With less than a month to go to the launch of the Hyundai A-League season, the Brisbane Roar captain Matt Smith spoke to aleague.com.au about the WE ARE FOOTBALL campaign and what the fans mean to him.
“Football fans are a massive part of the A-League, without the fans would mean no A-League,” said Smith.
“From a player’s perspective, the fans act as a 12th man and urge the players to compete harder and faster.”
Smith said winning last season’s A-League Grand Final alongide his Roar teammates was his greatest ever football moment.
“The level of excitement and adrenaline when Erik Paartalu scored the equaliser and Henrique scored the winning penalty will always stay with me,” he said.
For some players, the excitement is all about the action on the pitch, however Smith looks forward to the whole match-day experience of A-League football.
“There’s a buzz around the city and at the stadium as fans begin to take their seats,” said the 28-year-old.
“Then there’s the build up when you’re at the ground warming up and taking to the field for the start of the match. And finally, the competitive nature of each match enthrals me as a player with desire to succeed as a team over your opposition.”
The WE ARE FOOTBALL campaign is about the things we all share as football fans – regardless of which club we support, our age, gender, background, nationality or circumstance, football belongs to all of us, we’re all part owners, we’re all fans.
The defender is very passionate about the game and he confessed the culture is embedded into the makeup of his personality.
The England born player said the sport was handed down to him by generations of peers and he loves the fact that football’s complex nature means different experiences in every match.
To watch the preseason teaser on the new and improved Hyundai A-League Facebook page simply click here.
If you are on Twitter don’t forget to keep the #wearefootball hash tag trending Australia wide
And remember, WE ARE FOOTBALL.
