The OzSoccer Articles

The OzSoccer Articles

This part of the OzSoccer archives is designed to give an insight into Australian soccer from a more personal perspective than the factual/statistical information found elsewhere on the archive.

If you have an article (question-answer, personal account or biographical piece) or wish to write one please contact Thomas Esamie. There is no set length and anything which gives an insight into Australian football will be happily accepted for inclusion.


Making waves

In this book review Anthony Ferguson casts an eye over "Walk Alone" the Craig Johnston autobiography. Added 02/08/04

I came, I saw, Iraq

Iraq played some football and were deserving of more attention. However Anthony Ferguson was there to relate the experience. Added 14/02/04

...and the winner is...Brithbane

While there's no reason a Cameroon v Brazil match report should be on this site it is one of those rare moments in sport when the game is epitomised by just one match....written by David Marshall and Added 17/11/01

The Duke of St Albans

Another Viduka article? Can we get some stuff on other players? Reproduction of an article which appeared in the Sunday Times. Added 17/11/01

Swim between the flags

Some claims from an anonymous source are addressed by Breakers fans. Added 01/07/01

Caught in a rip

Simon has a dig at the the fans of Marconi by posing a hypothetical scenario which mirrors the fate of his beloved Breakers. Added 01/07/01

Mind the Gap

Sean D'Souza is a Kiwi in Australia and examines the relative strengths of the national sides in the wake of the regular meeting between them for the 2002 World Cup qualifiers. Added 30/06/01

Perth Kangaroos - a brief history

An e-mail by David Komadina in March 2000 contained a very informative of the Perth Kangaroos. A shortlived team who competed in the Singaporean S-League and a precursor, of sorts, to the Perth Glory. Added 26/05/01

Venues are the key

Following the events surrounding the NSL playoff match between the Melbourne Knights and Perth Glory in 2001 many people came up with ideas to address some fundamental issues (well except Soccer Australia :-). Here's Geoff Miles, CEO of the VSF having a go. Added 21/05/01

A tale of two codes

Paul van der Leeden provides some anecdotal evidence of the way Rugby Union is promoted at junior levels and poses the obvious question. Added 21/05/01

Help us Obi-Mark Kenobi, you're Australia's Hope

Matthew Summers wears his heart on his sleeve as he looks at Mark Viduka Added 26/08/99

Power Surge for the NSL ?

Matthew Summers previews the prospects for the NSL newcomers. Added 08/08/99

Vale Jimmy Mackay

Greg Stock's tribute on the occasion of the passing of Jimmy Mackay. Added 21/03/99

Black and Right

Chris Kunz enlightens us on the plight of two of our all time best indigenous players. Added 21/03/99

Now all we need is a hall

Ray Gatt's brief account of the events at the Hall of Fame awards in February 1999. Added 21/03/99

Sometimes "United" is not enough

Attempting to map out the history of teams in Sydney's north shore area is tricky, but with Andrew Howe as your guide you'll at least get an idea of what the hell is going on, this was written in February 1997 but I only just rediscovered it. Added - 20/01/99

Bert, not just a muppet

In my work on this site I occasionally get chatting with people who are either looking for or contributing information. Peter Young was one such person, an Englishman stranded in the USA, who one day (17/11/98) forwarded this brief of a biography on Bernhard Trautmann. Eventhough it is merely a review of the book there was enough here to interest any fan of the game - added 20/01/99

Mr Lyons at the Mike

Nick Guoth interviewed the Canberra Coach, Mike Lyons, some time during the 1995/96 season. This transcript was stored on his Cosmos website but it died and he has bequeathed this to us. Added - 20/12/98

Listen Grasshopper, and I will teach you the ways

During the Rapid Vienna tour of 1956 their manager made a few suggestions on how to improve the state of Australian soccer. Over 40 years on and still we haven't taken these suggestions on board. The article appeared in the 1956 NSW Soccer Association Yearbook and was transcribed by Greg Stock - added 23/08/98

Hey, it's not our fault you suck!

An article from the 1956 NSW Soccer Association Yearbook reveals a familiar bone of contention among fans the world over. Here we hear from a referee, transcribed by Greg Stock - added 23/08/98

Cat's in the Cradle

Len and Gary Quested are a father son team who settled in Australia and contributed greatly to the game here. Greg Stock spoke with each of them. - added 08/06/98

I am woman, see me score

An account of Womens football in Australia written by one of the original players to represent Australia, Anissa Tann Darby - added 27/05/98

Two Rabbis walk into a bar...

An article by an unknown author from the 1955 NSW Soccer Association Yearbook transcribed by Greg Stock. - added 14/04/98

Forward Thinking

An Interview of Attilla Abonyi, former Socceroo, conducted by Greg Stock. Part of the series. - added 04/02/98

Anyone for a game of Wogball?

A personal account of one boys struggle against the tyranny of football and cricket in Australia. Written by Anthony Ferguson - added 26/01/98

From manure the roses do grow

A transcript of the minutes of the meeting which led to the creation of the National Soccer League as found and transribed by Nick Guoth (sometime in late 1997) - added 06/01/98

Where have all the forwards gone?

An interview with Alan Garside, former Socceroo, on the brink of Australia's final World Cup game for the 1998 championships. Written by Greg Stock - added 05/01/98

When two tribes go to war

A brief summary of how the Officialdom of Australian Soccer came to split in 1957. Written by Greg Stock (19/08/1997) - added 29/09/97

The prophet Dicko

In 1949 this article appeared in the Soccer Weekly News in relation to the Hadjuk Split tour at the time - added 30/6/97.

Interview with the Gun for Hire

Nick Guoth has a brief chat with John Markovski after his first game for Canberra Cosmos - added 27/2/97.

Mum's the word

We ask some questions of the mother of one of the young exports to Europe about how it happened and how it feels - added 6/2/97.

V-Bomber

An account written by Thomas Esamie (19/11/1995) of the rise of Mark Viduka - added 6/2/97