Wanderers Fans - what's going on? - Eels Blogs

We share a ground with this Football club. The emergence of two clubs filling Parramatta Stadium has no doubt helped with stadium redevelopment. Our Eels shop sells Wanderers gear. Their fans visit the club before and after matches. We probably share some of our respective fan bases. But can somebody who is a Wanderers fan please explain the behaviour of the element of the fan group that insists on bringing projectiles and flares to matches? The latest incidents at the local derby with Sydney FC have again made the headlines. I don't believe that we can just say that these are minor, isolated incidents. The use of flares has been an historical illegality of soccer fans throughout Australia and overseas. From the outside looking in, the Red and Black Bloc needs to ensure that they remain a colourful and passionate fan group and not a name synonymous with hooliganism. Is it a lost cause to maintain order in a fan group like this or can something be done?

Replies

SuperEel 22 October 26, 2015 at 10:02am

I am a Sydney FC supporter but live in WSW heartland. I have mates that are WSW supporters and mates that are Sky Blue. The majority of fans on both sides are there to enjoy their football and support their team. You have small groups of idiots who think, somehow, that flares are allowed into grounds. That pisses me off as they claim it's their way of showing support. I don't see how the setting off of a flare is a show of support. I think NSW Police and the FFA need to sit down with the leaders of the RBB and have a discussion regarding the obeying of stadium rules and that those rules are there for the safety of all fans.
the daniel October 26, 2015 at 10:30am

I am an RBB member and i can assure you that the idiots that continually do this shit, are not praised upon.

I stay away from all the stupidity and like the majority of fans, i go there to have a good time. I always find it strange that these flares get in, despite the near cavity search we get everytime we walk through the gate.

It is not only associated with the Wanderers, other clubs are just as bad. The only difference is that WSW are targeted more heavily, due to the ethnicity of its supporters, and the disgusting actions of fans in the now defunct NSL.

The flares are essentially the only issue I have, and more than likely the greater community has. The statistics associated with criminal activity at the games is actually lower than that of the AFL and NRL. People naturally hate what they dont understand, or want to understand.

One thing that is for certain, is the pride that is associated with supporting a club that represents an entire region, something that is sadly very much lacking in the NRL.
Ham Sammich October 26, 2015 at 10:33am

In one of the earlier years of the a-league I remember seeing a huge brawl between F.C and Victory fans. There was probably 40 or so people involved with people being flung over chairs, pushed down stairwells and ended with heaps of arrests.

Violence in the a-league seems common between the Sydney and Melbourne clubs.
- the daniel > Ham Sammich October 26, 2015 at 10:36am
  
  Lets not forget that in the wanderers second seasion ( May have been last year actually), a huge amount of victory fans.. ( they arnt fans ) started a massive brawl at the pub the travelling wanderers supporters were staying at.
  
  I think too many of these fools have been watching Green Street Hooligans.
Chris October 26, 2015 at 10:53am

What about taking a hammer to the game? That's ridiculous.
- the daniel > Chris October 26, 2015 at 10:54am
  
  Thats news to me, who the heck did that 0.0
- Chris > Chris October 26, 2015 at 12:43pm
  
  From the smh.
  Police have described fan violence at a chaotic A-League derby between Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers as "unacceptable" on a night when flares, hammers and large bolts intended to be used as missiles were confiscated by authorities.
luk3_182 October 26, 2015 at 11:16am

Mate I don't even wanna talk about those peanuts. It makes me so angry just thinking about them.
slip October 26, 2015 at 11:29am

60's, our soccer hooligans are nothing compared to the rest of the world.

Check out Poland - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKgQYfZtsGQ

YouTube
sixtiesboy October 26, 2015 at 11:35am

I'm a sports fan. Lots of sports. The last thing that I want to see is any Australian sport spoiled by crowd nonsense. I figured that we'd have some WSW fans here who could enlighten us.