Letter in the Herald-Sun today

[Charlie]

"There is nothing more pathetic than old South Melbourne supporters jumping on the Sydney Swans premiership bandwagon. South Melbourne is not Sydney. They ceased to exist nearly 25 years ago when they folded due to lack of interest and lack of funds."
- Clifford Smale
Potts Points NSW

Clifford, if you're out there, you're an A-Grade ********head. And if you're not, I wonder if you'll have the guts to post after I write into the paper tomorrow challenging you to come here and back up your idiotic statement.

There's enough of the premiership glory to go around. We'll even let morons like yourself bask in it... and all your bandwagon jumping mates. Get back in your box.

[punter257]

try and find his number in the phone book

[garethb83]

Word! I'm a Sydney based member and i was in Melb for the entire GF weekend... you guys (melb based) have as much right to the team as we do... not to mention people who live in the rest of the world! Another one of my loves baseball, the team i follow has a good philosophy, they call their supporters 'Red Sox Nation'... implying that their fans can come from wherever they want, it doesn't matter!

Come on, he lives in Potts Point, enough said!

[ROK Lobster]

I like the heritage aspect of our club. I like the link. I really have enjoyed hearing from people like Nico and Bloods who have stuck with the club through hard times and the amount of enjoyment that they have got from the Flag. However, I have noticed a fair amount of bemused resentment at the continunal reference to the 'Bloods' lately. I know a 'Sydney' member of 14 years who feels a little alienated by it. The Club must be careful here IMO. It is not an easy path to tread.

That said, what's eating Cliff? Perhaps he's been called a point clapper too many times by 'real' Victorian fans?

[Sanecow]

Clifford is a ********tard.

[Charlie]

Have submitted a letter to the editor, including the site URL with a 'I'd welcome you to come to RWO and tell the old South fans yourself why you're so deserving of our premiership'.

I wonder if he'll show up.

[Mike_B]

There was this letter along a similar theme in yesterday's SMH.

After a drought lasting several years the AFL premiership has finally been taken out by a Melbourne team, South Melbourne.

It became clear during the presentations that the team was still South Melbourne. The players and the coach saw themselves as South Melbourne players, based in Sydney. The coach only just remembered to acknowledge Sydney in his speech when he was presented as the coach of South Melbourne.

After years of toil to earn a place in the hearts and minds of this city, it is clear they never really were Sydney's team and should go back to Melbourne. A new team should be created, with none of the unwanted baggage that came with the South Melbourne team.

If people with these sorts of attitudes don't want to recognise and celebrate our club's rich history then that's their loss. I for one was honoured to have been able to share the celebrations at Punt Rd and Albert Park with people who have been supporting our club for far longer than the team has been in Sydney.

As for Clifford, well, he doesn't know what he's on about because the club relocated to ensure that it didn't fold!

[Charlie]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
I like the heritage aspect of our club. I like the link. I really have enjoyed hearing from people like Nico and Bloods who have stuck with the club through hard times and the amount of enjoyment that they have got from the Flag. However, I have noticed a fair amount of bemused resentment at the continunal reference to the 'Bloods' lately. I know a 'Sydney' member of 14 years who feels a little alienated by it. The Club must be careful here IMO. It is not an easy path to tread.

That said, what's eating Cliff? Perhaps he's been called a point clapper too many times by 'real' Victorian fans?

The fact is, it's 72 years since the club won a flag. Noone has to care about South Melbourne, but history is history, whether they like it or not.

As for the 'Bloods' - that's as much to do with the playing group as the club's history! The Herald Sun and The Age ran with it because they wanted a Melbourne angle. So what? There is a Melbourne part to this story, and it's a bloody important one.

Noone is denying down here that its a Sydney team. But its a Sydney team with South Melbourne roots. Clifford and co can either get used to that, or sod off to watch the Waratahs.

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by Charlie
Have submitted a letter to the editor, including the site URL with a 'I'd welcome you to come to RWO and tell the old South fans yourself why you're so deserving of our premiership'.

I wonder if he'll show up.

Course he wont Charlie. He is taking the piss - it's a reverse bandwagon thing. Probably giggling at this thread right now. (It is not me or in any way associated with me)

[timbo]

what is this bloke talking about? are south melbourne supporters just supposed to let the swans move north and wear the same colours as south yet need to find another team just because they are victorian.

and in what way are south supporters jumping on the bandwagon?! 72 years is a bit long to call it a bandwagon.

[sydneyswans1989]

Come everyone..lets get him!

[SwallowdaFonz]

Clifford sounds like a Saints fan to me.

[punter257]

Originally posted by SwallowdaFonz
Clifford sounds like a Saints fan to me.

footyhead?

[swansrule100]

forgetting what he is saying, why write to the paper about something like that

The local paper here someone wrote in to complain her neighbour was rude. Her husband was mowing the lawn during the grand final and the neighbour came over and told him to turn it off and that no one mows the lawn on grand final day.

Ive edited that out a lot

why write in what a twit.

All i know is it is the one club that had to move. We didnt merge or change the colours its the one team.

Thats why the new afl game annoys me because it has sydney swans premierships NONE!!! (it was out before the weekend)

[originalswan]

Would hate to think what Cliffy thinks of old Fitzroy supporters following Brisbane Lions? Or perhaps people don't choose to live their lives according to Cliffy's mantra!