Football Federation Australia

A-League developing into league of its own

The A-League’s introduction in Australia was supposed to usher in a new era for Australian football, yet after six seasons people are still left contemplating the competition’s value.

August 26, 2005 marked an historic day in Australian football history, when the newly formed Hyundai A-League competition kicked off its inaugural season in Newcastle.

I, along with 13,000 other excited football fans turned out to watch the Newcastle Jets at Energy Australia Stadium for the first time, leaving ultimately disappointed as they succumbed 1-0 to Adelaide United.

But I left the stadium that night feeling as if football had finally arrived in Australia and grew excited about the opportunities that the A-League could bring to the sport in this country.

Football fans felt as if they finally had a national competition which was unified under a national body (Football Federation Australia) and would become an integral part of the Australian sporting landscape.

The introduction of the A-League coincided with Australia’s qualification for the 2006 World Cup, only the second time the Socceroos had qualified and the first time in more than 32 years.

Suffice to say the popularity of football in Australia had reached fever pitch at the time, and seemingly the A-League would embrace this new found adoration for the sport and ultimately reap the rewards.

So, for all the potential that the A-League promised in its infancy, how successful has it actually been in the six seasons that is has existed?

It is a difficult question to answer given the competition is still developing, however the general consensus within the football community is that the league has struggled to truly prosper.

Newcastle Herald sports reporter Josh Leeson felt the A-League had enjoyed mixed fortunes in the six seasons it has existed.

“If I was to give the A-League a rating out of 10 in how successful it has been, I would give it 5 out of 10,” he said.

“At times the league has enjoyed massive success, especially with the Jets in seasons two and three, Brisbane Roar this year and Melbourne Victory throughout the six seasons.

“Since 2008-09 I do believe the league has regressed as seen with the financial failure of the North Queensland Fury and the dwindling crowds’ league wide.”

Leeson believes the A-League has been able to push football into the mainstream of the Australian sporting market, something which the sport has struggled to achieve in the past.