Welcome to Wanderland: Western Sydney Wanderers and the Pride of the West

(Paperback)

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Welcome to Wanderland follows the West Sydney Wanderers dramatic journey on and off the football field, through interviews with administrators and players, and most of all through the fascinating stories of its dedicated supporters.Created on a shoestring, in their first four years the club won the premiership, reached three grand finals and won the coveted Asian Champions League. This extraordinary on-field success was coupled with a remarkable engagement with the people of western Sydney.The Western Sydney Wanderers have the greatest fan base of any club in the A-League.

The Wanderers story underwent several dramatic twists after police and football administrators targeted supporters, leading to boycotts and a power struggle which vindicated the fans. Meanwhile, on the pitch, the team is flying high again. The team will have great seasons and lean, the staff and players will come and go but the self-esteem they have liberated is permanent.

Author Bio

Michael Visontay is a journalist and writer. He is also a regular sports commentator for ABC 2BL, and writes for the ABC Drum. Based in Sydney, Michael has worked for over 30 years as a journalist, author and lecturer. A former Assistant Editor of theSydney Morning Heraldand Deputy Editor of theSun-Herald, he has ghost-written and co-authored four books of memoir, including The Happiest Refugee and Old School, and the memoir of footballer Nathan Hindmarsh. Michael has written extensively on sport, culture and politics, in particular football. He created and taught a course on Sport, Media and Culture at UNSW, and was also awarded an EU Journalism scholarship to study the impact of football on European integration.