Texi Smith

Central Coast Away… if you weren’t at Central Coast Mariners on Sunday, where the bloody hell were ya? Read all about every Sydney FC fan’s favourite trip. No goals? No worries!

A-Leagues

Super Sydney FC roared on to unconvincing draw Central Coast Mariners 0 Sydney FC 0 An evening of singing, shouting and putting hands over eyes saw Sydney FC’s once-dominant and free-scoring team stumble to a goalless draw against the Cen…

Some weekend of football that. Campbelltown Friday night, Saturday night an incredible atmospere at Cheers Bar for the Tyne Wear derby, Sunday at Central Coast away.

Hey look! Tips the round and remains in last place. Love this weekly punt at what’s in store in the A-Leagues men’s round, and perhaps I should be a betting man after all…

The Roar's A-League Men tips and predictions: Round 11 It was a perfect six from six for Texi Smith in Round 10 and the tipping right across the board was solid. The first…

Another great night at Leichhardt Oval as Sydney FC toiled against Canberra United Football Club but had to settle for a point. Honestly, why wouldn't you go to an A-Leagues women's game, especially during the school holidays? It's a fine spectacle! Read on...

Blunt Sydney FC fail to fire Sydney FC Women 1 Canberra United Women 1 The A-League’s bottom team came to Leichhardt Oval and gave Sydney FC something to think about as the Sky Blues’ striker stocks ran out and the…

Yuel at the far post dives to score the goal that puts the result beyond doubt. A-Leagues Western Sydney Wanderers FC Macarthur FC

Is it the last A-Leagues game of 2023, or the first match report of 2024? Our Sydney FC turned it on at Allianz Stadium to down league leaders Wellington Phoenix FC in a thriller. Thank you Sky Blues for rounding off the year in style.

Phoenix shot down at sunset Sydney FC 3 Wellington Phoenix 1 Not long ago, a home game with Wellington Phoenix would have been seen as a home banker, but in recent years it has been seen as a tough fixture, even moreso when t…

Great to see how far Wellington Phoenix FC women's team have come in such a short space of time. Even better to see Sydney FC win in such a tight game. Were you there? You won't need to read this then, a view from the home end at Allianz Stadium where two Dos Santos' ended up on the field, one of them with the winning goal. A-Leagues

Sky Blues do just enough Sydney FC 1 Wellington Phoenix 0 Our girls in blue gained revenge for last year’s home defeat at the hands of Wellington Phoenix with a slender one goal win at Allianz Stadium in front of an …

Shout out to the impromptu ground announcer for giving us the goalscorers yesterday in the Western Sydney Wanderers FC A-Leagues win over Melbourne Victory. Love your work!

Match reports during 2023 at http://texismith.com :
A-Leagues Men x 16
A-Leagues Women x 11
Football NSW Leagues youth x 34
CommBank Matildas x 8
Subway Socceroos x 3
FIFA Women's World Cup x 3
A total of 81 articles in one year. The go-to website for long form match reports (with photos!) and fan-based writing from .

Independent and ad-free.

The A-Leagues clash between Sydney FC and Western United FC just before Christmas saw fans storm the field to work out why the grass is a different colour at the home end. We were even treated to a skills masterclass from our CEO. Lovely night at Allianz Stadium and a win!

“Not again”, Lolley crackers, CEO skills Sydney FC 4 Western United 2 There was a moment in the first half of the A-League men’s game at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night, when almost every supporter was muttering “not again& #…

No A-Leagues games to satisfy the post-Christmas thirst? Catch up on how Sydney FC went against Brisbane Roar FC just a few days ago. If you weren't there - where were you? Leichhardt Oval delivered a cracker of a night, CommBank Matildas stars were on the field and in the stands, Christmas ham was won and there was fun with the drum.

She bangs the drum at Sky Blue reunion Sydney FC Women 1 Brisbane Roar 1 Sydney FC were given a pre-Christmas dose of reality at the beautiful Leichhardt Oval on Friday night as they were made to work hard for a point against Brisbane R…

Hey, it's nearly Christmas. You've got only til the end of the week to order your copy of 2023's novel of the year from Fair Play Publishing to arrive in time to put under the tree. What a year for women's football, the FIFA Women's World Cup on home soil for our CommBank Matildas - the mood of the nation is captured in this fabulous story of Anna Black, Australia's newest football superstar. And look who's got their hands on a copy...

Anna Black - This Girl Can Play. Available at all online bookstores and the perfect last-minute present for that Matildas fan in your life.

*** WOMEN'S FOOTBALL SIMPLY THE BEST ***

A brilliant day out, the fans came out in force, the was entertaining, the stadium was the perfect size, prices were right. If you're not at your club's next A-Leagues women's game, you're the one who's missing out.

Newcastle Jets Sydney FC

A-League women’s perfect day Newcastle Jets 0 Sydney FC 1 The blueprint for a successful A-League women’s matchday experience saw Newcastle Jets host near neighbours Sydney FC on a pearler of a day at Sportsground No 2. …

*** MATCH ACTION ***
So very proud of the way Sydney FC rose to the task of playing with ten men for most of the A-Leagues clash with Macarthur FC at Allianz Stadium last night. Almost pulled off a miracle, what a performance! Have a read. Handball? Harsh.

Sydney FC caught red handed Sydney FC 0 Macarthur FC 2 A pivotal moment early in the piece completely changed the context of an all-Sydney affair on Saturday night as Macarthur FC burgled three valuable points; Andrew Redmayn…

*** TRANSFER NEWS ***

In a twist of fate, the first game covered for Blacktown City FC's Under 20s in their pre-season preparation for the 2024 Football NSW Leagues season was against Gladesville Ravens Womens NPL Football. Click the link below for a good old Football NSW match report!

NPL New South Wales

Ravens show Blacktown City the way Blacktown City 1 Gladesville Ravens 7 The return of women’s football to Landen Stadium ahead of the 2024 NPL2 season gave the new-look Blacktown City Under 20s a chance to pit their wits agai…

This is why we follow our team week in week out. It's nights like these that make it all worthwhile. The A-Leagues clash between Sydney FC and Perth Glory gave us drama, excitement and fun on and off the field. There was a sense of togetherness in the stadium as football won against the elements and the game was in the balance right until the end. Have a quick read of how the evening unfolded from a fan perspective...

Slender Sydney success in epic monsoon Sydney FC 3 Perth Glory 2 The spirit of Kogarah returned to the Cove on Saturday as a low-key fixture with Perth Glory turned into one of the all-time classic footballing occasions at Allianz Stadi…

This legend. Perth Glory’s biggest away fan. Getting value for money at Allianz Stadium tonight. We’ll be here for hours… result stands right? Forza Sydney FC

*** MATCH ACTION ***

Two teams with international stars, a glorious day at a new venue and five goals too. Have a read of how this special day panned out as Sydney FC women took on Melbourne City FC in the A-Leagues. It's long-form match report writing; something we never see now that our attention spans are about six seconds long. Treat yourself to a quick read, and soak in the photos too - turned out great!

Sydney done by half-time An incredible game on Sunday at an unusual venue saw Sydney FC swept aside in a disastrous first half before the game turned either side of a half-hour lightning pause and Melbourne City almost cou…

A handful of photos from Sydney FC v Melbourne City FC at the Athletics Stadium at Olympic Park. Contrary to what you would have seen on TV, there was a healthy crowd there. The atmosphere was taken up another level after the enforced 30 minute break to let the lightning pass, but the equaliser was out of reach. A fabulous A-Leagues occasion and a new stadium for everyone!

We take you underneath the most impressive tifo ever seen in the A-Leagues as Sydney FC send the three points west in the Sydney derby at Allianz Stadium. Fabulous entertainment but a dismal result against rivals Western Sydney Wanderers FC. That's for you. Read on, right here...

Sydney derby blues Sydney FC 0 Western Sydney Wanderers 1 What shaped up to be a fantastic night of football ended in bitter disappointment for a bumper A-League crowd at Allianz Stadium on Saturday. A solitary goal …

Hey, just downloaded the photos from the Chelsea FC stadium tour last month. Crackers! Some quality product placement too! Thanks to my excellent tour guide Matthew Brown for a smashing tour of this magnificent stadium, which is owned exclusively by Papiss Cisse. Howay the lads! Newcastle United

It's like an international call-up for the fans too. Nothing quite like following your national team, but it's not all plain sailing. Can club rivalries be placed on hold while we support our Subway Socceroos? Not all of them as it turns out...

Football Australia

Australia Disunited For those with keen hearing, it might have been picked up on the TV coverage, but for those who were there at AAMI Park for the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier between Australia and Bangladesh, it wa…

Hey, I read a book. All the way to the end. It was about , that's no surprise to anyone. Have a click on the link below to see just how this collection of short stories disappeared from the 'to read' pile on my bedside table.

Fair Play Publishing

When Mum and Dad See Me Kick The number of books I consume during a year is alarmingly low, but there are some books that definitely leave you wanting more. This one from celebrated sports writer Stuart Thomas was one of them,…

One for the Perth Glory crew.

Aspiring female footballers have a treacherous path to senior football in Australia. With pre-season already underway for next season, has natural selection occurred for the Under 16s class of 2023, or has football just shut the door on some aspiring careers? In this year of the CommBank Matildas has the FIFA Women's World Cup legacy just got off to a shaky start?

NPL New South Wales

Harsh lessons for NPL girls Even before the final whistle sounded on the final day of the 2023 Football NSW Girls Youth League Under 16 season, all the girls could think about was 2024. Moving into the most important years of…

The panel are starting to look like they know what they’re doing! Join the crowd for The Roar’s A-Leagues tips and predictions and plunge head-first into the best league in the world. Entertainment guaranteed!

The Roar's A-League Men tips and predictions: Round 4 Another week and another sacked coach has the A-League on the tips of Australian sporting fans’ lips, as Steve Corica departs the club he…

What’s it going to take to get fans to the A-Leagues? If CommBank Matildas crowds and the pre-season friendlies involving Premier League clubs are an indicator, the fans are there. So what are we missing? Check out The Roar today and tell me why.

Australia's football fans still don't appreciate how spoilt we are by our A-Leagues The halftime whistle goes at the Emirates Stadium and a bumper WSL crowd heads for the concourse. Queues have already formed for stadium food…

Reaction to Wednesday night’s win by our CommBank Matildas at HBF Park for The Roar.

Football Australia Olympics

Matildas 'Star Girl' Mary Fowler delivers again... With her whole career ahead, what is she capable of? Mary Fowler delivered an incredible strike on the hour for a frustrated Matildas team as they finally clicked into gear to overcome the stubborn…

Hey, good book!

Dive into a realm of imagination with our incredible collection of fiction. Unveil the excitement, exploration, and tension nestled within every page. Embark on your reading journey today, don’t hesitate!

*** Match action ***

Three quick-fire goals confirmed CommBank Matilda’s’ passage through to the final round of Olympic Games qualification. We weren't worried at all, were we? Fabulous scenes at HBF Park as the players say their farewells and the stadium fills with screams. Uzbekistan away anyone? Football Australia

Matildas finally find the key Australia 3 Chinese Taipei 0 (Half time) An attacking starting line-up boasting a wealth of experience signalled the intent of the Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson in what most observers expected to …