Sydney FC's Biggest Battle Starts Here

It was the perfect opportunity for Sydney FC to capture the hearts and minds of its public. No NRL, no AFL, perfect weather, and family deals galore.


Cheap ticketing hell even free pies were offered as an incentive to get punters through the door, as Sydney FC became the only show in town when they faced Newcastle today

But in the cold light of day it didn’t work. 10,357 was the official attendance. The lowest of the season, and a massive disappointment for the Sky Blues.

All this in a week where we saw a changing of the guard in the boardroom. CEO Stefan Kamasz, a survivor of the “Old Football” era, was moved “sideways” into a football development role, with another Dutchman joining the Australian football revolution. Edwin Lugt arrives from the Dutch 1st Division – not the top flight as some have misleadingly reported – where he was chief executive.

And he has a massive job to do. The 4th Chief executive in 5 years, Lugt has to find a way of selling the club to the toughest market in the country, and fight off the expected arrival of a 2nd entity in the city’s west.

There have been many suggestions put forward as to why the club with the biggest potential fan base have consistently failed to pull in the big crowds. Sure there is a certain amount of apathy amongst the citizens of the harbour city. They are fair-weather fans. If this Sydney side reaches the finals, then they will flood through the doors. But Newcastle Jets? On a sunny afternoon? Nah…….

The lack of a big name marquee is also hurting. Imagine Robbie Fowler in the sky blue shirt. No disrespect to John Aloisi, but Sydney needs a big name overseas player. The recent press has suggested that the club would look at a guest spell for Luis Figo. That may be far fetched but it’s the degree of thinking required to put bums on seats, and have the clubs name on the lips of more than just the hardcore supporters.

Things have been a little too quiet as well. Lavicka’s side are going only steadily, and you know, in a city like Sydney that’s not enough. The public demand a bit of drama or controversy. The Butcher era. The Kossie Calamities. Sure the team wasn’t much chop, but wasn’t the drama fun!

It’s a big job for Lugt, and as usual with the club formerly known as Bling FC, there won’t be much time given to make things happen. Regardless of ownership, or management, success is demanded, and quick.

Lugt’s first task. Bums on seats. Free tickets to schools in the west would be a good start. Get a 1000 kids in next week, and 500 may return the following. Plus they’ll badger their parents for a scarf, or a shirt and then you’ve got them.

In 2 weeks time the NRL season will be over, and great swathes of the population, particularly out west, will be without a sporting fix on their weekend. Sydney FC need to find a way of filling that void.