One electric night in May, 2018, Paul Tobin marched through the streets of Newcastle toward the bright lights of McDonald Jones Stadium, buzzing with anticipation of what was to come.
The venue would play host to his beloved Melbourne Victory’s Grand Final bout with Newcastle Jets, and Tobin was filled with nerves and excitement as he ventured toward the stadium.
Alongside him marched his mum, Marita – a fellow Victory member – and together they made the trip to watch their side endeavour to become A-League Champions.
What was to follow was an experience Tobin, now 27, says will live long in the memory.
“Nothing will ever come close to the Newcastle Grand Final,” he said.
“We got to experience the march toward the ground, it was at night, we sort of felt like we took over Newcastle a bit with all the other fans there.
“Then we got to the ground where we saw the people we sit with [for Victory home games] at AAMI Park… a family of two young kids and a mum and dad.
“We saw them there which was so special.
“We stood with them for the whole game as well, the people we sit with all year who – other than seeing at every Victory game – we don’t have any other contact with.
“We got to share that with them – I’ll never forget that.
“Just being in the stands that night is something – and my mum said this several times – we will never, ever forget.”
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Victory’s 1-0 win on that night in 2018 was just one of the countless memories Tobin has accumulated alongside his mum Marita over the many years the pair have shared as members of the club.
On the eve of Members’ Week, Tobin says his love for Victory and the sport itself may have never eventuated if not for his brother Stephen’s brief voluntary stint at the club.
“I never grew up as a soccer person, I was hardcore into AFL,” he said.
“But my brother got involved as a Victory stretcher bearer in their fist pre-season as a volunteer, all the way back in the very start.
“I was a bit younger at that stage, I couldn’t go to games myself and my brother didn’t want to take me, because he was too cool for that, he used to go with his mates.
“I eventually got to go to a game in season two [the 2006/07 A-League campaign].
“At the end of that season Victory went on to win the Championship, and I joined up as a member.
“I was still that bit too young to go by myself and my mum came along with me.
I can thankfully count on two hands the home games or games in Melbourne I’ve ever missed. I’ve been hooked ever since.
The club’s 2006/07 A-League Premiership/Championship double spurred Tobin’s devotion to his club which has garnered plenty of memorable moments, highlighted by a further three Grand Final wins and two more Premierships which have contributed to Victory’s status as a powerhouse of the league.
But along with the unbridled joy of watching his side secure a cabinet full of silverware, Tobin says the away days he’s spent alongside his mum and fellow Victory members and fans have produced similarly iconic and unforgettable moments.
“We travel the country to see them, it’s something awesome to be a part of from that respect,” he said.
“I have fortunately been on a few away trips – it’s hands down the most unique experience i’ve ever had in my life.
“I’ve done [Sydney FC] away probably four or five times, this is all with my mum by the way – my mum who doesn’t drink – which makes the pre-game pub all the more fun.
“We’ve done [Western Sydney Wanderers] twice I think and we did the infamous Newcastle Grand Final a couple of years ago.
“We did the Sydney Grand Final the year before as well, which we didn’t win.
“It’s a bit of an ‘us against the world’ atmosphere.”
The atmosphere Tobin describes on away days is reflected in his understanding of what it takes to be a fan of the Victory and of the A-League itself: a passion for chanting and game-day fanfare, a deep understanding of the game and a sense of camaraderie which helps knit together devoted fanbases across the country.
And despite occupying just two of the seats filled by passionate Victory members week in, week out, Tobin says both he and his mum feel a unique and special relationship with the club, so strong it keeps them coming back for more each time a new season dawns.
“It’s something so unique in this town… I feel like we’re part of something so unique and so passionate as well,” Tobin said.
“When you go to the games you’re part of something.
“My mum is 67 years old, and she jumps out of her seat and starts chanting chants as well – you’d never get that at any other sport.
“We feel like we’re part of it, we want to go to the grounds and the moment we’re there we sing along with the terraces, we support all the players, it’s just something so special for us.
“You go to the water cooler at work on a Monday morning, and everyone is talking about AFL, but there’s that niche of people that support soccer and all of a sudden you feel like you belong together, you feel like you can chat about soccer and it’s much more in-depth, it’s not just the generic stuff you see in the paper.
I just feel like being part of that is so unique and special for us; that’s the reason we turn up every week, every year.
