In the absence of coming across the missing editions of Soccer Action to scan and complete the collection, I've updated a couple of old items I had lying around on the hard drive. There is now a brief index for Soccer Action and Soccer News, which may come in handy if you are looking for a feature/profile on a particular player or club. As well as being found below, there are links on the relevant archive pages.
I've also added three new compilations, one of which is complete while the others will be works in progress to be added to annually. They are they Australian pages of World Soccer magazine. The 1990's compilation is complete, scanned from my own collection. As I don't have any in my collection from the 1960's and 1970's, these compilations are based on the issues found on the Soccer Nostalgia blog. As more come to hand, the pdf file will be added to and updated. There will also be a few new items added to the Magazine Article Archive, including World Soccer pieces on Mark Viduka, the Tim Cahill nationality issue and the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
More as in additional rather then extremely random.
The gratitude you get for getting a club promoted. Moorabbin City win promotion on the final day of the 1994 season, the banner reading "WHO ATE ALL THE PIES? STIRTS U FAT B'TARD".
No longer Croatia, not yet the Knights. Melbourne CSC 1993.
Pre-renovation (2010) home dressing room at Knights Stadium.
VSF President John Dimtsis gives junior State Team representative Mark Viduka his new gear at the Kevin Bartlett Reserve clubrooms.
Not Vin Cattoggio, but the enigmatic Ulysses Kokkinos. The greatest afro of 1970's Victorian State League soccer.
Richmond 1969 at a sunny Burnley Oval.
An earlier incarnation of Rosebud in the VSF leagues, Provisional League club Rosebud in 1981.
The great John Punshon takes a snap of a Richmond goal celebration against Bentleigh Greens at Kevin Bartlett Reserve in 2012.
Richmond skipper Erhan Karahan keeps an eye on Dandenong Thunder's Nate Foster at George Andrews Reserve in 2012.
The 1994 VSF Yearbook cover, featuring Bulleen and Paul Trimboli.
Until last night, that was the last game I attended that was abandoned due to heavy rain/flooding. It was on Saturday July 29, 1995 (one day before my birthday) in State League Division Two. Moorabbin City were hosting Springvale White Eagles in a top of the table clash at Kingston Heath. It was before the current facility was completed, as evidenced by the portable cabin dressing rooms behind the goal Moorabbin are attacking, and the temporary clubrooms on the far side on the right. Even the trees on the hill at Capital Golf Course have yet to be established.
Springvale White Eagles had scored in the first half before the above goal from Iain Stirton (proud father of current Bentleigh Greens star David) equalised in the second period after the heavens had opened up. The referee, Dennis Voutsinis I think, abandoned the match which was replayed on September 16. In the replay Moorabbin triumphed 1-0 with a goal from Mickey Maguire, to seal promotion, with White Eagles having already clinched the championship.
Stirton was pipped for top goalscorer honours in the league that season by Waverley City's (now Eastern Lions) Alex Livingstone by a goal, with big Stirts getting 16 for the season. The White Eagles pair of Michael Michalakopoulos and Zlatko Mihajlovic both got 14 for the campaign. The NSL was won by Melbourne Knights, with Mark Viduka winning the golden boot with 18 goals. Altona Magic defeated Bulleen 3-2 in the Grand Final to win the VPL in the year Port Melbourne dominated but stumbled in the Finals. Oakleigh City (now Cannons) were relegated from Division One, with South Dandenong (now Thunder) promoted as runner's-up in Division Three.
Last night at Kevin Bartlett Reserve it was Green Gully leading Richmond 2-1 at around the 72nd minute when Luke Brennan pulled the pin. Apart from flooding, there was also thunder and lightening making things frightening. If the referee's report indicates the game was stopped due to thunder, it is highly possible that the FFV will deduct further points from Dandenong Thunder as well as fine them.
The pageviews counter indicates not too many people are reading the blog, and comments are virtually non-existent. But I take heart from the fact that since my last post on Thursday, the VPL Live TV icon alongside the club logos on the VPL website has disappeared. Co-incidence or not?
