Sources: Soccer Action and Australian Soccer Weekly.

Friendly Matches
Tuesday February 22 1983 Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand Referee: William Munro (New Zealand) Attendance: Not Known
New Zealand Barry Pickering, Alan Boath, Adrian Elrick, Richard Herbert, Ron Armstrong, Ken Cresswell, Grant Turner, Duncan Cole, Alexander Metzger (Peter Henry 83), Keith Nelson, Keith MacKay Coach: Allan Jones Goals: Cresswell 47, Ratcliffe 69 Own Goal	2	-	1	AUSTRALIA Martyn Crook, Alan Davidson, David Ratcliffe, Steve Blair, Alan Niven, Peter Katholos, Gary Byrne, George Christopoulos, Phil O'Connor (Marshall SoperJohn Kosmina, David Mitchell Coach: Les Scheinflug Goal: Kosmina 36
Australia and New Zealand agreed to start a tradition of playing each other on a home and away basis at the beginning of each winter season. Sadly the tradition only lasted a year but the legend of the 'Trans Tasman Trophy' was born.
Sunday February 27 1983 Olympic Park, Melbourne Referee: Jack Johnston (Australia) Attendance: 14,000
AUSTRALIA Martyn Crook, David Ratcliffe, Alan Davidson, Steve Blair, George Christopoulos, Alan Niven, Peter Katholos, Gary Byrne, David Mitchell, John Kosmina (Marshall Soper 75), Phil O'Connor Coach: Les Scheinflug	0	-	2	New Zealand Barry Pickering, (Glen Adam 15), Ron Armstrong, Duncan Cole, Keith MacKay, Ken Cresswell, Grant Turner, Keith Nelson (William McClure 80), Steve Wooddin Coach: Allan Jones Goals: Cole 66, Adam 73
The return leg saw another New Zealand victory and they claimed the Trans Tasman Trophy.
Sunday June 12 1983 Sydney Cricket Ground, Moore Park, Sydney Referee: Tony Boskovic (Australia) Attendance: 28,000
AUSTRALIA Terry Greedy, Alan Davidson, Charlie Yankos, David Ratcliffe, Steve O'Connor, Graham Jennings, Joe Watson, Jim Cant, Peter Katholos, John Kosmina, Phil O'Connor (David Mitchell 65) Coach: Frank Arok Cautions: Nil	0	-	0	England Peter Shilton, Daniel Thomas, Russell Osman, Terry Butcher, Derek Statham (John Barnes 69), Mark Barham, Steve Williams, John Gregory, Gordon Cowans, Luther Blissett (Paul Walsh 59), Trevor Francis Coach: Bobby Robson Caution: Gregory
Australia played host to England in a three match series of friendly matches. Coach Les Scheinflug elected to go with the Young Socceroos to the World Youth Championships in Mexico leaving the Socceroos to Frank Arok. This was to be the first match for Frank Arok as national coach with his rein continuing until 1990.
Wednesday June 15 1983 Lang Park, Brisbane Referee: Peter Rampley (Australia) Attendance: 16,000
AUSTRALIA Terry Greedy, Alan Davidson, Charlie Yankos, David Ratcliffe, Steve O'Connor, Graham Jennings, Joe Watson, Peter Katholos (Ken Murphy 69), Jim Cant, John Kosmina, Phil O'Connor (David Mitchell 75) Coach: Frank Arok	0	-	1	England Peter Shilton, Phil Neal, Russell Osman, Terry Butcher, Derek Stratham (Steve Williams 21), Mark Barham, Gordon Cowans, John Gregory, Trevor Francis, Paul Walsh, John Barnes Coach: Bobby Robson Goal: Walsh 57
Australia won the 1982 Merlion Cup going through the entire tournament undefeated.
Sunday June 19 1983 Olympic Park, Melbourne Referee: Jack Johnston (Australia) Attendance: 20,000
AUSTRALIA Terry Greedy, Charlie Yankos, Alan Davidson, David Ratcliffe, Steve O'Connor, Graham Jennings, Joe Watson, Jim Cant, Ken Murphy, John Kosmina, Phil O'Connor Coach: Frank Arok Caution: Ratcliffe Goal: Neal 27 Own Goal	1	-	1	England Peter Shilton (Nigel Spink 46), Phil Neal (Daniel Thomas 46), Terry Butcher, Russell Osman, Nick Pickering, Sammy Lee, John Gregory, Gordon Cowans, Trevor Francis, Peter Walsh (Luther Blissett 69), John Barnes Coach: Bobby Robson Caution: Francis Goal: Francis 25
Sunday December 4 1983 National Stadium, Singapore Referee: Sebastien Yap Boon Yong (Singapore) Attendance: Not Known
China Lineup Included; Ling Hai Guang, Ling Lue Feng Coach: Not Known Goals: Ling Hai Guang, Ling Lue Feng	2	-	1	AUSTRALIA Terry Greedy, Charlie Yankos, David Ratcliffe (Mark Jankovics), Steve O'Connor, Graham Jennings, Joe Watson (Ken Murphy 58), Tony Henderson, Peter Katholos, Peter Tredinnick, John Kosmina, Phil O'Connor Coach: Les Scheinflug Goal: Kosmina 88 pen
In December 1983 Australia was invited to Singapore to participate in the second Merlion Cup tournament. As defending champions Australia was drawn in Group A along with China, Thailand and Singapore B. Les Scheinflug resumed as national coach for this tournament.
Saturday December 10 1983 National Stadium, Singapore Referee: Not Known Attendance: Not Known
Thailand Lineup Not Known Coach: Not Known	2	-	1	AUSTRALIA Terry Greedy, Charlie Yankos, David Ratcliffe, Steve O'Connor, Graham Jennings, Joe Watson (Jim Campbell 77), Jim Cant, Tony Henderson, Ken Murphy, John Kosmina, Phil O'Connor (Peter Tredinnick 82) Coach: Les Scheinflug Goals: Kosmina, Murphy
Australias second Group A Merlion Cup match was against the Singapore B side (located in the B match archive), with the final match against the Thai national side to secure a semi-final appearance.

1983 Merlion Cup Group A
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	China	3	3	0	0	8	2	+6	6
2	AUSTRALIA	3	2	0	1	5	2	+3	4
3	Thailand	3	1	0	2	1	6	-5	2
4	Singapore B	3	0	0	3	1	5	-4	0

 
Note: As Group A winners, China and runners-up Australia advanced to the knockout stage. China would meet Group B runners-up Singapore in the semi-finals while Australia would play Group B winners South Korea.

Last updated: 24 May 2024.