1951

English FA side tour Australia

Click here for the 1951 English Tour of Australia Gallery

 

1952

White ball used for the first time in Australia.

Australia forward Eric Hulme signs an 18 month contract to play for English 1st Division side Portsmouth. The NSW Association, despite treating it's players as amateurs, demanded a transfer fee from Portsmouth. Eventually, the FA, the Australian and NSW Associations met, and a transfer fee of 625 pounds was paid. However this was paid to Granville, Hulme's previous club.

1953

Click here for the 1953 Chinese tour of Australia Gallery

1954

Former English amatuer Vivian Chalwin appointed coach of Australia. In England, Joe Marston became the first Australian to play in FA Cup final, his Preston North End side losing 3-2 to West Bromwich Albion.

1955
Ampol Night Series begins in Melbourne. South Africa, Austria Rapid and South China tour Australia.

Click here for the 1955 South Africa Tour of Australia Gallery

Click here for the 1955 South China Tour of Australia Gallery

1956
Olympic Games held in Melbourne. Australian referee Ron Wright, is chosen to officiate in the Soccer final.

Click here for the 1956 Olympics Games Gallery

1957
In January, a group of dissatisfied officials and players met at the home of Hakoah official Walter Steinberg. There had been growing discontent amongst NSW migrant clubs with the way in which the NSW Association ignored the promotion issue, the style of leadership of some of the officials of the amateur association and perceptions that they were discriminated against on the part of migrant clubs and their memberships.

A rebel administration was set up and a new competition formed. It was called the NSW Federation of Soccer Clubs. The Federation and the Association were to be at loggerheads for several years.

View the resolution to establish the NSW Federation of Soccer Clubs here

1958
Blackpool, with the legendary Stanely Matthews, tours Australia. NSW Soccer Coaches Federation founded.

1960
Australian Soccer Football Association suspended by FIFA. Several European Federations and clubs were unhappy at the poaching of their players by Australian clubs.

1961
Visiting NSW Federation officials (including Henry Seamonds) meet with their counterparts in Victoria and South Australia. There were two things on the agenda - the creation of a national knockout cup, and the formation of the Australian Soccer Federation.

Soon after, a Victorian deputation consisting of Theo Marmaras of South Melbourne Hellas, Fred Hutchison of Wilhelmina and Michael Weinstein and Stuart Beaton of the Association met with officals from WA, SA, QLD and NSW.

The ASF was formed with Henry Seamonds made Chairman.

1962
After 50 years of administering the game in Victoria, the Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association was disbanded and the Victorian Soccer Federation formed.

Australia Cup beings and an Interstate Carnival takes place.

1963
FIFA refused to readmit Australia until fines of £48 000 were paid. Gradually, relations improved and FIFA dropped its demand to £30 000. In February, Henry Seamonds - Chairman of the ASF died in Melbourne after suffering a heart attack during the lunchtime adjournment of a particularly heated soccer meeting on the issue of the readmission of Australia to FIFA.

At the ASF Annual Meeting in March, a vote was taken to return to FIFA. Then in early April, the Federation agreed to send a £5000 bond to FIFA and ASFA handed over its operations to the Australian Soccer Federation in Sydney.

1964
Asian Football Confederation denies Australia and New Zealand membership.

1965
Australia enters the World Cup but is soundly beaten by North Korea.

1966
Oceania Football Federation founded.

1967
Scotland and Manchester United tour Australia.

Australia wins Vietnam National Day Soccer Tournament in Saigon, our first international tournament win.

1968

 

1969

1970
Australian team takes overseas tour - three continents

1972
Australia resigns from OFC to pursue membership with the Asian Football Confederation.

1973
Australia begins competing in the World Cup (South Pacific zone) elimination series. It wins through to a one off game against South Korea. After both the 'away and 'home' games end in a tie, a game played on neutral ground in Hong Kong. Jimmy Mackay scored a glorious goal to give Australia a 1-0 win and a place at the WC Finals.

1974

April 20th : The 1st live televised game of football takes place. GTV9, with Tony Charlton and Frank Weimper as hosts shows Victorian State League match between Fitzroy United and South Melbourne Hellas. 5 days later, they showed Australia Vs Uruguay on delay.

Australia takes it place on the world stage at the WC finals held in Germany. In the group phase, Australia lost to West Germany and East Germany, and drew 0-0 against Chile.

1974 WC Coverage in Australian Newspapers

The Road to the 1974 World Cup

1975