More Than Just a Name

The FFA have for a long time made it quite clear that apart from the Socceroos past they are not interested in acknowledging or respecting football’s past before their existence. Yet without acknowledging that past the game has no history, something we have tried to remind the powers that be at the FFA and Football West.

It would appear our pleas continue to fall on deaf ears. New Western Australian State Coach has announced his squad for the upcoming game against Perth Glory from which all funds are being donated to the recently burnt down Mt Lawley Primary School to help with the re-building. A wonderful gesture on behalf of all.

The squad contains a number of players who are playing here on visas and are not permanent residents of Australia. We do not blame the coach, who obviously wants to and has probably been charged with picking the strongest team possible, but it is going against the tradition and pride that used to be attached to wearing the Black and Gold of Western Australia. This should be a State League Team and not be called a State Team, which should be reserved for residents of Australia as was always the case in the past.

Football West management and board members have attended and supported the WA Football Hall of Fame events and one would have hoped that the history that comes through from these events would have an impact on how great an honour it is to play for Western Australia, and how that needs to be protected at all costs. The Western Australian team has a very rich history at the Merdeka Cup and the Marah Halim Cup as well as several other tournaments in Asia. In fact it was the first Australian team to play in an overseas tournament, and it is for that reason and to respect all of those who have been lucky enough to represent the State that the qualification rules should be maintained. To some it may seem like just a word being added to the title of the team, but anyone who understands football will know that respecting the past and those who wore the shirt before you is a massive part of protecting the games future. Hopefully this will be corrected in due course.