THE FAME GAME

(The official newsletter of the Football Hall of Fame Western Australia)

Issue 2 (Summer 2007) BIG PUSH FOR A MUSEUM

he push for the establishment of a Football Museum to showcase Western TAustralia’s rich history of the game — and provide a proper display to highlight the achievements of its many great players — has gathered considerable momentum. A delegation of members of the Football Hall of Fame WA Committee — led by chairman Louis Prospero — met with the State Minister for Sport, John Kobelke, at his offices in Perth on December 20, 2006, in a bid to gain support for the venture. Another Labor MLC, Vincent Catania, the BIG THREE: Kevin Campbell, John Kobelke, Louis Prospero member for the Mining and Pastoral Region, met the Committee a few weeks earlier. The chairman of Football West, Kevin listening to pleas from other members of the Kevin Campbell urged the Minister to Campbell, also attended both meetings to lend Committee — Mr Kobelke said he did not consider that planning proposals for either the his considerable support to the Hall of Fame doubt the passion the Committee held for the continuing development of Members Equity Committee. sport and for the proposed project. Stadium — or the possible erection of a new Although no firm commitments regarding The Committee said that its preferred site for stadium — should include the provision for a the setting up — or the site — of a potential a Museum was space in Members Equity Football Museum. Museum were guaranteed, the fact that the Stadium. He said Football West fully supported the bid Hall of Fame Committee was able to lobby Mr Kobelke explained that no decisions for such a concept. members of the State Government was an regarding a possible Museum could be taken Louis Prospero said: “We need to congratulate achievement in itself. until the State Government’s Task Force had the State Government and the Minister for Committee member Richard Kreider put concluded its report into major stadiums, Sport in meeting with us and also Vincent together a detailed video presentation on the which was expected to be some time in March. Catania, who has made a commitment to see history of the WA game and what a potential “When we are able to move on a major the project through. Football Museum would look like with lavish rectangular stadium it’s something to look at to “These are encouraging signs. exhibitions. see if we can fit you in,” he said. “But we can’t “I’d also like to thank Football West for their After watching the presentation — and do anything until the report is finalised.” endorsement and financial support.”

STARRY LINE-UP: Alistar Edwards, Tony Franken, Vincent Catania, Stan Lazaridis

Alistair Edwards was also lauded on the A STAR-STUDDED PARADE night for his history-making effort of being the first WA coach to lead a women’s team Tony Franken hot-footed it from London to open, but it’s an honour to be involved in the into a World Cup finals. He was coach of the join a star-studded parade of some of WA’s celebrations,” said Tony, who was presented Young Matildas side that took part in the greats at the Football Hall of Fame’s 10th with a trophy to mark his achievement of Women’s Under-20 World Cup finals in Anniversary Dinner on November 17, 2006. making WA football history with his Russia. He had flown in less than 24 hours earlier involvement in the 2006 World Cup finals. The trio were presented with their trophies after fulfilling his duties as Goalkeeper Coach Tony and Stan Lazaridis, who also attended by State Government representative Vincent to the Socceroos in the friendly against Ghana the Anniversary function, were the first West Catania, MLC for the Mining and Pastoral at Loftus Road on November 14. Australian males to participate in the finals of region and a former junior player himself “I’m having problems keeping my eyes a World Cup. with the Perth Soccer Club. 2 THE FAME GAME CAPPING A GREAT NIGHT he Football Hall of Fame WA achieved Australia should receive Cap recognition for on the night, had already received their Caps another significant milestone for the State their achievements. from Prime Minister John Howard at World Cup Tin front of a gathering of 200 at the 10th Hall of Fame chairman Louis Prospero said it celebrations in Sydney earlier in the year. Anniversary Dinner in November. was a feather in the cap of the WA organisation It had also been planned to make Cap On a night when many history-makers were that the FFA should select the Anniversary event presentations to Robbie Dunn and Robbie honoured, the Football Federation Australia to make the presentations. Zabica, but business commitments prevented chose the occasion to make Cap presentations to Those who received their Caps on the night them from attending. It’s hoped to honour the several WA-based Socceroos. were: two former Socceroos at a later date. Peter Friend, the Chief of Staff of the FFA, flew Ron Adair, Con Purser, Gary Marocchi, David •The Hall of Fame Committee also made from Sydney to hand out the Caps, which Jones, Ray Ilott, Alistair Edwards, Scott Miller, presentations to members of the 1975-76 Marah commemorated the first ‘A’ appearances of the Bobby Despotovski, Shaun Murphy, Jimmy Halim Cup-winning squads and to Con Purser, recipients. Pearson and Ken Boden. to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of him It is part of the FFA’s push to ensure that all WA’s most capped Socceroo, Stan Lazaridis, being involved in the Australia squad for the players who made ‘A’ game appearances for and Tony Franken, who received other awards 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne.

FRIEND-LY LETTER The following is a letter, dated November 20, sent by Peter Friend, the Chief of Staff of Football Federation Australia, to Hall of Fame chairman Louis Prospero:

Dear Louis, Please pass my appreciation on to all on the Hall of Fame Committee for the hospitality shown me last Friday night. I thought the dinner was successful and, from all appearances, everyone else did as well. The Committee should be very proud of what has been achieved over the past 10 years and have every reason to expect things should continue onwards and upwards in the coming years. For my part, I am very grateful to have been involved in the celebration of the first decade of achievement. Once again, thank you. Kind regards,

Peter Friend. HAPPY DUO: David Jones receives his Cap from Peter Friend THE DAYS WHEN YOU PAID TO PLAY It wasn’t always the case that I remember going to one game at local lass, Marie, who became his forward Jack Smethurst. He said: footballers earned mega money — the Esplanade to watch Perth City wife when Frank returned to “Alex was the best header of the in fact most of WA’s State League in action, but they were a man Australia in 1948. ball I’d seen and Jack was a terrific players used to pay their clubs for short and I was called on to play. I Frank initially played for player. He could’ve made it in the privilege of turning hadn’t brought my boots, Fremantle City, but later joined Britain. He was so strong and out each week. so I had to play in my Caledonians and was a key figure would’ve run through a brick wall One such player was good shoes — and ruined in the team that made a clean for the team.” Frank Reid, (pictured) a them.” sweep of trophies in 1949, Now 83, Frank has been tough-as-teak half-back Frank continued playing winning the League title, the nominated by his son Steve for who starred with the until he was well into his Challenge Cup, and Charity Cup consideration as an inductee into Caledonians and Perth 40’s. and also the Collie Carnival. the Hall of Fame. The next City sides that dominated He was born in Saltcoats Frank got eight league goals that induction intake is expected to be the trophy scene for a spell after in Scotland in 1923 — but turned season playing as an inside in mid-2008. the Second World War. out as a young player for a club in forward, but most of his games The Committee reserves the “I didn’t have a car in those days, neighbouring Kilwinning, where were as a right half-back. right to have the final say on all so it cost me my bus fare to the his father sold fish from the back He turned out many times for nominations, but please contact us ground and back each weekend of a cart. the State and was full of if you know someone who has the and then we had to throw money He joined the Navy at the age of admiration for WA’s captain-coach, appropriate credentials to be a in at the end of each game to 18, trained as a radar operator and Alex Mansfield, and centre nominee. cover the cost of getting the strips saw plenty of action when his ship cleaned,” recalled Frank. engaged the Japanese in combat in Hall of Fame Committee contacts: “The only thing that the clubs South-East Asia. Chairman: Louis Prospero (0413 041942); gave you was a shirt — you had His ship regularly called at Treasurer: Bob Brown (9446 3338); Secretary: Barbara Gibson (9526 0330). to buy your own shorts and boots. Fremantle and he got to know a The Fame Game Editor: Mel Moffat (9339 8619). THE FAME GAME 3 BEATING THE POMS HOT AT THE WORLD GAME ROO ricket took a back seat when a WA Media/Hall of Everyone knows that Wayne CFame team tackled the Rooney is hot property — and visiting English Ashes Media in a that fact was underlined at the football challenge match at Auction which was held at the Members Equity Stadium in Anniversary Dinner in November. December. A superbly-framed autographed And current dominance over the action photo of Rooney was the Poms, irrespective of the sport, red-hot item at the Auction, was maintained when the local attracting some spirited bidding side won 6-4. before it was sold for $700. The contest preserved meetings A replica World Cup trophy was between WA and teams associated also much in demand, fetching with visiting English cricket sides $500, while a framed pic of the which go back to 1902. WA State squad that won the In those days it was the full State Marah Halim Cup in 1976 was team that took on the English LOCAL HEROES: The WA team line-up sold for $500. cricketers, who were more than A Real Madrid shirt signed by adept with a football at their feet (6EBA), Mark Kaplin (6EBA), squads at the Anniversary Dinner Zinedine Zidane was another and triumphed 4-0 in that historic Louis Prospero (HoF), Eric on November 17. prized item. initial first meeting. They also won Williams (HoF), Richard Kreider •SAD LOSS: Sports writer Our thanks must go to in 1904 and 1908. (ABSW), Tony Carvajal (World David Marsh, who reported on auctioneer Ron More, who battled This time round, however — Football), Paul Kelly (Members Perth Glory games and the local on bravely despite numerous with the cricketers focused on Equity), Julian Burt (HoF), Robbie football scene, died in December. problems with an unco-operative their task against Australia in the Zabica (990), Calum O’Connell He was 57. microphone. Ashes Test at the WACA Ground (990), John O’Connell (990), •GET WELL: Our best wishes go Ron has just started a new — it was members of the English Robbie Dunn (90.5FM), Jonathan to Hall of Champions inductee business as a financial advisor. media who represented the “Old Cook (West Australian), Eamon Bert Robertson, 89, who suffered a We wish him well. Dart”. Duffy (6EBA). stroke in November. The WA side included a couple English Media: Andy Walpole of former Socceroos stars in (English Cricket Board), Chris Roy Robbie Dunn and Robbie Zabica, (Daily Mail), Tom Shaw (Getty who both do part-time work in Images), Tim Abraham (Sky local media. Sport), Alex Thomas (Sky News), The game was refereed by Philip Brown (photographer), former World Cup whistler Eddie Mark Scott (Capital Radio), Dean Lennie — and the teams later Wilson (Daily Mirror), Huw shared a few beers round the Slipper (ECB), Steve Wyeth (BBC), barbecue. Simon Briggs (Daily Telegraph), The Hall of Fame Committee is John Etheridge (The Sun), Mike grateful to BGC, South African Dickson (Daily Mail). SPASA members provide Airlines and Members Equity Bank the safeguard of a for their support in staging the •NICE TO SEE YOU: Well done event. to former State team stars George completion guarantee The teams: McMillan and Dave O’Callaghan WA Media/Hall of Fame: Ashley who came from the Eastern States Morrison (990 Info Radio), Bob to join in the reunion of the 1975- (08) 9479 6100 www.spasawa.com.au Figg (Freelance), Tom Niedrich 76 Marah Halim Cup-winning

SOCCER SOUVENIR WHOLESALE REWARD Best prices paid WANTED! Proud to support the Football programmes Football Hall of Fame and memorabilia For further details contact Bob Brown on BGC ASPHALT & QUARRIES 9446 3338 or [email protected] 4 THE FAME GAME

In this issue we spotlight Alex Mansfield, who captained and coached the WA State team to many triumphs in the 1940’s The Golden Oldies and 1950’s and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005. lex Mansfield, at the age of games in England — against the first game, overcame Tasmania 86 and with a pacemaker Millwall and Newcastle — and all 3-2 in the next contest of the Arecently fitted, is not as over the world, including the US three-team event — and then mobile as he used to be — but he and Australia. smashed the Tasmanians 6-2 is still a football fanatic...and a He was given trials by Millwall when they met again the final. lively vocal contributor to the and Southend and offered terms Alan Beale was the top scorer in game. by both clubs, but decided to the tournament with six goals. “I’m a great lounge room coach emigrate to WA in 1946. “Alan was a great goalscorer and — I sit in front of the TV and He got a job in insurance — he a fine player, but I thought that shout my advice,” he laughed was later a civil servant — joined Jack Smethurst was the best centre when we caught up with him in up with the North Perth club and, forward of that era. He was what I his Bicton home. with his keen eye from a pivotal would call a bustling front-runner. “I watch several games each position in defence, became an He was very hard to shift off the week and loved Australia’s effort in influential player and turned out ball,” said Alex. the World Cup. A pity about that many times for the State. He was For the record, the squad that game against Italy.” also player-coach of Perth City won that 1948 event was: Alex was born in Essex in and Azzurri. England on June 4, 1920, His most significant triumph was Ron Oswald (Balmoral) although his father — grandly skippering WA to victory in the Bob Cherry (Shenton Park) Alex Mansfield named George Robert Albert 1948 Southern States Carnival in Alan Miller (North Perth) Campbell Mansfield — was Adelaide. Frank McShane (Victoria Park) originally from Campbelltown on “Dad was world-renowned for his “The papers of the day lauded us Alex Mansfield (North Perth, capt) the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland. ability to solve problems with all as the best team to ever win the Stewart Johnson (South Perth) “Dad was a very good full back sort of armaments, instruments, Carnival,” he said. Jack Smethurst (Perth City) and played for Morton, so I got guns and ammunition,” said Alex. “We had a wonderful side. The Ron Robertson (Fremantle City) my passion for the game from “He received the British Empire ball-playing and passing was Alan Beale (Spearwood) him,” said Alex. Medal for his work during the perfect. One of the opposing sides Bert Robertson (North Perth) Both father and son served War.” tried to upset our rhythm with Don Turner (South Perth) during the Second World War — Alex, who had played for Essex some tough tackles, but we were George Allison (Perth City) Alex in the Navy and his dad as County, captained the Navy X1 far too good for them.” Bill Brackenridge (Caledonians) an experimental munitions expert. during the War and turned out in WA beat South Australia 4-2 in Don Hunter (South Belmont)

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