FOOTBALL WELCOMES ITS HISTORY
Formeroo Socceroos Gain A Voice
A group of former Socceroo players, with a combined playing tally of nearly 400 caps spread over half a century, today gathered for an historic meeting with Football Federation Australia (FFA).
The group met with FFA CEO, Ben Buckley, and Board member, Phil Wolanski, to discuss a variety of issues concerned with the history of Australian football and the contribution made by national team players.
"As football continues to experience huge growth and popularity, it is vitally important that we recognise the great history of the code and also the players who have made significant contributions representing Australia," Buckley said.
Amongst the group were long-serving Australian captains in Alex Tobin and Charlie Yankos , as well as legendary striker Ray Baartz, joined by former team-mate John Watkiss, 1956 Olympian Ted Smith, Doug Wendt (debuted 1955), Denis Yaager (1970) and Kimon Taliadoros (1990). (Another former captain, Paul Okon, is also a member of the group but was unable to attend.)
The issues discussed were the establishment of a Socceroo Club (a player alumni), a mentoring program comprised of former Socceroos, the establishment of an 'FA Cup' style competition, how to recognise the game's history and capture memorabilia, and the establishment of an annual football oration.
"Football has a history in Australia which stretches back 128 years, and it is one in which all football fans, as well as all Australians, should be proud. "I am delighted that those who have worn the green and gold have a voice to provide advice and input to what we're doing."
Buckley said that FFA will work with the members represented on the group to address a range of issues of mutual interest on behalf of all Socceroos.
Biographies:
Ray BAARTZ
Born: 6 March 1947, Newcastle, NSW
Position: Attacker
Socceroo honours: 59 appearances (21 goals) [1967-1974]
48 A internationals (18 goals) / 11 non-A internationals (3 goals)
Club career: Adamstown Rosebud (NNSW), Manchester United (ENG), Hakoah (NSW)
Despite injury curtailing his career at the age of 27, Baartz is recognised as one of the greatest players to ever pull on the Socceroo shirt.
Baartz was a regular throughout the 1970 and 1974 World Cup qualifying campaigns, and was the only player to start every qualifying match during this period, scoring numerous crucial goals along the way. However in Australia's final practice match before heading off to the 1974 World Cup, against Uruguay at the Sydney Sports Ground, his career suddenly and tragically ended. A blow behind play by Uruguay's Luis Garisto ruptured an artery in Baartz's neck - the artery haemorrhaged, causing interference with his brain and leaving him partly and temporarily paralysed.
Baartz would have potentially gone on to hold appearance and goalscoring records for the Socceroos had he maintained his record which stood at 48 A international caps and 18 goals at the time his career ended.
Born and raised in Newcastle, Baartz's club career was equally impressive. He joined his local club Adamstown where he impressed from a young age, and he soon attained a scholarship with Manchester United in 1963, becoming one of the pioneering 'Aussies Abroad'. He returned to Adamstown in 1966 and was soon snapped up by Hakoah winning numerous domestic honours in his eight seasons with the Sydney club.
After his forced early retirement Baartz moved back to Newcastle, he played a major role in the formation of the Newcastle KB United NSL club, and until recently managed his own successful sports store.
Ted SMITH
Born: 24 September 1935, Melbourne
Position: Left Wing
Australian national team: 2 A appearances, 1956 (Olympic Games)
Club career: Preston (Victoria), Moreland, (Victoria), South Melbourne (Victoria), Hakoah (Victoria)
Ted Smith had the honour of being amongst a select band of footballers to represent Australia at our first appearance on the stage - the 1956 Olympic Games.
A speedy left winger, Smith represented Victoria on many occasions in a glittering career which largely took place during Australia's absence from international football in the late 50's and early 60's.
He won silverware with Moreland and South Melbourne, and was runner-up in the Australia Cup with Hakoah in 1967. Ted then went on to coach firstly Moreland in the State League and be assistant coach at South Melbourne in the National Soccer League.
He has been a member of the Australian football Hall of Fame Honours Committee since it's inception in 1996, and is actively involved in the Socceroo Club.
Paul OKON
Born: 5 April 1972, Sydney, NSW
Position: Midfielder/Defender
Socceroo honours: 37 appearances (1 goal) [1990-2003]
28 A internationals (24 as captain) / 9 non–A internationals (1 goal)
Club career: Marconi (NSW), Club Brugge (BEL), Lazio (ITA), Fiorentina (ITA), Middlesbrough (ENG), Watford (ENG), Leeds United (ENG), Vicenza (ITA), Oostende (BEL), Apoel Lefkosia (CYP), Newcastle Jets (NSW)
A skilful player with a sharp footballing brain, Paul became one of Australia's most capped Socceroo captains and he was also the first Australian to enjoy lengthy playing success in the Italian Serie A.
He made his NSL debut for Marconi in 1989 aged just 17, and captained the Australian Under 20 side at the 1991 FIFA U20 World Cup in Portugal, leading the Young Socceroos to a semi-final appearance. An inspirational player amongst a 'golden generation', he also took part in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona where Australia also reached the semi-final stage.
He made his senior national team debut in 1990 aged just 18, ultimately playing with the Socceroos for 13 years; his senior national team career included a captain's stint during the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup (where Australia lost narrowly to the world's number one and two teams at the time, France and Brazil) and in the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
His individual player honours include twice Australian U-21 player of the year (1990, 1991), Belgian Player of the year (1995/96) and Oceania Footballer of the Year (1996).
His move from Club Brugge to Lazio in 1996 was reported to be on a $1.2 million transfer, the record highest-valued transfer for any Australian player at the time. He also played for Fiorentina and also Middlesbrough and Leeds United in the English Premier League.
With his career at a high in 1996 he was struck down with a serious leg injury, drastically restricting his first team appearances from 1996 to 2000.
Kimon TALIADOROS
Born: 28.3.68, Durban, South Africa
Position: Attacker
Socceroo honours: 9 appearances (2 goals) [1990-1993]
4 A internationals / 5 non-A internationals (2 goals)
Club career: South Melbourne (Vic), Marconi (NSW), Sydney Olympic (NSW), Collingwood (Vic), Parramatta Power (NSW)
A prolific goalscorer in the National Soccer League, Kimon also represented Australia on nine occasions, having moved from South Africa at a young age.
He was top scorer in the National Soccer League in 1992, with that honour sandwiched between championship wins with firstly South Melbourne and then Marconi.
In October 1993, Kimon became the PFA's inaugural Chief Executive, a position he served until June 1995. He then served as President for three years, where during his tenure the PFA secured its first major National Soccer League Collective Bargaining Agreement and struck two major CBA's for the Socceroos.
Alex TOBIN
Born: 3 November 1965, Melbourne, Vic
Position: Defender
Socceroo honours: 113 appearances (3 goals) [1988-1999]
87 A internationals (2 goals) / 26 non-A internationals (1 goal)
(highest "A" capped player in Australian history)
Club career: Adelaide City (SA), Parramatta Power (NSW), Northern Spirit (NSW)
Alex made his senior debut for Adelaide City in the 1984 National Soccer League and amassed 522 appearances, most with Adelaide City before joining Parramatta Power and ending his playing career with Northern Spirit. He helped Adelaide City to three NSL titles and two Australian Cups and made the most appearances for any player in Australian national domestic competition.
A central defender, he also became Australia's most capped Socceroo appearing in 87 full internationals and a total of 113 times for Australia in all matches. He made his debut for Australia in 1988 and played his last international against Manchester United in 1999.
He featured in two World Cup campaigns and with 30 appearances as Socceroo captain, lies behind only Peter Wilson and Paul Wade as Australia's most capped skipper.
Since retiring, Alex has been Development Manager with the Central Coast Mariners since the inception of the club, and was assistant coach for the Socceroos in their international match against Nigeria last November.
Alex joined an elite group last year with induction into the Hall of Champions in the Australian football Hall of Fame.
John WATKISS
Born: 28 March 1941, Willenshall, England
Position: Utility
Socceroo honours: 31 appearances (4 goals) [1965-1974]
23 A internationals (2 goals) / 8 non-A internationals (2 goals)
Club career: Canterbury (NSW), APIA Leichhardt (NSW), Hakoah (NSW), Sutherland (NSW)
John Watkiss was a regular in the Socceroo shirt during the 1960s with his international career culminating with inclusion in the Australian World Cup squad in 1974.
He played virtually every game of the 1970 campaign scoring a crucial goal in the play-off against Israel where the Socceroos fell agonisingly short of a first World Cup qualification.
Having moved to Sydney from England at a young age, Watkiss played for the top Sydney clubs in his domestic career, appearing in an astonishing 11 Grand Finals in 19 seasons. He started with the 'Canterbury Babes' in 1957 alongside a new generation of young stars including Johnny Warren. Indeed the careers of the two Johnny's mirrored each other, even growing up together in the Sydney suburb of Botany. There was further success for Watkiss with APIA and Hakoah, where he was the league's top scorer in 1964 and the player of the year in 1971.
He commenced his career as a striker but by the end of the career was captain-coach of the Sutherland Sharks often playing in defence. He had great success with the Sharks remarkably winning the league's player of the year in 1977 at the ripe old age of 37, and then leading the club to
their first championship in 1978.
John was an inaugural inductee into the Australian football Hall of Fame in 1999.
Doug WENDT
Born: 1928, Newcastle.
Position: Midfielder
Socceroo honours: 5 appearances [1953-1955]
1 A international / 4 non-A internationals
Club career: Adamstown Rosebud (NNSW), Auburn (NSW), Gladesville (NSW), Sydney Austral (NSW)
Doug Wendt played one full international and four non-A internationals for Australia at left back & left half against the likes South China, New Zealand and South Africa in mid 1950s and also represented NSW for eight years where he captained the State on many occasions.
Also a gifted cricketer, Doug decided to concentrate on football and quickly made an impact with his local club Adamstown Rosebud. He moved to Sydney in 1951 for work reasons and joined the Auburn club where he played for eight seasons with Auburn, Gladesville and Sydney Australs before retiring in 1959 through injury.
He was inducted into the Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame in 2006.
Dennis YAAGER
Born: Sydney, NSW
Position: Attacker
Socceroo honours: 11 appearances [1970]
2 A internationals / 9 non-A internationals
Club career: Canterbury (NSW), Hakoah (NSW), Sydney Croatia (NSW)
Sydney-born striker who played 11 times in the green and gold all during 1970. He was one of the first Australians to try his luck overseas, having a brief stint with English giants Everton in 1964.
Doug played with top Sydney outfits of the day including Canterbury, Hakoah and Sydney Croatia winning the NSW Championship in 1968.
Charlie YANKOS
Born: 29 May 1961, Melbourne, Vic
Position: Defender
Socceroo honours: 86 appearances (11 goals) [1983-1990]
49 A internationals (7 goals) / 37 non-A internationals (4 goals)
Australian captain: 1986-1990 (including 30 A internationals)
Club career: Heidelberg (Vic), West Adelaide (SA), APIA Leichhardt (NSW), Blacktown City (NSW), Wollongong Wolves (NSW)
Alongside Alex Tobin, Charlie Yankos captained Australia more times than anyone else except for Peter Wilson and Paul Wade. Yankos was an inspirational leader during a period of significant growth and success on the international stage for the Socceroos. Under his leadership the Socceroos scored a famous win over Yugoslavia at the 88 Olympics, and most memorably against reigning world champions Argentina the same year. His thunderous free-kicks are legendary and he scored a number of crucial long-range goals while wearing the green and gold.
He had sixteen seasons in the National Soccer League with five clubs, winning the national championship with APIA Leichhardt in 1987.
Charlie was an inaugural inductee into the Australian football Hall of Fame in 1999.