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Derby Down Under - Premier Road Trip
Derby Down Under - Premier Road Trip
Friday, 22nd Feb 2008 12:28 by Daniel J Sewart

There has been much debate as to whether a worldwide round of games once a season would be a wise move for the Premier League.

I have watched the debate with much interest and studied the many pros and cons thrown up by all parties and frankly I can’t really see why it could not be a successful and lucrative move for all involved.

I understand fully that many fans are worried about increasing the length of the season by a game every year, one that they would be unlikely to be able to attend. This may be true but if it could possibly increase revenue and awareness for your club then surely in a league where money is the major factor in enabling you to compete in the world’s most competitive football league, which might not be a bad thing.

There must now be a fair chunk of money generated from merchandise sales and television rights from countries that religiously follow the league in many cases as much as those based on home soil. Perhaps sharing one game a year with those who buy into the game you love is a fair trade for their hard earned dollar.

Fans of the Premier League and the leagues below accept teams are made up of many foreign imports and those with the biggest budget will always have the pick of the crop. If this has been accepted then why is it such a stretch that in turn, once a year, teams would make a trip to countries where those players are often as popular individually as any one team.

It is easy to become possessive of your team and want things to remain the same, not making any massive changes but I see this idea more as a natural progression rather than a sweeping change. By making the league become so powerful based by bringing the best of the worlds talent to it, in turn it seems logical that occasionally the game could in turn, come to the world.

I for one would love to see Derby or any Premier League team visit Australian soil for a game that was fiercely contested because points where involved. Such a game would be more attractive than an off-season friendly plus the revenue it would raise for the clubs involved would surely be more than worth its while.

Recently my Australian Rules team played an exhibition game in Dubai of all places and at first I thought it was a bit pointless. Then it occurred to me while watching the game that a fan converted is a fan for life. Whether they buy a shirt, become a tourist to your fair city or any other number of ways they could assist your clubs survival surely that makes it all worth while. Personally I think it would.

You will not lose your club, its identity or any games you already enjoy. Instead you gain the appreciation of more fans worldwide and convince more troops to sign up under your colours.

Mile Sterjovski recently said he would love to bring the Rams to play down under and help spread the word. If it was the case you can guarantee a stadium full of Australians following Derby as there is nothing more we like to do than support our own.

There are many rivers to cross on this one but I believe it is a trip at least worth mapping out even if never travelled.

Photo: Action Images



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