SoccerBlogs

Socceroos, Socceroos, Socceroos are everywhere. Even kicked the Super 14 final, Canberra Raiders and AFL off the front page of the Canberra Times, in winter, and the World Cup hasn't even started, or maybe it has!

But more importantly all the football writers are already in South Africa it seems and as a result only the Australian, hardly reknown for its coverage of men's football never mind womens', seems interested in the Matildas.

Okay I'm only joking and that's the problem.

Queensland announced a 5 games in 5 years deal yesterday. Adelaide are complaining that their city is missing out.(see below)

But what about Canberra with a heap of Asian Cup Qualifiers coming our way surely Canberra could bid for a game every two or four years.

So far 54 phone calls and 54 people hav signed up for the 10 plus 1 Canberra A-League bid Official Ambassador program!

Wow! Thanks for your outstanding support, you have encouraged me to keep going and get to my target of 90 Ambassadors before Saturday. It is really encouraging to see so many so willing to help garner the grassroots support for a Canberra team.

Nearpost Local Download






Peter Funnell writes:
In this program we have a very close look at the ACT participation in the FFA's Futsal Nationals......


just concluded here in the ACT. Capital Football did a terrific job organising the Nationals.

Canberra Times journo David Jean has told the FFA to "get stuffed," in his Saturday article re;further A-League games in Canberra; although I don't recall David being front and centre as a Canberra A-League football supporter, perhaps not as anti as his mate Peter (I hate Canberra Football) Fitzgerald.

Astrojax asked me for the real NPC lunch..so here it is.

I enjoyed a wonderful steak, with my friends from Capital Football at the National Press Club today. Frank Lowy, Sir Frank to you, and FFA CEO Ben Buckley were entertaining us...and they did.

I moved seamlessly across to Canberra A-League bid leader Ivan Slavich, asking him quickly and quietly how the bid meeting this morn had gone with the FFA.

Great to see a plan for a 26,5000 stadium, a football stadium, one with real atmosphere, close to the pitch, built for the future here in little old Canberra

And isn't it great to see a World Cup bid, unlike the 2000 Sydney Olympics, which will leave a legacy for football.

From the Canberra Times:

The second rectangular stadium would be purpose-built for soccer, rugby league and rugby union.

and Ivan Slavich wants your support at the game at Canberra Stadium tomorrow..read today's Canberra Times article below...and six Young Rockets have been asked to train with Mariners today.


Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic may be banned from the Olympics but he will be included in the squad to play the Newcastle Jets in a pre-season game at CanberraStadium tomorrow.

AFL the darling of Australian sport, here for 150 years and with my beloved St Kilda leading the way have only

ONE player, one current professional player Sydney Swans Craig Bolton drafted from Canberra in their league.

One, according to the Canberra Times.

Can that be right?

Canberra Times was full of stories about how much money we should give the AFL to come to Canberra.

And as Don Furner the Raiders Coach said Brumbies, Raiders, maybe 6 AFL games if Western Sydney get in and a A-League team, the city can't sustain 4 codes.

So the logical argument is AFL get stuffed!

Business Editor John Thistleton wrote this article on the Canberra A-League. It appeared in Saturday's Forum pages. Reprinted here in case you missed it:)

A positive yet realistic piece I thought. What say you?

And The stakes are high and potential ad-viewing audiences huge – for businesses backing Canberra's entry into Australia's A-League soccer competition.

400 Football believers have got behind the Ivan Slavich lead Canberra A-League bid and become Foundation Members, and there are some local legends signing up.....

Here's just a few:
Former Canberra Times football journo Graham Cooke, Paul Murphy, Referee, Angelo Konstantinou, Futsalroo, Canberra A-League Ambassador Amelia Efkarpidis, Canberra FC's Bernie Lustica, Belconnen United's Steve Forshaw, ANU Lecturer and Glasgow Rangers fan Alastair Greig, Football writer Nik Guoth, Tony Bush (Goulburn) Cor Van Leeuwen (Cooma FC) Cass Hampton and Gail McNamara (ANU) and

Ivan Slavich's delivery, supported by excellent media, viral, tv, poster and web design campaign from Ash Morgan and the team at Zoo receieved an overwhelming vote of support from Canberra A-League inaugural Ambassadors.

Canberra's favourite football journo Merryn Sherwood from the Canberra Times has a story in the paper and for more from me on the meeting read on.

Canberra Times are giving the A-League bid a great boost Ned Zelic has signed up and is keen to see a team in Canberra. Good stuff Chris Dutton and The Canberra Times and great support from Ned and Carl Valeri. Come on Canberra let's sign up. We can do it.

We are moving quickly towards our August 24th Bid Submission date:

Ivan Slavic is securing the funds we need, and we the fans of football can now assist to secure the members for our Canberra team. People and money will be the key factors in passing the FFA's requirements.

Here's what you can do.

How badly do Canberrans want an A-League team?

We could never have a team in Canberra, not even a bid. So everyone has always said or so it seems. Well here's our chance.

And wake up Canberra. We've got a bid, and I believe we're flying financially. But money will not be enough.

Canberra Times Story here Sign-ups begin, find out where you can sign up in an earlier post.

But another investor? Slowly slowly...or maybe not so slow!

CanberraALeague:

Good afternoon foundation members,

Canberra Times will be taking a photo of all foundation members who sign up at Service One Members Banking (Bailey's Corner, Canberra City) on Thursday 17 July @ 9am - it would be great to see you there! The more the merrier and obviously the more successful it will appear to the public.

FFA Ben Buckley, pictured alongside Frank Lowy, invites Canberra to bid.

Pawl Cubbin from Zoo to invest! Well done Pawl, leading the way. Who will be next?

Merryn Sherwood from the Canberra Times has the story many football fans in this town hae been waiting for: Canberra to bid and read more about the Ivan Slavich team below.

The Weekender: This week, of course, it's the journey of the new Canberra A-League website.

I've asked people from ANU 9th Grade, Canberra City Women's team, Capital Football Academies and more.
"How many people from your team will sign-up do you think?
The reply is the same.
"Over 80% I should think.

The 500th person to sign up for the Canberra A-League team is Clare D'Arcy. Interestingly, to me, Clare is a mum who lists her club as Players FC. Clare has daughters who play the game. As FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said, "the future of football is female."

And of course a Canberra A-League team would benefit, I believe, the Canberra Women's National League team.

Ray Junna United's new Coach is seemingly looking to engage more local talent for Canberra United this season, andLydia Williams set to come home from the USA for United's new season.

For Canberra Times Journo Merryn Sherwood's recent articles in the Canberra Times read on.

By Merryn Sherwood

Last season Cian Maciejewski was the only local premier league player to take part in Canberra's inaugural W-League side.

Loose lips sink ships? Luke would have been good in the war! Because he's not saying if he won a contract with Melbourne Victory after competing in the reality TV product placement show.

This year it's dire. More products than footballers I reckon but it's probably an age thing.

Luke Pilkington on his Fox 8 Football Superstar experience.

Amidst the gloom a chink of light.

Canberra Football suffered a black day on Friday according to a report below. But as often in these times a real hero steps up. Coaches of two ACT Premier League sides are praised for their leadership.

Report from Peter below.

It was disappointing to see the adverse publicity in the Canberra Times over the first Friday night football match at Deakin, between Woden Valley FC and O'Connor Knights Premier League teams.

A bloggers role, in football, is perhaps simply to call and comment on things as they see them.

Free of entrepreneur "vision" or the paymasters check I can call it as I see it. Simple as that.

For too long Australian football media has produced unscintillating football reportage.

So in last week's preview I added in a few sentences about just how excellent an idea it was to move a W-League game to Shepparton, citing the 'Canberra effect'. Which is, there isn't much else happening there over summer so why not move women's games to areas where they don't have to compete with men's for attention?

Good to see some more news popping up around Australia.
In Victoria, at the Geelong Advertiser, new Victory defender Rita Mankowska has been out doing player visits. She's come back from the American College system to play for Melbourne this year. More here.
Further North at the Coffs Coast Advocate, there is even an opinion piece (well it doesn't say 'comment' but implies it) about how there girls should get a shot.

So you wake up in the Professional Football forsaken city of Canberra.
Do the 2 degree dash to get the paper, Canberra Times and Sydney Morning Herald.

Straight to the sport. I'm a guy. Okay the A-League season is almost 10 whole days away, and in Canberra there are 20,000 players running out to play this weekend and in Sydney over 120,000.

Good to see Merryn Sherwood and the Canberra Times giving increased and excellent coverage to Canberra United.

News this week:
Former Canberra based Matilda Sally Shipard will not return to football and play in the W-League this year. She doesn't rule it out in the future.

My favourite Canberra Times journo Merryn Sherwood had the scoop on the movements of Carl Valeri. Read on in case you missed it.

Carl off to Serie A? Prefer he went to Celtic but Serie A would be a great move for him.

SOCCER
By Merryn Sherwood
Canberra's Carl Valeri has at least four Serie A Italian soccer clubs interested in signing him for next season, but the 5million euro transferprice that his Serie B club Grosseto is demanding is proving an obstacle.