Mike Shean couldn’t have chosen a better location for the 2021 season launch of Macarthur Sports Radio last Saturday night.
The ground floor of the Beer Shed in Leumeah is humming along to the excited voices of Bullpen members, the active supporters of the Macarthur FC Bulls.
The beer is flowing, in a responsible service of alcohol kind of way, while the South West Voice interviews Shean, the man behind Macarthur Sports Radio (MSR).
We are seated upstairs, where the season launch party will take place once the Bullpen members have warmed up and leave for the big game against Western Sydney Wanderers at Campbelltown Stadium less than a couple of hundred metres away.
But sport is in the air at the Beer Shed, which is perfect because we’re here to talk local sport and how Macarthur Sports Radio will bring it all live across the Macarthur region.
Shean, a father of three, combined his love of radio and sport to create MSR four years ago.
On the eve of a fifth season of covering local sport, Shean is bursting with enthusiasm.
“Tonight is the season launch for the Macarthur Sports Radio 2021 winter season, and I can’t wait for the action to start,’’ he says.
Once again MSR will cover Group Six rugby league, rugby union, AFL and soccer.
Sometimes there’s just a bit too much on in winter and some priorities have to be set, but as Shean says, every effort is made to cover as much as possible.
Why?
“Because MSR is aimed at everybody, all local sports fans in general,’’ he says.
“We are there for those people who can’t get to the game for whatever reason, or who may be out of town, out of the area and still want to follow their local team.’’
At the start, it was just Mike Shean at the MSR mic, but these days a few other local sport aficionados have put their hand up to sit in as commentators.
“Our calls, in my humble opinion, we go OK, the feedback is always positive, and people seem to enjoy the product,’’ he says.
“We have a solid supporter or follower base that’s growing.’’
The MSR 2021 winter season officially begins in two weeks on Saturday, February 20 when Shean and the team will cover the annual Macarthur Rugby 10s at Wire Lane, home of Camden Rugby club, the Rams.
“It’s a one day tournament; it’s a good fun way to start the season,’’ says Shean.
“We provide full day coverage, from the first game in the morning to the final at the end of the day.
“It’s a long day but an enjoyable one.
“Macarthur Rams are on a couple of weeks later, the M-League a little after that, and before you know it it’s Easter and everybody’s playing.’’
Shean says he is looking forward to seeing success for our AFL clubs in Camden, Wollondilly and Campbelltown, and the local rugby clubs the Rams and Campbelltown Harlequins.
Finals time is not called the business end of the season for nothing, and Shean looks at it as the icing on the cake of his radio coverage.
“This year we hope to see Camden and the Quinnies there in 2021 – no pressure guys, but it would be nice if you could make the finals for a change,’’ he says, half tongue in cheek.
“It’s 20 years since the Harlequins won the rugby premiership in 2001, I was there calling that game,’’ he recalls.
I remind him that this old journo was also there in Wollongong to witness a magnificent Quins grand final victory.
While he loves all football codes, Shean is a rugby league man, like most people in NSW, so he is particularly looking forward to an intriguing Group Six season.
The addition of newcomers South West Goannas will mean a nine team competition, which is set to increase to 10 in 2022.
“The Goannas playing at Onslow Oval in Camden, it will be interesting to see how it pans out when they play the Camden Rams,’’ he says.
“But in round one, what an initiation for the Goannas, Sunday afternoon at Fullwood Reserve facing Campbelltown City Kangaroos.
“I know I say this every year, but I think 2021 will be one of the most even competitions in years for Group Six.
“Macarthur Sports Radio will be there covering it all for local footy fans.’’
To access MSR, visit their Facebook page.
