While soccer is not considered the major or primary sport of Australia, it is the primary
or major sport in most of the European countries from where the non Anglo-Celtic
population emigrated. Soccer is strongly associated with immigrant population groups
and has often been regarded by Anglo-Celtic Australians as the 'ethnic game'. The
overseas-born residents of Wollongong, Australia comprised 27% of that city's popula
tion in 1981 - higher proportionately than any of the ten largest urban areas in Australia.
The identificational practices of Wollongong non-Anglo-Celtic clubs representing 24
teams from 7 ethnic entities (Croatian, Greek, Italian, Macedonian, Maltese, Serbian,
Spanish) were investigated to determine the association with ethnic singularity during
soccer club activities. The data was collected in several stages: interviews, telephone
conversations, field work notes, as well as general observations. It was found that clubs
members negotiated their adherence towards the often conflicting areas of citizenship and
nationalism.
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