The Sydney Super Cup: a fan(?) perspective, Pt. 2
· Yahoo Sports
Welcome back to Part 2 (Electric Boogaloo) of my journey to and through the Sydney Super Cup, talking through what the tournament and trip was like from a fan perspective… but also from having access a fan might not usually have. Part travel blog, part human-interest piece, part fan boy experience; here’s what it felt like as a fan walking into the press box and seeing Spurs play for the first time. Hopefully you enjoy.
Check out Part 1 here, if you haven’t already.
Visit turconews.click for more information.
Sydney FC vs. Tottenham Hotspur
So there I was: in the press box ahead of Tottenham Hotspur kicking off against Sydney in what would be my first live Tottenham Hotspur experience. Worth It had taken a 17-11 lead into the second leg against Not Worth It. I admired the view and sneakily took the photo you saw in the previous piece; I felt like a total fish out of water, and taking photos like a tourist would have cemented that status. In front of me were sitting a number of journalists and club media staff.
I stood awkwardly behind all of them, as my understanding was that each spot (there are rows of desks in the press box, with plug points and cabling slots for individuals like myself to set up) was set aside for a specific person; but I also noted that there weren’t any names on any of the chairs or desks, and so I just kind of milled around until I picked up the courage to ask a friendly Australian whether or not the seats were reserved. I probably looked like a stalker. They were not reserved, so I needn’t have worried.
I took a seat and realized two things: one, I was seated behind a handful of very well-known Spurs and Chelsea football journalists from the likes of BBC, The Athletic, and Football London; and two, I was extremely hungry.
You see, the press rooms are catered, and I left very early to make sure I got there on time – just in case there were issues (I’m extremely glad I did that). The problem is that by the time I got into the press room, most of the food was gone. 0-1 to Not Worth It as my stomach rumbled.
As I prepared for the match, getting logged in to the backend of the site and starting to get engaged in the comments, updating the lineups, etc, I gave a smile and nod to a couple of the journalists. They all were chatting amongst themselves, with no club loyalties getting in the way of friendships. I’m quite introverted and am aware of the reputation that certain fan-run sites and/or aggregators have amongst actual journalists so was reticent to introduce myself properly, outside of a couple of interjections here and there. One journalist referenced the match back in Auckland, saying it was a record crowd for a football match in New Zealand; I corrected him, saying it was a record crowd for a men’s football match in New Zealand (several matches in the 2023 Women’s World Cup had a higher attendance). Let’s call that a cheeky tap-in for Worth It to even up the scores.
What was fascinating though was the amount of discussion around football news: transfers, injuries, and the like. I overheard breaking news before it was even official: Danny Welbeck to Chelsea was confirmed; it was mentioned that Dejan Kulusevski was back in training. Little tidbits and morsels flew past me like I was in a food fight. Oh, that’s right. Food. I shift awkwardly in my seat to try hide my stomach rumbling. The joy of my surroundings is quickly offset by the pangs, and it’s now two apiece.
The players are out now training on the pitch. There’re some questions around the midfield shape and structure, before I see Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray standing in the center of the pitch together, pinging long passes to the corners. That must be the starting double pivot. It’s my first time seeing the players in the flesh and I’m still trying to mentally process it; Mathys Tel is rather a large human being, and he stands next to Manor Solomon who looks tiny in comparison. The players return to the sheds.
Soon enough, though, it’s time for the prematch proceedings. Duel of the Fates rings out around the ground which is a nice touch and really helps the reality start to sink in as the players walk out. There’s a countdown, and the referee blows for kick-off as the crowd roars. Worth It has gone up 5-2, as my fandom scores a quickfire hat-trick.
I won’t rehash the entire match report; you’ve already gone to the trouble of not reading that. Nobody does, after all. There’s a couple of things about watching in the press box, though. Firstly, you’re not really supposed to be cheering for a team. You are there to work, and it’s a little unprofessional if you are cheering, chanting, etc. Secondly, the Allianz press box has slidable windows at the front, so despite this, you can’t really help being caught up in the atmosphere around the ground – which is electric. What is disappointing, however, is that the stadium is probably only 3/4 full (if that), and there is a very parochial home crowd in attendance. That support I saw out in public earlier in the day hadn’t really materialized.
I didn’t have time to be disappointed by this, though, as Mathys Tel lined up a free kick. He couldn’t, could he?
He could.
My first Spurs goal, and it’s an incredible direct free kick, right into the top corner.
I do my best to not scream as that’s two knocked in by Worth It. There is absolutely an exclamation through the press box though, as all are stunned by the quality of the strike. Wows and gasps and claps and headshakes are all present as I once more try to process what is going on before me.
It’s hard to describe how surreal this is; it’s kind of like going to the Grand Canyon, for those who have had that experience. You step out and see it for the first time, and it almost doesn’t look real. It’s like you’re staring at a painting, but something beyond what you could imagine.
Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?
My existential crisis is not helped by a deep-seated feeling that I am absolutely not supposed to be there; but I am there nonetheless.
Sydney soon get one back; it’s a calamity of errors at the back. It hasn’t dampened my enthusiasm. I’m just happy to be there. That’s when, late in the second half, the talk of a possible penalty shoot-out filters through the press box. A penalty shoot-out in a friendly? Surely you can’t be serious. A few of the journalist shake their heads. I would normally be in agreement with them, but a direct free kick AND a penalty shoot-out in my first live Spurs football experience? I’m on cloud nine, which is also the number of goals scored by Worth It, with the score now 9-3.
Luca Williams-Barnett steps up to take the first penalty. He’s only 17, and boos rain down. It’s a panenka. Have I had a stroke? 10-3. Joe Lacey hits the post. Surely it’s Spurs’ match from here. 11-3. Jamie Donley doesn’t quite strike his attempt cleanly enough, however, and the shootout is back on level terms once more. 11-4. Martin Dubravka makes a stunning save on Alexandar Popovic. 12-4.
Dane Scarlett slots the final penalty and it takes everything within me not to cheer and applaud as Spurs win. They won!!! It’s 15-4. Unbelievable. My first Spurs match and it’s a win.
Oh, wait, I’m supposed to be working. I hurriedly put together the finishing touches on my match report as I notice the other journalists quickly packing up and rushing out of the press box. I watch the general direction in which they go, but I haven’t quite finished yet, so can’t follow. I’m soon done, though, and go down to explore. I eventually find the press room down the hall, and realize I have missed the bulk of the press conferences. There’s a late charge by Not Worth It, as Unfamiliarity With One’s Surroundings knocks in a goal to reduce the deficit. I poke my head in the door and listen in as Roberto De Zerbi wraps up his press conference. All the journalists head back to the writing area at the back of the press box, discussing De Zerbi’s comments on Lucas Bergvall, which I’ve missed – apparently RDZ wants the Swede to stay!
I quickly search around online and find a video of the press conference. Phew. I try to quickly skip through the key points, but ruffle around in my bag for my headphones so as to listen clearly to this thick Italian accent without disturbing the other journalists (who are all already listening to their own recordings on headphones themselves). I’ve forgotten my headphones, and it’s now 15-6, with a goal to Not Worth It courtesy of my memory.
I struggle and strive with my phone against my ear to listen to the recording. I write a couple of words, stop, pause, rewind, write a couple more, until I’m pretty sure I have the quotes exact. I skip through a couple of other parts of the video, jot down a few more key points, finish writing my piece on De Zerbi’s press conference (of which I missed the vast majority but am now up to speed) and click Publish. I’m the last one left in the press room, and it’s now after midnight. 15-7.
The Aftermath
I head outside of the stadium. It is freezing. Remember, from my last piece, I’m only wearing a blazer (well, not only, you sickos – you know what I mean). I see Alasdair Gold, Elias Burke, and Dan Kilpatrick waiting for what I assume is a taxi, and momentarily consider going up to them and introducing myself properly, but I’m exhausted, they’re probably exhausted, and the adrenaline has worn off just enough to not take the edge off my social anxiety. Good one.
I head to the train instead, and get a message on the masthead Slack: the quotes on my press conference piece aren’t showing up. For crying out loud. My laptop is out of battery packed away in my bag as well, AND I don’t have the link to the WordPress backend in my phone. 15-8, as the home team really needs to sort out their defense.
Dustin is on the case, though; he sends me the link (he can’t fix it himself thanks to Real Life™ getting in the way) and I get things sorted. Thanks for making those quotes invisible to everybody due to nothing but an extra indent, as WordPress Formatting knocks in another goal for Not Worth It as I realize once again I still haven’t eaten since around 2 pm. I know there’s a McDonalds in the center of the suburb near to where my friend lives; surely that will be open. Most McDonalds are open 24/7 nowadays, right? Come on, it’s 2026.
Not in Randwick, Sydney. 15-9. Damn it.
I do a quick search. There’s a pizza place open until 2 am, and that is it. 4.4 stars on Google. It’ll do.
The peri-peri chicken pizza when it is finally ready is cromulent at best, but I am starving and demolish most of it. 16-9. I walk down the street, take a bus, followed by another walk back to my friend’s apartment in the freezing cold. 16-10, and I stumble in the door at 2 am. My body clock is still on New Zealand time, so really, it’s 4 am. Exhaustion rises above the defense to knock one in from a set piece conceded by Time Zones. 16-11.
I hit the bed and realize I am still buzzing. What have I just witnessed? Arguably a dream come true, via an avenue most fans will never experience. As I come to terms with this, my brain and heart soar – it’s cheesy but it’s hard to find words better suited. There will be no comeback by Not Worth It, with a flurry of late goals from joy and sleep. It’s 20-11, with a deserved victory yet again by the home side.
Did you really think it would go any differently? Well, we do follow Spurs, after all.
Check back in tomorrow, where I’ll talk through my experience talking with fans in Sydney… and running into the team.