33.8688° S, 151.2093° E

Sydney is many things. A city where cultures collide,

where golden beaches meet urban

sprawl, and where football thrives across all

levels of the game. Although that usually is thought of as

Aussie rules rather than 'soccer' but it seemed that there was

more to the traditional football game here than it's perhaps

given credit for.

Its a place where

communities rally around the sport, from

grassroots clubs to to some of the most scenic urban

five-a-side games you'll come across

to the heights of the A-League.

I went to see what the city's football

scene was all about in comparison to the Scottish game

as two of the iconic local clubs that

have built Sydney's football culture went head to head in the league.

At the professional level, Sydney FC and the

Western Sydney Wanderers define the city's

footballing heartbeat. Their rivalry, the Sydney

Derby, is one of the most intense in Australian

football, drawing fans from all corners of the city.

Before the A-League era, the National Soccer

League (NSL) laid the groundwork, featuring

legendary clubs like Sydney Olympic and

Marconi Stallions.

In a city that knows how to celebrate, there's plenty of options for

for post-match drinks,

great food, and the football pubs where fans

gather to share the highs and lows of the game.

Derby day in Eastern Sydney

The biggest difference between the experience of the Sydney derby when compared to football in Scotland and the UK in general was the mixed stands of both sets of fans.

I can't imagine that ever working out in a Celtic Rangers game but it was good to see and despite there being a police presence in the shared area, it was incredibly light compared to Scottish games.

It all comes down to culture at the end of the day, the UK game tends to be built on hatred of the opposition for those 90 minutes, a chance to unload whatever had been held in throughout the week at work. Do I agree with that style? I'm not sure but it's the way it's always been and likely always will. It's deep rooted in a country built on football.

Australia is less of a 'soccer' country, it doesn't seem to be the same religious style following for the majority, and felt more like a day out for many. Making it a much more relaxed atmosphere and a more enjoyable place for those that were neutrals.

That being said, at 3-2, with Sydney FC chasing an equaliser in the last few minutes the stadium became a pretty hostile place and outside of stadiums like Celtic Park, the noise being produced was some of the loudest I've came across.

32,000 fans under the Allianz Stands.

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