Source: Page authors, Daily newspapers

Friendly Matches
Saturday July 14 1956 Bayswater Oval, Bayswater, Perth, Australia Referee: Ben Owenell (Australia) Attendance: Not recorded
AUSTRALIAN XI Bill Henderson, Bob Bignall (c), John Pettigrew, Bob Wemyss, Alwyn Warren, Cliff Sander, Don Brown, Spencer Kitching, Colin Kitching, Graham McMillan, Brian Vogler Manager: Not recorded Goals: C.Kitching 17, _, Vogler 43, S.Kitching 65	4	-	1	Western Australia Frank Franken, Noel Adair, Ron Adair, Con Purser (c), R.Lynn, Doug Stewart, Don West, Tom Clayton, R.Churchward, Bill Adair, W.McBirnie Manager: Not recorded Goal: B.Adair
With Australia hosting the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne the Australian Olympic squad toured the country playing a number of warm-up games to select a final squad and prepare for the tournament.
Tuesday July 17 1956 Norwood Oval, Norwood, Adelaide, Australia Referee: Karney (Australia) Attendance: Not recorded
AUSTRALIAN XI Lineup Included; Bill Henderson, Bill Harburn, Bob Wemyss, Alwyn Warren, Frank Loughran, Spencer Kitching, Colin Kitching Manager: Not recorded Goals: C.Kitching (x2), S.Kitching	3	-	2	South Australia Jim McCabe, Charles Di Bartolo, Vic Ciampi (c), Jack Mather, Max Lucchesi, Giuseppe Chiappin, N.Ragno, K.Welker, Alec Beattie, B.Esca, A.Costalunga Manager: Not recorded Goals: Beattie, Ragno
Thursday July 19 1956 Melbourne Showground, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Australia Referee: Rodger Carr (Australia) Attendance: 300
AUSTRALIAN XI Lineup Included; Bill Henderson, Brian Vogler Manager: Not recorded Goals: Goalscorers Not Known	3	-	0	Victorian XI Lineup Included; Del Mannering Manager: Not recorded
Saturday July 21 1956 South Hobart Oval, South Hobart, Australia Referee: G.Evans (Australia) Linesmen: A.Mackie and S.Kelly (Australia) Attendance: Not recorded
AUSTRALIAN XI Bill Henderson, Bob Bignell (c), Bill Harburn, Bob Wemyss, Alwyn Waren, Cliff Sander, Sid Thomas, Spencer Kitching, Colin Kitching, Graham McMillan, Brian Vogler Manager: Richard Telfer Goals: C.Kitching (x5), McMillan (x4), S.Kitching (x2), Vogler (x2 incl a pen), Thomas, Sander	15	-	1	Tasmania Harry Wise, Terry Clark, C.Robertson, Terry Clark, Alastair Rattray (c), B.Lancaster, Ben Wood, George Arnott, Walter Worsey, Terry Patterson, Des Kenna Manager: David Smith Goal: Patterson 45
The first time an Australian representative team played in Tasmania was this next match in the Olympic selection trials.
Match Day Programme
Sunday July 22 1956 South Melbourne Cricket Ground, South Melbourne, Australia Referee: Not recorded Attendance: 4,000
AUSTRALIAN XI Lineup Included; Bill Henderson, Bob Wemyss, Cliff Sander, Don Brown, Graham McMillan, Colin Kitching Manager: Not recorded Goals: Brown, McMillan, Sander 44	3	-	0	Victoria Ray Barotajs, H.Jakubowski, Cor Mathyssen, Tony Vella, Tom Jack, Bob Zablocki, Sid Thomas, Frank Loughran, Don Hodgson, Mike de Bruyckere, Ted Smith Manager: Len Young
Saturday August 4 1956 Heath Park, East Brisbane, Australia Referee: Bill Malcolm (Australia) Attendance: 3,000
AUSTRALIAN XI Bill Henderson, Bob Bignall (c), Bill Harburn, Bob Wemyss, John Pettigrew, Bob Young, Peter Stone, Jack Lennard, Alex Beattie, Ray Neal, Malcolm Wild Manager: Bill Thomas Goals: Beattie (x2), Wild (x2), Lennard	5	-	2	Queensland John Speare, Gordon Kathage, Ken Proudlock, Norm Rule, Nobby Clarke, Cliff Sander, Forest Cleeton, Spencer Kitching, Gordon Nunn, Alan Pitcairn, Brian Vogler Manager: Not recorded Goals: Goalscorers Not Known
Sunday August 5 1956 Sydney Sports Ground, Moore Park, Sydney, Australia Referee: Ron Wright (Australia) Linesmen: Herbert Imlay and Norm Vidler (Australia) Attendance: Not recorded
AUSTRALIAN XI Bill Henderson, Bob Bignall (c), John Pettigrew, Bob Wemyss, Cliff Sander, Don Brown, Bill Harburn, Frank Loughran, Peter Stone, Alec Beattie, Ted Smith Manager: Not recorded Goals: Loughran (x2), Stone	3	-	4	New South Wales Lineup Included; Ron Lord, Bill Taylor, Bill Williams, George Arthur (c), Bob Young, Bruce Morrow, Charlie Stewart, Ray Neal, Harry Robertson Manager: Bernard Bryant Goals: Stewart (x3), Neal
Saturday August 18 1956 Sydney Sports Ground, Moore Park, Sydney, Australia Referee: Herbert Imlay Attendance: Not recorded
AUSTRALIAN XI Bill Henderson, Bob Bignall (c), John Pettigrew, Bob Wemyss, Alwyn Warren, Cliff Sander, Don Brown, Frank Loughran, Charlie Stewart, Graham McMillan, Brian Vogler Manager: Robert Telfer Goal: McMillan 76	1	-	3	New South Wales Ron Lord, Bill Taylor, Harry Murdoch, Bill Williams (c), George Arthur, Bob Young, Bruce Morrow, Joe Kendall, Bill Collins, Ray Neal, Geoff Campbell Manager: Bernard Bryant Goals: Neal 5, 62 pen, Morrow 25
Match Day Programme
Sunday August 19 1956 Crystal Palace Ground, Wallsend, Newcastle, Australia Referee: Keith Urwin (Australia) Attendance: Not recorded
AUSTRALIAN XI Bill Henderson, Bob Bignall (c), John Pettigrew, Bob Wemyss, Alwyn Warren, Bill Harburn, Peter Stone, Jack Lennard, Alan Garside, Graham McMillan, Ted Smith Manager: Robert Telfer Goal: McMillan	1	-	0	New South Wales Ron Lord, Bill Mullen, Harry Murdoch, Bill Williams (c), George Arthur, Keith Grant, Bruce Morrow, Joe Kendall, Bill Collins, Ray Neal, Geoff Campbell Manager: Bernard Bryant
Match Day Programme
Thursday November 15 1956 Melbourne Showground, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Australia Referee: Not recorded Attendance: 6,000
AUSTRALIA Lineup Included; Ron Lord (Bill Henderson 46), Cliff Sander Coach: Len Young Goal: Sander 7	1	-	15	Union Of Soviet Socialist Republics Lineup Not Known Coach: Gavrill Kachalin Goals: Goalscorers Not Known
Once the Australian Olympic squad was selected they played a number of friendly games around Melbourne to prepare for the Olympic Games Finals.
Monday November 19 1956 Campbell Reserve, Coburg, Melbourne, Australia Referee: Not recorded Attendance: Not recorded
AUSTRALIA Lineup Included; Ron Lord (Bill Henderson 46), Alec Beattie Coach: Len Young Goal: Beattie	1	-	3	Great Britain Lineup Included; Harry Sharratt, Dexter Adams (Donald Stoker), Leslie Farrer (Terrence Robinson), Lawrence Topp, Herbert Dodkins (James Coates), John Hardisty, Derek Lewin, John Laybourne, James Lewis Manager: Not recorded Goals: Hrdisty, Lewin, Lewis
Tuesday November 20 1956 Campbell Reserve, Coburg, Melbourne, Australia Referee: Not recorded Attendance: Not recorded
AUSTRALIA Lineup Included; Bill Henderson (Ron Lord 46) Coach: Len Young Goals: Goalscorers Not Known	3	-	1	India Lineup Not Known Coach: Syed Abdul Rahm Goal: Goalscorer Not Known
Friday November 23 1956 Campbell Reserve, Coburg, Melbourne, Australia Referee: Not recorded Attendance: Not recorded
AUSTRALIA Bill Henderson, Bob Bignall (c), John Pettigrew, Bob Wemyss, Alwyn Warren, Cliff Sander, Frank Loughran, Jack Lennard, Graham McMillan, Ted Smith, Bruce Morrow Coach: Len Young Goal: Goalscorer Not Known	1	-	5	Yugsolavia Lineup Not Known Coach: Milovan Ciric Goals: Goalscorers Not Known
Sunday November 25 1956 Olympic Village, Heidelberg West, Melbourne, Australia Referee: Not recorded Attendance: Not recorded
AUSTRALIA Ron Lord, Bob Bignall (c), John Pettigrew, Bob Wemyss, George Arthur, Cliff Sander, Bruce Morrow, Frank Loughran (Colin Kitching 46), Jack Lennard, Graham McMillan, Ted Smith Coach: Len Young Goal: Goalscorers Not Known	3	-	4	India Lineup Not Known Coach: Syed Abdul Rahm Goals: Goalscorers Not Known
Wednesday November 28 1956 Olympic Village, Heidelberg West, Melbourne, Australia Referee: Not recorded Attendance: Not recorded
AUSTRALIA Lineup Not Known Coach: Len Young Goal: Goalscorers Not Known	3	-	3	West Germany Lineup Not Known Coach: Sepp Herberger Goals: Goalscorers Not Known
Thursday November 29 1956 Olympic Village, Heidelberg West, Melbourne, Australia Referee: Not recorded Attendance: Not recorded
AUSTRALIA Lineup Not Known Coach: Len Young Goal: Goalscorers Not Known	1	-	5	Yugsolavia Lineup Not Known Coach: Milovan Ciric Goals: Goalscorers Not Known
This second match may not have been a full match, in any case no score for this game has been found. The information comes from the personal recollection of goalkeeper Ron Lord who kept a diary throughout the 1956 Olympics. A copy can be found at Southern Cross.
Thursday December 6 1956 Campbell Reserve, Coburg, Melbourne, Australia Referee: Not recorded Attendance: Not recorded
AUSTRALIA Lineup Not Known Coach: Len Young Goal: Goalscorers Not Known	7	-	2	H.M.S. Newcastle Lineup Not Known Coach: Not recorded Goals: Goalscorers Not Known
Match against a team from the Royal Navy ship H.M.S. Newcastle

Last updated: 17 November 2021.