI –

Ryan

Behich     Sainsbury     Popovic     Risdon

Oar     Del Piero     Broich

Leckie     Archie Thompson     Berisha

 

EXTRA TIME

Perth Expectations: I think we can make the top 6….Just..

Andy Keogh: Naïve

Tim Cahill: Super

Frank Lowy: Grateful

Active Support in Australia: Promising

Johnny Warren: He told us so

Glory Gorilla: Kids stuff

How do fans get involved with Socceroos Active Support:

We have both a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/socceroosactivesupport) and Twitter account (@SocceroosActive). Fans can look out for our events such as pre-match meet-ups and away-day info, we will also be looking to hold several other events in the near future, we’d love to hear from passionate fans from all over Australia who have an understanding of active support and are passionate about active support for our national teams. 

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