Sport Lead, Journalist and Presenter for SBS News - and Illawarra local - Adrian Arciuli pens an ode to the Wollongong Wolves and the Australian Championship on the eve of their first fixture back on the national league stage in 7,902 days.
I still remember the day I found out the Wollongong Wolves wouldn’t be in the A-League. This 13-year old boy was shattered that his club was no longer on the national stage.
I’d grown up in the late '90s, sitting on the hill at Brandon Park and then later at WIN Stadium, chasing a dream and sometimes a Wolf at half-time.
My most vivid memories are of the final year of the NSL in 2003/04. Only the loyalists remained, with the casual fans having deserted the team and the competition during tough times. But still, the team was on the national stage. Just like the Dragons & the Hawks.
Getting to watch a young Alex Brosque carve up, and a clinical Vaughan Coveny in front of goal, still sit in the vault of my memory bank.
But for 21 years, a whole generation have missed out on those kinds of moments and memories, due to their communities not having the opportunity to compete on the national stage.
What the A-League got completely wrong from the outset, was its lack of connection to the community.
The Illawarra is a massive football area, yet me and so many others will only support a team that represents our region.
The Australian Championship provides an opportunity to awaken fan bases that have felt neglected for two decades.
While the situation in the Illawarra is vastly different, with wounds that are largely self inflicted, there is a spark of excitement that has been sorely lacking for some time.
That spark can be seen across Australia over the past few weeks, with content all over social media left, right and centre.
It’s clear the demand for change and reform is the highest it’s ever been.
The Championship being a success will turn that spark into a heatwave the game can no longer ignore.
Football, we love you.
Watch Wollongong Wolves v Heidelberg United LIVE from 3pm AEDT this Saturday only on SBS and SBS On Demand.