Michael Towers is a passionate SUNS member who supported the Gold Coast well before they launched into AFL Premiership action.

Last weekend as the Gold Coast SUNS hosted fellow new comers the GWS Giants, we sent Michael out on assignment to cover the Gold Coast SUNS match day action from a fans perspective.

Each week in 2013 we will provide a Gold Coast SUNS guest blogger with 2 premium seats at every Gold Coast SUNS game. All we ask is that you have fun, document your adventures in a written story and capture the activity and your experience on camera.

Here is how Michael enjoyed his day at the footy.

The first thing I thought as I left the house and looked up at the sky was; "If there was a more perfect day for footy than today, I haven’t seen it".

Today is the last afternoon game Metricon will host for the 2012 season, it’s a perfect winters afternoon on the Gold Coast and I’m confident the SUNS will bring out their best and make it one to remember.

Game days at Metricon Stadium are always something special.

People often ask me why the gates open two hours before the main game and what reason you could have for going to a game of football so early?

This was probably a reasonable question before Metricon and the Gold Coast SUNS came into the picture. This club refuses to be like the rest, refuses to be the same. They do not simply provide you with a game of football to watch before leaving; they offer you a day out, an experience.

For the die-hard footy fans, there’s the opening curtain raiser games giving the supporters the opportunity to make a day of just watching the footy, two games for the price of one. But outside the seating area, in the courtyard is what truly makes Metricon stand out from the rest.

The Gold Coast SUNS have gone all out today and brought the beach to the football; completely transforming the fifth quarter bar area into a beach with real sand, umbrellas, palm trees, buckets, spades, a mechanical surfboard and a beach volleyball setup.

To the side of the beach there’s a stand with possibly the longest line up I’ve ever seen at Metricon; it’s a Fairy Floss vendor selling literally buckets of the soft and colourful candy and everyone is keen to grab some to enjoy on the beach. Just off to the side another stand helps add to the beach atmosphere serving ice creams to hot beach go'ers.

After the gates open, the beach is quick to fill up with excited children and families flocking to enjoy this unique experience and it isn’t long before everyone is enjoying the facilities. People were lining up to have a turn of the mechanical surfboard, while children built sandcastles in the make-shift beach. The main excitement though came from the beach volleyball setup that everyone wanted to be a part of. People were literally jumping in to get into the action and everyone was having a great time.

It would have been forgivable to forget we were actually here to see a game of football today.

Elsewhere in the stadium adults and children alike line up for face painting, popular players are signing autographs and giant Clydesdale horses are pulling giant Carlton United kegs on a carriage with a Dalmatian dog standing atop which I don’t believe I’ve ever seen at the footy but somehow it’s just awesome. On the big screen SUNS TV are handing out the usual stack of pre-game prizes to the fans around the stadium, there is literally something for everyone.

There’s so much here for families to do as a day out with their children that the memories many of the younger generation will take home from today will be more about Fairy Floss and playing at the beach than it will be about watching the game.

As the game starts, many actually stay on the beach to watch the beginning of the game on the huge screen directly above and as the sun goes down and the game gets halfway, the beach area looks beautiful under the night lights. The crowd of over 14,600 are here to see what could be the long awaited first win at Metricon and the excitement can be seen and heard throughout the stadium during the game.

This crowd is united and looking for one thing, the chance to celebrate and sing the Clubs song as the final siren sounds. It’s something that we’ve come close to so many times and as the game comes close to an end the crowd roars.

The final siren sounds, the SUNS have got it! Every single person in the stadium gets to their feet screaming, cheering and going nuts and rightfully so. The players jump up and down and then BOOM! Fireworks erupt from outside the stadium and light up the night sky capturing the awesome atmosphere of the event that everyone just witnessed.

Around the stadium the players embrace the fans who’ve stuck by them through the tough times and are finally here to see the rewards of coming week after week. The song is sung, every word of it and embraced by a supporter group so passionate who love this team so much that every note holds a special meaning.

Never have I seen a club go to so much effort to create such an atmosphere for families to enjoy, for the fan to have a great day out and for members to feel truly valued. Never have I seen a team of players embrace their fans on such a personal level and truly share a moment with them and never have I seen a fan base more passionately celebrating than I did tonight.

Tonight was a win long overdue in the eyes of SUNS fans, we came so close so many times, even having many losses we probably should have won, but this is the one we did and it was spectacular.

Every true fan of the teams who will play in finals this year remembers a time where the wins were scarce and the years were long and cruel, it’s a long road from the bottom to top 4 but all those teams have been where we are now and eventually rose as we will. Tonight’s game was only the beginning of a journey all the way to the top.

By Michael Towers

Would you like to guest blog at our next game against Carlton on Saturday the 25th August? Email digital@goldcoastfc.com.au and tell us why you think you would be perfect for the job!