With Adelaide United Memberships for the 2016/17 season now on sale, we’re highlighting some of the first Reds fans to sign up!
When did you start supporting AUFC?
The A-League had just started. At first I didn’t have much interest in the A-League. My dad would watch the games being a Sydney FC supporter and I would watch some games with him as well but I really didn’t support anyone. I remember exactly it was Round 6 and I just put on the TV and New Zealand Knights were versing Adelaide United. It was just kick off. I decided to watch the whole game and there was something about the Reds. At first it was Travis Dodd who impressed me. I really enjoyed watching him play that game and he scored a great goal. We won 2-1.
The next week Adelaide United versed Sydney FC. I watched that game as well and since then I’ve been hooked on the Reds. For some it’s a little weird as to why I support Adelaide United because I’ve lived in Western Sydney my whole life. I’ve never lived in Adelaide or South Australia. This club just grew on me early in the A-League and I’ve never looked back. Now not only am I an Adelaide United supporter but my dad now supports the club too. We are a family of Red.
What made you fall in love with the Club and what made you become a member
The colours, the players, the style, the supporters, the chants, the name. It was just something that stuck to me. Living in Sydney I never thought it would be necessary for me to be a season ticket member. I would go to all away games in NSW and travel to Adelaide for one or two games a year. I wanted to travel more to Adelaide to see them play this coming season but I didn’t just want to buy tickets on the day. I wanted to be a full member. My first time. It was special.
How long have you been a member of AUFC?
2016/17 will be my first year as a season ticket holder. Every season I always flew up a couple of times to watch the home games but this season I’m planning to go more and I wanted to have my own membership this time around.
What is your favourite memory from a Reds match? Why?
Of course the Grand Final. But besides the Grand Final it would be our 4-1 win against Melbourne Victory in 2011 after being on a winless streak of 10 games. This was my first trip to Melbourne and deep down I knew it was going to be an amazing trip. It started to feel like it was never going to happen being winless in 10 against Melbourne Victory. I remember arriving to the stadium and there was this feeling surrounding the Reds supporters that this was our time. The streak would come to an end. The referee blew the whistle and the rest was history. We smashed them 4-1 and it’s a game I’ll never forget.
If you could say anything to a Reds fan who is thinking of becoming a member, but hasn’t yet, what would you say?
You won’t regret it. There’s nothing better than being part of a club with great history and a club that has developed some great players. Once you join I would say welcome to the greatest football club in Australia, Adelaide United. My heart, my soul, my club.
