gweeds
May 3rd, 2005, 12:06 PM
Some of you may have heard Craig Foster discuss this article in Sydney's Daily Telegraph.
This cheap shot attempt in linking the disturbances between some fans of two ethnically-based teams and the A-League is a disgrace.
Not only it smears the game, but insidiously seems to give instructions on how and where to buy flares etc. What would be better for Mr. Kent if there were some idiots with them at an A-League match? What a wonderful way to demonstrate that after all football has not changed its spots? Its irresponsible at best.
I am a bit disappointed that the FFA did not jump on this stuff immediately. It borders on being libel and slander. If something like this was written about the AFL, Dimitrieou would be on it like a rash. Like Craig Foster has said on TWG, we don't have to take this crap anymore!
Dress for distress: hooligans with flare
April 28, 2005
THINKING about going to the soccer this weekend. Can't wait. When it comes to old-fashioned, wholesome family fun, nothing beats a day at the soccer.
And it is cheap at the price.
This comes with the new A-League just four months from starting and soccer boss John O'Neill keen to entice non-soccer fans to the new league.
Having never been to a local soccer game before, the idea was to head to a game and get in some practice before the A-League begins. A kind of when in Rome thing . . .
The first prerequisite was to assemble a competitive supporters pack, one that would save any embarrassment in comparison with my new associates.
The first place to drop into was Stoliar Bros in George St, the army disposal store that has been selling fatigues since the Vietnam war.
Inside, resting his elbows on the counter, is Alan Vorsay, a gentle man with a kind eye and a delightful sense of mischief.
Told the visit was to gather supplies for an excursion to the soccer Mr Vorsay nodded all too knowingly and pulled out the balaclavas.
"This one," he said, pulling out a fine acrylic model, "is the most popular. It's generally called the IRA model."
A thing of beauty, it has two perfect holes for the eyes and a small hose for the mouth, good for giving orders or, in this case, yelling "Run!" at the appropriate time, which is just about when the police are about to engage.
The IRA balaclava is also good value at $5.95 and a more popular seller than the open faced Outback version, which admittedly is pure wool but sells for $12.95 and is absolutely no help when it comes time to avoiding CCTV identification.
You can never be too careful.
Unfortunately for us, Mr Vorsay was out of gas masks should the situation get really heavy, but he cheerfully recommended the Israeli version should we come across a store that sells them.
"They're all imported," he explained, "and the others have asbestos."
As an added bonus, the Israeli version also covers the whole face instead of just the nose and mouth, making it an absolute steal at $50.
Hanging on the walls and shelves were his selection of army fatigues and every other manner of survival gear, although sadly he came up short on bullet-proof vests.
"Only the police are supplied with those," he acknowledged.
To this we paid no mind.
Most soccer veterans consider them for wimps, anyway.
Across town, on first look Flags With Flair seemed like your perfect one stop riot shop.
Drop in and pick up, say, a Macedonian flag for $42.90 and a boxful of flares for just when the game gets willing, and Bob's your uncle.
Alas, Flags With Flair, it seemed, was not Flags With Flare, and inside your friendly rioter could buy only flags – for good naturedly provoking the opposition.
But it is a funny thing.
The red Macedonian flag with its rising yellow sun sells for exactly the same price as the blue and white Greek flag, showing no apparent superiority from one nation to the next, much the same as the Serbian flag holds no superiority over the Croatian flag, or vice versa.
Like men, it seems all flags are created equal.
Strange then that hidden behind these flags are young men of little understanding who see strength in their rage, and so will fight and throw missiles and even shoot bullets through the Serbian Club at Bonnyrigg, even if it provokes a return serve of setting alight a Croatian club official's car.
It's all done in the name of fun, which is what a day at the soccer in Sydney is supposed to be, right?
That's why my next stop was at Whitworth's Marine and Leisure at Drummoyne, where Colin was in charge.
Naturally, any self-respecting soccer fan has to have a good stock of flares and all know that most good marine stores stock them.
Never mind that they are locked behind cabinets – a mere inconvenience.
Most popular is the Paints-Wessex brand, sold in on-shore and off-shore packs according to the very best maritime safety standards.
While flares can be sold separately, the true value is in the packs, with a four-pack containing two hand-held red flares – just brilliant for night games – as well as two orange smoke flares – for your average daytime kick-off – going for $53.80.
A six-pack containing three and three was at a basement priced $82.90.
Those wanting to do it on the cheap can take a single red for $12.90 or a single orange for $15.50, while those with a bit of artistic style will no doubt select the red parachute that shoots the flare high into the night sky only to see it drift majestically, poetically down on to the middle of the pitch.
A red parachute will set you back $37.80 and is worth every cent to the genuine Sydney soccer enthusiast.
The flare is the symbol of the soccer riot.
The new A-League is coming. Have you got yours?
kentp@dailytelegraph.com.au
I was thinking that a supporter group could organise a banner supportive of a football for all.
These idiots sometimes say that flares are the way football is supported overseas....well banners exposed by the fans is also a tradition. These banners not only encorage their teams and mock the opposition but also express a variety of opinions. In Italy they can be political.
The first match in August in Sydney I expect will have the spotlight of the media being the match between the two major Australian cities. It would be a positive step if there was something that would show our will for football to succeed in our country a banner which says: Football for all..or something like that.
This cheap shot attempt in linking the disturbances between some fans of two ethnically-based teams and the A-League is a disgrace.
Not only it smears the game, but insidiously seems to give instructions on how and where to buy flares etc. What would be better for Mr. Kent if there were some idiots with them at an A-League match? What a wonderful way to demonstrate that after all football has not changed its spots? Its irresponsible at best.
I am a bit disappointed that the FFA did not jump on this stuff immediately. It borders on being libel and slander. If something like this was written about the AFL, Dimitrieou would be on it like a rash. Like Craig Foster has said on TWG, we don't have to take this crap anymore!
Dress for distress: hooligans with flare
April 28, 2005
THINKING about going to the soccer this weekend. Can't wait. When it comes to old-fashioned, wholesome family fun, nothing beats a day at the soccer.
And it is cheap at the price.
This comes with the new A-League just four months from starting and soccer boss John O'Neill keen to entice non-soccer fans to the new league.
Having never been to a local soccer game before, the idea was to head to a game and get in some practice before the A-League begins. A kind of when in Rome thing . . .
The first prerequisite was to assemble a competitive supporters pack, one that would save any embarrassment in comparison with my new associates.
The first place to drop into was Stoliar Bros in George St, the army disposal store that has been selling fatigues since the Vietnam war.
Inside, resting his elbows on the counter, is Alan Vorsay, a gentle man with a kind eye and a delightful sense of mischief.
Told the visit was to gather supplies for an excursion to the soccer Mr Vorsay nodded all too knowingly and pulled out the balaclavas.
"This one," he said, pulling out a fine acrylic model, "is the most popular. It's generally called the IRA model."
A thing of beauty, it has two perfect holes for the eyes and a small hose for the mouth, good for giving orders or, in this case, yelling "Run!" at the appropriate time, which is just about when the police are about to engage.
The IRA balaclava is also good value at $5.95 and a more popular seller than the open faced Outback version, which admittedly is pure wool but sells for $12.95 and is absolutely no help when it comes time to avoiding CCTV identification.
You can never be too careful.
Unfortunately for us, Mr Vorsay was out of gas masks should the situation get really heavy, but he cheerfully recommended the Israeli version should we come across a store that sells them.
"They're all imported," he explained, "and the others have asbestos."
As an added bonus, the Israeli version also covers the whole face instead of just the nose and mouth, making it an absolute steal at $50.
Hanging on the walls and shelves were his selection of army fatigues and every other manner of survival gear, although sadly he came up short on bullet-proof vests.
"Only the police are supplied with those," he acknowledged.
To this we paid no mind.
Most soccer veterans consider them for wimps, anyway.
Across town, on first look Flags With Flair seemed like your perfect one stop riot shop.
Drop in and pick up, say, a Macedonian flag for $42.90 and a boxful of flares for just when the game gets willing, and Bob's your uncle.
Alas, Flags With Flair, it seemed, was not Flags With Flare, and inside your friendly rioter could buy only flags – for good naturedly provoking the opposition.
But it is a funny thing.
The red Macedonian flag with its rising yellow sun sells for exactly the same price as the blue and white Greek flag, showing no apparent superiority from one nation to the next, much the same as the Serbian flag holds no superiority over the Croatian flag, or vice versa.
Like men, it seems all flags are created equal.
Strange then that hidden behind these flags are young men of little understanding who see strength in their rage, and so will fight and throw missiles and even shoot bullets through the Serbian Club at Bonnyrigg, even if it provokes a return serve of setting alight a Croatian club official's car.
It's all done in the name of fun, which is what a day at the soccer in Sydney is supposed to be, right?
That's why my next stop was at Whitworth's Marine and Leisure at Drummoyne, where Colin was in charge.
Naturally, any self-respecting soccer fan has to have a good stock of flares and all know that most good marine stores stock them.
Never mind that they are locked behind cabinets – a mere inconvenience.
Most popular is the Paints-Wessex brand, sold in on-shore and off-shore packs according to the very best maritime safety standards.
While flares can be sold separately, the true value is in the packs, with a four-pack containing two hand-held red flares – just brilliant for night games – as well as two orange smoke flares – for your average daytime kick-off – going for $53.80.
A six-pack containing three and three was at a basement priced $82.90.
Those wanting to do it on the cheap can take a single red for $12.90 or a single orange for $15.50, while those with a bit of artistic style will no doubt select the red parachute that shoots the flare high into the night sky only to see it drift majestically, poetically down on to the middle of the pitch.
A red parachute will set you back $37.80 and is worth every cent to the genuine Sydney soccer enthusiast.
The flare is the symbol of the soccer riot.
The new A-League is coming. Have you got yours?
kentp@dailytelegraph.com.au
I was thinking that a supporter group could organise a banner supportive of a football for all.
These idiots sometimes say that flares are the way football is supported overseas....well banners exposed by the fans is also a tradition. These banners not only encorage their teams and mock the opposition but also express a variety of opinions. In Italy they can be political.
The first match in August in Sydney I expect will have the spotlight of the media being the match between the two major Australian cities. It would be a positive step if there was something that would show our will for football to succeed in our country a banner which says: Football for all..or something like that.