Sutherland Sharks, 6:30pm Saturday 6th April 2019 (Away)

Sutherland Sharks were formed in 1930 as Sutherland United SFC. The club played in the lower reaches of the NSW football pyramid for the first 40 years of its existence, finally securing promotion to the top flight in NSW in 1971. They then completed a remarkable double of league and Waratah cup in 1978, beating our own Sydney Croatia 2-1 in a replayed grand final at Wentworth Park, Glebe. They won the Waratah cup again in 1981 and the league in 1986. It was during this period that they almost joined the NSL as the league looked to expand in 1984 (the same year Croatia were allowed in after being snubbed for many years). It was not to be for the men from the Shire though as Penrith City (a new off shoot team of the Penrith Panthers) were given the spot instead. They have played in the top division ever since, barring a two year stint in the second tier after relegation in 2002. They won their third title in 2009 beating Marconi 4-1 in the final. They come into today’s game bottom of the ladder after 4 rounds. Their ground is Seymour Shaw in Miranda - their home since 1959. Fun fact for football lovers: the record crowd at the ground is 5,000, when they played a friendly game against the Socceroos in 1988.

Sydney Croatia's dedicated following

I wasn’t sure I could make this game due to a friend’s birthday, but the pull of the game was too much. I made my excuses and said I would be late. Walking to the ground, I actually saw the Croatia team doing drills on the park behind the main stand! It was a standard $15 to get in and when I got there the 20s were still playing. There were very few about and the SUS boys were still on their way via a bus from Edensor, but they soon turned up. There was a bar at the back of the stand so a few of us went to get some VB’s. They were reasonably priced at $5, unlike the water which was a bit of a piss take at $3. Apparently we could only drink them in the stand (what kind of club is this??). Needless to say we hid the beers in our jackets and headed to the other side of the pitch. There was a good number in attendance and songs were already being sung as I stood on one of the metal benches to watch the game. The drum then turned up and the volume went up a notch!

It was a fast start by Croatia on what looked a pitch showing its age. The small rubber balls made it look muddy in places but it did not seem to affect the game too much. Croatia took the lead after just 10 minutes through Glen Trifiro. A Sutherland defender was caught in possession on the edge of the area and the ball was crossed for an unmarked Trifiro who made no mistake with a clinical finish. The lead only lasted about 5 minutes as Sutherland levelled the game when Manos could only parry an effort to the number 9 (Cox), who gleefully thumped in the equalizer. The game was now being taken to Croatia as Sutherland got a foothold in the game. I don’t recall any chances of note until a sublime turn and finish by Trifiro 10 minutes before half time, giving Croatia the lead back. As the clock ticked down to half time Sutherland were awarded a penalty in stoppage time. It appeared that there was a handball in the build-up that was missed and that rubbed salt into the wound as the penalty was dispatched and the sides went in level at 2-2.

Half time was a couple of the boys getting some beers in and the usual chat about the game and football in general. What annoys me is that clubs like Croatia received a reputation for only appealing to somebody of Croatian descent. There are plenty of people (including me) who follow this club who don’t have Croatian roots but are pulled in by the passion of it all. The fact that there seemed as many people here as there was at the Melbourne City game would suggest that a national second division is something that is achievable as well as promotion/relegation. Perhaps the only reason it’s not happening is that if a club like the Central Coast was to go down, they would fold. Clubs like Croatia or South Melbourne, who have their own grounds (OK - South have a long term lease from the city), have learnt to survive at this level and will be around forever. I don’t think you could say that for a number of A League clubs, judging by the crowds they get. The FFA need to sort it out – the game in this country is in a mess at the top level. But the NPL is thriving, something the FFA seems to ignore.

Anyway, back to the game and it took Croatia a while to get back into the game after conceding that penalty right on half time. If anything, Sutherland looked the better team in the opening stages of a half that produced very little end result from either team. Sutherland looked the more likely to force a winner in the final part of the game but their play in the final third was not good enough and they were duly punished in stoppage time. It was difficult to see as we were at the other end of the ground but an effort was parried and headed back in (it was Tariq Maia, who had a fine game)! Cue pandemonium in the away support! All remaining drinks were lashed in the air in celebration and goalkeeper Manos even got involved, running over to be mobbed by the SUS. What real football supporter could not be drawn to the passion of this lot?! What an end! The Ref blew the whistle less than a minute later and the players came over to thank the support in what was an epic away day in the Shire. As we left the ground en mass some of the SUS boys went and sung songs outside the sheds. I got talking to a Sutherland supporter who said he hates playing us as the away support always brings out the best in our players. You can’t beat the NPL; neither can you beat the support of this fine club. I hope to see you all at the FFA cup game on Wednesday in Macquarie Park. Sydney Croatia Ole Ole Ole….