Until more clubs achieve long-term stadium autonomy or groundskeeping priorities shift firmly toward football code requirements, the battle against sub-standard surfaces remains a familiar pain point for purists, fans and players alike.
It took me a bit to realise he came on (I was sitting really far up) but yeah he did alright! We’d be stupid not to talk to him while he’s here, especially if Sudan are already doing so.
I honestly think that the Women’s Asian Cup final had a better atmosphere. A couple of the people were simply event-goers and booing every call (hello to the drunk 18-year-old who was yelling “PENALTY!” any time a Chelsea player lost the ball).
In contrast I think there were definitely some event-goers at the Asian Cup final but I feel like there was more cheering and encouragement because everyone wanted the Matildas to win. They weren’t chanting every five minutes but at least they all encouraged the girls to do well, and were devastated when we lost (almost dead silence at full time except from the Nadeshiko fans) but proud we came so close (photos with Amy Sayer at the end).
Something I also noticed was people coming late. The tickets were expensive so how can you possibly come after kick off? A fair few people also came in other jerseys, though to be fair I see this at other games too (and I’ve seen some pretty cool ones at Sydney FC games). I’d say this is because the jerseys of big teams are like $20 at the markets (Paddy’s or Parklea in Sydney, Queen Victoria in Melbourne, or heaps of them in Bali, Thailand, Vietnam, etc where everything is cheap), whereas A-League merch is harder to find (though Parklea has some new and classic ones with the NRL jerseys).
To compare a NT game to an exhibition friendly is a bit much to comprehend re atmosphere.
Of course all you fanfare Tilly devotees will scream and pant every single kick.
Yep it’s a morgue whenever your the losing side.
As for Chelsea Spurs they sure are nothing like I nsuport here compared to united and lfc but I’m impressed especially people want to see decent football players putting aside the event goers.
Shows how many people still keep away from the local game being eurosnobs or not as well.
People expect more or better today I under that completely.
To compare a NT game to an exhibition friendly is a bit much to comprehend re atmosphere.
Of course all you fanfare Tilly devotees will scream and pant every single kick.
Yep it’s a morgue whenever your the losing side.
As for Chelsea Spurs they sure are nothing like I nsuport here compared to united and lfc but I’m impressed especially people want to see decent football players putting aside the event goers.
Shows how many people still keep away from the local game being eurosnobs or not as well.
People expect more or better today I under that completely.
I don’t think you get my point. I’m saying a lot of the fans at the game were event-goers. It wasn’t like a game in London; many people didn’t know the chants or the players, there was no pyro, tifos or banners except a generic giant Chelsea flag that went up one stand of the stadium. Some people even booed the first team players coming off rather than cheering the academy players coming on. Preseason is literally to practise and to give minutes to the kids; it’s not a competitive match (derby or not).
Also, this is a game people paid LOTS of money to see and may never see again. In our 144-year history, we’ve only played our three biggest rivals once outside England each, all of which have been in the last three years (West Ham in 2023 in Perth, Arsenal in 2025 in Hong Kong, and Chelsea in 2026 in Sydney). They might see Spurs again, but against Chelsea? They’d have to go to London, a city a large chunk of Aussies have never been to because it’s so far away. Most people here have never been to an English football match, and unless they’re huge fans willing to pay to go they might never do so in their lifetimes. To the matchgoing fans and the players, it’s just preseason. To us, it really is a one-off spectacle.
Obviously the weight is nowhere near a final for our own national team on home soil, but we always hear about how England has a better atmosphere, yet I honestly think the crowd would’ve gone wilder to an equaliser in a competitive Socceroos or Matildas game than Richarlison’s winner in the last seconds of that game.
I mentioned event goers - no doubt many there.
There was also a lot of actual Chelsea Spurs Aussie supporters.
One son is a spurs supporter and many team mates went with him that some are Chelsea supporters.
They wear their shirt kit but no way types to turn up with banners etc but they know their chants and would only get in if others started - they are not types to do so.
If the official Spurs Chelsea Aussie supporters didnt have banners nor chants started their prob.
As mentioned IF United or LFC there sure would be.
I expect it would have been surreal for it’s not like a league game as we know.
How could any game held here replicate the feeling like being in the UK.
This place is so conservative for an eternity huge % of people are scared or embarrassed to sing our anthem out loud and proud.
