Not satisfied by breaking the AFL club’s membership record, Swans boss Andrew Ireland wants 40,000 fans to pledge their allegiance.

The Swans this week topped the membership tally of 32,452 they reached in 2007 after back-to-back grand final appearances.

It is a phenomenal turnaround for the organisation that was once the laughing stock of the league, and Sydney’s sporting landscape.

As is the case with the Swans’ on-field triumph last year, Ireland says hard work and quality football has been key to the big numbers.

“I think it’s on the back of success last year, but also because our membership department have worked really hard,” Ireland said on Tuesday.

“At the end of the day people want to come along and watch good footy.

“I’ve always said putting a footy team on the ground is a bit like running a theatre, if you don’t put on good films nobody will come.

“We know it’s a constant challenge to continue to grow it. We need to do that. We need to get to 40,000 members. Hopefully we can do that.

“It’s a big challenge.”

Especially in a city with a reputation for not having the same passion for live sport as Melbourne, although Ireland rejects the stay-at-home Sydneysider stereotype.

“It actually upsets me a bit when people talk about the Sydney sports fan being more fickle,” he said.

“The reality is when we put on big games we get good crowds.”

The Swans’ membership achievement is all the more impressive in the context of Greater Western Sydney’s admission to the league.

GWS have signed 11,537 members this year – already more than the club tallied in its maiden season. In contrast, Gold Coast couldn’t manage the same second-year milestone in 2012.

Ireland said instead of basking in the achievement, his club must work hard in an attempt to match the mammoth membership tallies at power clubs like Collingwood.