Hall of Champions inductee Ron Adair makes a timely interception against Ferencvaros
Ron Adair (inducted 1996)
Born in Londonderry (Northern Ireland) in 1931, Ron Adair arrived in WA in 1949. He joined Victoria Park and in the following eleven years played for North Perth, Maccabeans, Azzurri and Swan Athletic. He made his State debut at the age of 19 against an Australian eleven. He won First Division titles with North Perth (1952) and Swan Athletic (1957) and won the Ledger Medal for the 'Fairest and Best' player three successive years - 1953 (North Perth), 1954 (Maccabeans) and 1955 (Azzurri). As a defender he was known as the 'Iron Man' and, though less than average height, made up for this with a prodigious leap. He has the distinction of playing in every State match during his WA career, being selected on twenty-three occasions, eleven of those as captain. He was in charge of WA when it finished runner up to New South Wales in the Inter-States carnival in Adelaide in 1954 when he was named the tournament's 'Best player'. He represented Australia on thirteen occasions, making his debut in Adelaide in a 5-0 win over China and capped off a fine performance by being named the 'Find of the Match'. Adair captained Australia against Vienna Rapid (1955) and Hearts (1959).
Denis Barstow (inducted 2002)
Born in Halifix (England), Denis Barstow started his Australian playing career in Sydney before moving to Perth to join Cottesloe. He signed for Morley Windmills in 1972, a club to which he remained loyal for twelve years. In that time he gained thirty-two caps for the State side, being appointed captain on fifteen occasions. He has one First Division championship as well as three D'Orsogna Cup successes and one Night Series Cup. In the D'Orosgna Cup win of 1974 he was named 'Man of The Match'. He moved from Windmills for a short stint with West Perth Macedonia when he was offered the position of player-coach and then rejoined Windmills to do the same job.
Alan Beale (inducted 1996)
A true West Australian, Alan Beale was born in 1920 and gave his life to the local game for more than sixty years as a player, coach and administrator. He played his first game as a junior with Spearwood Rovers in 1934 and remained loyal to the same club, despite the name change, for the rest of his life. In 1940 he was appointed captain of Spearwood, a position he retained for the rest of his playing career. He guided the club to success in the Challenge Cup in 1941 and the Charity Cup in 1950. Beale scored more than 600 goals in his senior career, 200 of those in the First Division. In his thirteen-year First Division career he filled a top three spot on the State's goal scoring list in each season. He played six times for WA, making his debut against South Africa in 1947 and scored both goals in the 2-12 loss. Beale was the top scorer with six goals in the interstate carnival in Adelaide in 1948.
Arno Bertogna (inducted 2002)
Perth-born Arno Bertogna was a State representative, an Australian youth international and a quality senior Australian international playing the centre of the defence. As a 16-year old he signed for Azzurri in 1976 and played in their senior side for three years before moving east. In that short time he earned a First Division championship medal abd helped the club to victory in the Top Four Cup, both in 1976. In New South Wales he played in the national league for Newcastle, Woolongong and Apia Leichhardt, playing 228 games and captaining Apia for two seasons. Bertogna played for WA on five occasions including the 1977 Indonesian Marah Halim tournament. Internationally, he made fifteen appearances in the Australian Under-23 side, fourten as captain, and gained thirteen caps for the Australian senior side. He ended his career as coach of Apia (Sydney) in 1998 and 1999.
Sandra Brentnall (inducted 1996)
Born in England, Sandra Brentnall emigrated to Perth in 1974 and broke down the gender barrier at her school when selected for the boys team which she would captain at the age of 10. She started her senior career three years later with Kiev, ending her debut season as the club's top goal scorer and runner-up in their 'Fairest and Best' award. In a twelve-year senior career Brentnall would play with only two clubs, her time shared equally between Kiev and Olympic Kingsway and winning 'Fairest and Best' awards in each of her seasons as well as being leading goal scorer. For eight years (1977-1984) she was a permanent fixture in the State side and in 1987 made a comeback to captain the team. In 1976 Brentnall was selected in the national up and coming squad and was then picked for the senior national side for the next eight years. In 1979 she was in the Australian side for the Women’s World Cup tournament after which she was voted the tenth best player in the world.
Robert Cherry (inducted 1996)
Scotland has provided the local scene with many players and Robert Cherry is just one of them born in the bonnie country in 1922. He emigrated to WA in 1929 and started playing the game at Rosalie Primary School where he was appointed school captain for 1933 and 1934. His career spanned more than thirty years, playing most of that time with Subiaco/Shenton Park with the only interruption being one season at Perth City. He ended as coach of the successful South Perth side of the 1950's. Cherry played many times for the State and was named captain on a number of occasions, including important matches against Hadjuk Split (1949) and Australia (1950). In a different era considered he would have played for Australia.
Jack Conduit (inducted 1996)
Born in England, Jack Conduit arrived in WA following World War One and was only in Perth a few days when he started playing for Perth City juniors in 1919. For the next twenty years this remarkable striker made a major impact, playing 80 games with Perth City and 262 matches with Victoria Park. His presence with the latter coincided with nine league championships, six of those in succession. He scored a remarkable 421 goals in his 262 games with Victoria Park and was regarded as the most dangerous and brilliant of strikers in the post World War Two period. He was picked ten times for the State, playing against all the pre-war touring sides such as China, Czechoslovakia, India and Palestine. He tried his luck with the English First Division side Blackpool in the 1930-32 seasons before returning to Perth.
John Davidson (inducted 1996)
Born in Aberdeen, John Davidson represented Scotland at youth level. He started his local career as an 18-year old in 1970 with SMA Cottesloe and fifteen years later ended his playing days when a head injury suffered during a match threatened his life. In between those dates he had a short breaks with Sydney’s Western Suburbs, Albion Leyland in Victoria and a six-month stint with Carline Hill in Hong Kong. He had six seasons as club captain with Inglewood Kiev, joined Third Division Sorrento for the 1983 season and finished his career with Azzurri in 1985. In 1974 he was picked in the Australian Under-23 side for a seven match international tour of Asia, playing all games. In addition he was selected twenty-one times for the State and scored a number of memorable goals, especially the one against his former club Aberdeen. Davdison one premiership, one D’Orsogna Cup, one Top Four Cup and two Night Series'.
Len Dundo (inducted 1996)
A product of WA and born in Midland in 1946, Len Dundo carved out a twenty-two season First Division career to stamp his authority as one the leading goal scorers in the history of the game in this state. He started his senior career with Swan Valley in 1961, ten years later joined Inglewood Kiev and then moved to Kingsway Olympic in 1976 before ending his playing days with Osborne Park Galeb in 1983. In between he finished on top of the goal-scorers list an astonishing seven times - 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979. He was selected eighteen times for State honours which included tournaments to Asia, and he helped the clubs he was with to two First Division championships, three Top Four Cups and one Night Series.
Robbie Dunn (inducted 2002)
Robbie Dunn, born in Scotland, is Western Austrlaia's second most capped international with forty-four appearances for Australia, and one of the nation's most outstanding defenders. He started his career with Kwinana United, moved to North Perth Croatia before travelling east as a 17-year old to join West Adelaide which was followed by spells with Preston Makedonia and Melbourne Croatia in an 168 game, 54 goal national league career - quite an achievement for a central defender! He scored five goals for Australia, two in World Cup qualifiers, and played in the 1988 Olympic Games when Australia made the quarter-finals. Five times he won the club 'Fairest and Best' award while in Melbourne. It was back to WA in 1989 to play for Perth Italia followed by two seasons with South China (Hong Kong) and another with Sarawak (Malaysia). Dunn played only once for WA, that being against English club Milwall in 1989. He ended his playing days with North Perth Croatia in 1992 as player/coach, followed by a short comeback with Second Division Cockburn United in 1995.
Eric Edmonds (inducted 2005)
Eric Edmunds, born in Subiaco in 1947, was an outstandiang junior and made his senior debut with the powerful East Fremantle Tricolore side of the 1960's when he was only 15. A full-back with a calm approach to the game and an insatiable appetite for hard work, he soon made his spot in the Tricolore side permanent and enjoyed the fruits of the club domination in 1960's through the early part of the 1970's. He has six First Division championship medals to his credit - including the triple success of 1963, 1964 and 1965 - five D'Orsogna Cups, two Night Series and two Top Four Cup medals. It was a natural progression to the State side, where he made twenty-four appearances and was involved in some of the memorable international matches of the era. He made his State debut in the 0-5 loss to Moscow Dynamo in 1970 and was there in the return match a year later when WA drew 3-3 in what still ranks as one of the best games played in Perth. He was selected in a number of junior sides and in an eastern state carnival was picked in an all Australian youth eleven.
Royston Macaulay Evans (inducted 2002)
Born in South Australia, Royston Macaulay 'Mac' Evans sailed to WA at the turn of the 20th century. He formed the Rangers club in the Junior Association, as a result of discussions during one Sunday school session, on the recommendation of Association stalwart Alex Peters. Newspaper reports of the day describe him as "One of the fastest men on two feet", and "A dash by 'Mac' towards the goal was always thrilling and nearly always brought its due reward." Evans was in the inaugural knockout Charity Cup final in 1903, when Civil Service signed the forward just for the tournament. His talents were recognised in 1905 when he was selected for the WA Junior Association that travelled to South Australia; the first trip taken by a State side outside of WA. He was then chosen for an extensive tour of the East in 1909 in which he was one of three from a senior squad of 15 that played in all ten games. Evans then played in a three match home series against South Australia in 1910; the last representative matches before World War 1. He was too old to resume playing seriously when State and local football action returned to the sporting scene in 1925. Consequently, he turned his attention to the administration of the old Soccer Football Association
as an executive and vice-president, retiring at the age of 72. He died in 1977, aged 93.
James Gordon (inducted 1996)
Born in Scotland, "Wee" Jimmy Gordon emigrated to Australia in 1910 and joined Rangers before moving on to Northern Casuals in 1913, the year the club was formed. He had hardly pulled on his playing boots when, like most players of the day, he signed up to fight in World War One. On his return he joined Perth City and, despite a broken leg in 1921, became a prolific goal scorer - in one season alone he scored 78 goals, one of the highest tallies for any season in the First Division. Along with his brother Andy, he played in most of the State games of the 1920's and 1930's and scored all the goals in the 1925 5-3 victory over the England cricket eleven. Gordon continued in the sport after he retired from playing, fostering juniors and filling the post of vice-president with the Junior Association.
John Henderson (inducted 1996)
John Henderson, a West Australian through and through, was one of the few players ever to be selected in a State side while still playing with a country team. He started out with Rosa Brook in the Cowaramah district before advancing his playing ambitions in 1933 by moving to Perth and signing on for Victoria Park. He played 120 First Division games for Victoria Park as captain and his tremendous leadership qualities contributed to six successive League premierships in the 1930's. He also captained the State side against India and appeared in all State team games during in the 1930's. His First Division career spanned eleven years before World War Two forced him to put away his playing boots and put on his marching shoes.
Peter Holt (inducted 1996)
Born in Lancashire (England) in 1943, Peter Holt came to Perth in 1967 and joined Azzurri where he'd spend eleven seasons playing on the right wing. Many contend he is the best player ever to have pulled on a State jersey, an opinion supported by his selection for the State side on forty-one occasions, a record he shares with three other players. He was selected for the Australian side for their 1970 World Cup campaign but was told he had to move to Sydney or miss out - he didn’t make the move and missed out. A highlight was being selected as State captain in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City in 1970. Holt has been influential in teams that have won six First Division championships, three Top Four Cups, four D'Orsogna Cups, and five Night Series titles.
Ray Ilott (inducted 1996)
A Londoner born in Highbury in 1948, Ray Ilott emigrated to WA in 1970 and joined SMA Cottesloe where his speed, skills and goalscoring ability had a huge impact. During his nineteen-year career on the local scene, fourteen of them as a player, Ilott played five times for Australia. He was picked to play for WA on thirty-two occasions at a time when WA finally emerged from the dark ages and started to win major tournaments in Asia. He played with SMA Cottesloe, Rockingham, Floreat Athena, Forrestfield, and Balga, while he coached with some success at Forrestfield, Wanneroo, Hammersley, Stirling Macedonia, and Kingsway Olympic. As a player he enjoyed five major trophies, winning two First Division championships, two Night Series and one Top Four Cup. Ilott won the 1974 Rothmans Gold Medal as the top flight's 'Fairest and Best'.
Sauro Iozzelli (inducted 2002)
Born in Perth, Sauro Iozzelli made an impact from his junior days and gave every indication that he would go all the way in the game. And in a fifteen-year senior playing career, most of which was spent with Azzurri but also included a short time with Osborne Park Galeb, he did just that. He was selected thirty-seven times for the State and was an integral part of the WA team’s success in overseas tours, including winning the Indonesian Marah Halim tournament in 1976. He was appointed State captain on three occasions, and twice gained selection for Australia while playing in an eleven-match spell with Brisbane City in the national league. In his local career Iozzelli picked up winners medals for three First Division championships, two D'Orsogna Cups, three Night Series and one Top Four Cup.
Mike Ireson (inducted 2002)
Mike Ireson emigrated to Perth from his native Bournemouth (England) in 1961 and joined the legendary North Perth club in 1962 as a midfield-striker. His First Division career spanned fourteen seasons with North Perth, Kiev, Olympic and Tricolore before moving back to Olympic as captain-coach. He played twenty times for WA and was State captain on twelve occasions, including the 1968 trip to the Malaysian Merdeka tournament. He twice won the coveted 'Fairest and Best' player award, in 1966 and 1967, and on several other occasions finished in the top five for the State's most prestigious award. He participated in one First Division championship, two D'Orsogna Cups and three Top Four Cups.
Stewart Johnson (inducted 1996)
Born in WA in 1922, Stewart Johnson began his playing career with South Perth juniors in 1934. His senior career began in 1939 with the then all-powerful Caledonians for whom he'd play until 1948, albeit interrupted by World War Two. He then moved back with South Perth, a powerful entity in the 1940's through the early 1950's. He played in five State matches at a time when opportunities were scarce for such honours. In his fourteen year senior career he won the club's most valuable player award on twelve occasions. In a poll towards the end of his career his peers voted him the most difficult defender to overcome and he was named the best home-grown talent of his time.
David Jones (inducted 1996)
Fremantle-born in 1955, David Jones was the perfect example of local talent emerging and shining at the highest level in Australia. He gained selection in the Kwinana side at 16 and stayed with the club until 1976 when he moved to East Fremantle Tricolore for one season. Jones then went to South Australia where he played in the national league for West Adelaide and Adelaide City, and then to Melbourne, where he appeared with Preston. The highlight of his career was his selection for the national side on five occasions for the World Cup qualifiers. He was also picked for the State twenty-four times which included two trips to Indonesia for the Marah Halim tournament, both of which WA won. He returned to Perth in 1984 to play for Azzurri and two years later he retired. His loyalty to Kwinana and his eastern states sojourn probably cost Jones the chance of major trophies in club competition having only one D'Orsogna Cup with Tricolore in 1976. However his value can be gauged by the fact that he won the Gold Medal in 1975 with 51 points, one of the highest tallies recorded in the prestigious individual award.
Roy Jones (inducted 2005)
Roy Jones was born in Western Australia in 1963. After playing for various junior sides - and winning State selection through under-10's to under-16's - he made his senior debut with Forrestfield United in 1980. He wore the State colours at Youth level in 1980, 1981 and 1982, the year he won a football scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. Jones went on to play twelve games for Australia at the Joao Havelange Youth Tournament in Mexico and the Oceania Youth Tournament in Papua New Guinea. In 1983 he was an integral part of the Australian squad which competed at the World Youth Championship in Costa Rica, qualifying for the finals in Mexico a year later. He joined Canberra Arrows in the national league for two years before returning to Perth in 1987 to initially play for Kingsway Olympic, and later Stirling Macedonia and Inglewood Kiev. He won medals in the Top Four Cup and Night Series competitions.
Richard Kuzimski (inducted 2005)
Born in Germany of Polish parents, Richard Kuzimski emigrated to WA as a child and so can be called a product of the local system. A solid defender - quicker off the mark than his image suggested - he went on to play for his adopted State on twenty-six occasions over a three-year period. His maturity into the Cracovia senior side coincided with the arrival in Perth of four Polish internationals of exceptional ability, and they helped to mould the young Kuzimski into a valuable member of the powerful side that emerged for a few short years. He was part of the 1966 First Division championship side, appeared in four D'Orsogna Cup finals in succession (1965 to 1968), winning the Cup in 1967, and then adding the 1967 Night Series to his achievements. In his State career he played against some of the best overseas teams to come to Perth, such as Inter Bratislava, Moscow Dynamo, Australia, FC Zurich and twice appeared in the Merdeka tournament in Malaysia. He was a member of the 1968 State squad what was pipped by Malaysia for a place in the final when the hosts beat WA 4-3 in a semi-final that is still regarded as one of the best matches of that tournament.
Don McArdle (inducted 1996)
Don McArdle was born in Scotland in 1934 and arrived in WA as a 15-year old. He started his twenty-year playing career with Shenton Park, who'd change their name to Subiaco City in 1951, and was part of the team that won the Second Division and promotion in 1952. He rejoined Subiaco in 1965 and, as player-coach, repeated history by guiding the club to the Second Division championship. His twelve-season First Division career as a left-back was studded with honours, highlighted by three First Division championships with North Perth (1956) and Azzurri (1959 and 1960). He also won three D'Orsogna Cups with North Perth (1956 and 1964) and Azzurri (1960), three Top Four Cups with North Perth (1964) and Azzurri (1958), one Night Series with North Perth (1964) and one Association Cup with Azzurri (1958). He made seventeen State appearances playing at left-back and was selected for Australia against Hearts.
Nick McCallum (inducted 2005)
Born in the highlands of Scotland, Nick McCallum emigrated to Australia in 1968 and joined Victorian State League club George Cross. During the next three years he was twice selected for Victoria and picked in the 1969 Australian World Cup training squad. The same year he transferred to Melita Eagles (New South Wales) for a then record transfer fee of $6,000. After a compassionate return to the United Kingdom in 1970 he returned to Perth and played for East Fremantle Tricolore, Windmills and Kiev. McCallum was picked in the 1975 State side that won the Indonesian Marah Halim tournament where he collected the tournament’s best player and leading goalscoring awards, an achievement he repeated a year later when WA successfully defended their title. McCallum played seventeen times for WA and his 16 goals still stand as the highest tally since the war. Four times he picked up D'Orosgna Cup medals, three Top Four Cups, two Night Series.
John McInroy (inducted 1996)
John McInroy, born in Dundee in 1938, is one of Western Australia's legendary goalscorers. He was only 19-years old when he won the first of eight successive leading goalscorer awards, bagging thirty plus goals in all but two seasons including his best tally being 48 in 1963. He retired from the game in 1966, but thre yers later made a successful comeback by again topping the goalscoring charts with a haul of twenty. In one match, against Perth City on the anniversary of D-Day 1959, he scored nine goals, the most by any one player in a league match – a feat that was only equalled in 1990. He had a one season stay in Sydney but for the rest he remained loyal to one club, East Fremantle Tricolore, helping them to ten major trophies including four First Division championships (1958, 1963, 1964, and 1965). McInroy was selected on ten occasions for the State duty.
Frank McShane (inducted 1996)
Generally regarded as one of the 'Greats' to have played the game in WA, Frank McShane was born in Scotland in 1920 and moved to WA with his family in 1924. He started his playing career with the Cowaramup junior club before moving to Perth and joining Victoria Park juniors, stepping up to the senior side when aged just 15! He then transferred to Swan Valley and finally to South Perth, where he played until retirement at the age of 41. He was at the top level for twenty-six years during which time he was an automatic selection in State and international matches between 1946 and 1956. McShane won the Ledger Medal for the best player in WA in 1952 and throughout his career won more than twenty individual trophies.
Saverio Madaschi (inducted 2002)
Saverio Madaschi, who was born in Perth, made an impact when he was a junior with Bayswater United, a club he joined in 1970. As a 15-year old he made the first of two seven-match tours of Indonesia with the WA State Under-17 squad, being named 'Man of the Tour' onhe second visit. From Bayswater he moved to Sydney in 1973 to play with Western Suburbs before returning to sign with Inglewood Kiev in 1975. He then joined Azzurri in 1978 where he stayed for the next five seasons, and then it was on to Spearwood Dalmatinac, Forrestfield United and finally one season with Balga. In that sixteen-year career he played twenty-eight times for WA which includes three tours to the Indonesian Marah Halim tournament, and was part of the legendary side that beat Glasgow Rangers at Perry Lakes Stadium. He participated in one First Division championship, four winning D'Orsogna Cup finals, two Night Series victories and two successful Top Four Cup campaigns.
Gary Marocchi (inducted 1996)
Born in WA, Gary Marocchi is the quintessential product of Australia’s post war immigration policy. He is also one of the true icons of the game in WA and became the first player inducted into the West Australian Institute's 'Hall of Champions'. He enjoyed twelve seasons in the First Division (1971-1988), all but one of them with Azzurri. He moved to South Australia to play with Adelaide City in the national league for six years. Marocchi was selected on twenty-two occasions for WA and played three times for South Australia. On fourteen occasions he wore the colours of Australia (1975-1978) and reached the pinnacle of his career when named captain for a friendly series against Greece. In WA he figured successfully in three First Division championships, three Night Series cups, three Top Four Cups and two D'Orsogna Cups. He later coached Italia to three League championships (1991, 1992 and 1993), the Perth Kangaroos to the Singapore League championship (1994) and the State side to victory against Werder Bremen (Germany) and Iraklis (Greece). He was the inaugural coach of Perth Glory (1996-1998) and led Swan I.C. to a maiden Boral Cup victory in 2003.
Alex Marr (inducted 1996)
Alex (Sandy) Marr was born in Scotland in 1892 and arrived in WA in 1911, aged 19. As a goalkeeper there were few to match his skill and ability throughout the 1920's and 1930's. He played his first game in WA with Fremantle Rovers in 1912, but as with most young sporting men of the time, World War One intervened in his soccer career. He returned to resume his career with Thistle from 1919 to 1922, then helped reform Fremantle Caledonians who became one of the leading clubs of the time. Once State games resumed in the mid-1920's Marr was an automatic inclusion as goalkeeper, a position he held until World War Two. After his playing days, Marr devoted the rest of his life to the game, serving for a long time on the committee of the Caledonians club. He was also elected to the presidency of the Soccer Association of WA and served as a State selector.
Gary Mateljan (inducted 2005)
Gary Mateljan, WA born and bred, moved seven times from his original club, Swan Athletic - but only ever on loan. He was the heart of the defence in his seventeen appearances for WA and his outstanding ability saw him selected on three occasions for the Australian Under-23 side that played three matches in Asia, winning all three by the odd goal. He was invariably named among the top three players in his matches for WA, which included outings against visiting sides such as Manchester City, Moscow Dynamo, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stoke City and Legia Warsaw, and was prominent in numerous tours to Asia. Despite his State record Gary found honours in WA’s local competition hard to come by, having played for unfashionable clubs such as Osborne Park Galeb, Balcatta Etna, Cracovia and Bayswater when they were past their prime. However he can point to two D'Orsogna Cup and one Night Series victories with Morley Windmills between 1974 and 1976.
Sharon Mateljan (nee Loveless) (inducted 1996)
Sharon Mateljan started her playing career as a schoolgirl in England and continued it with Azzurri when she came to Perth in 1972 by winning the club's 'Fairest and Best' award. She moved to Ascot in 1973 and participated in seven First Division championships and five Top Four Cup victories. She was selected for every State game between 1974 and 1987, captaining the side in 1976 and 1977, 1983 to 1985 and again in 1987, when she also took on the role of assistant coach. The national selectors spotted her talent in 1978 and she enjoyed a further six years in the Australian colours before she declined another selection in 1987, retiring from the game. Her international highlight was being appointed vice-captain of the Australian side in the 1978 World Cup in Taiwan, a tournament in which she scored two goals. In 1988 the Australian Women’s Soccer Association presented her with a 'Roll of Honour' for her national and international achievement.
Hugh Miller (inducted 1996)
Hugh Miller, born in Airdrie (Scotland) in 1944, became one of the icons of the game in Western Australia throughout the 1960's and 1970's. He started his time in the First Division with North Perth in 1963 and ended it with Spearwood Dalmatinac in 1979 for a seventeen-season career with many highlights. He also played with Azzurri and East Fremantle Tricolore. He started as a centre forward, being a prolific scorer before being moved to the left wing and then working his way back to centre-half, where he gained his greatest glory. He won won four First Division championships, four D'Orsogna Cups, six Night Series cups and five Top Four Cups. He also coached Dalmatinac for two years and Tricolore for one year. His State career covered thirty-three matches and he was selected as captain on twelve occasions. He also coached the State team for a year.
Peter Mitchell (inducted 2002)
Peter Mitchell was born into a soccer-mad family in Perth and it was assumed that he would follow his father as a goalkeeper. He was singled out as the best 'keeper in Australia by the rampaging Manchester United side in 1967 despite WA being beaten 7-0, after all, Peter on his State debut had to contend with George Best, Denis Law, Brian Kidd, Bobby Charlton and company. Subsequently he appeared in twenty-nine State internationals gaining selection in two prestigious Malaysian Merdeka tournaments and one Kings Cup in Thailand. In 1967 he was picked in the Australian preliminary squad in recognition of his outstanding ability. He played most of career with the great Cracovia side of the 1960's before a closing chapter with Wanneroo. He won a First Division championship in 1966 followed by the Night Series and a D'Orsogna Cup in 1967.
David O’Callaghan (inducted 1996)
Born in London, David O'Callaghan arrived in WA in 1970 and joined Second Division Croatia, but within a few months he was snapped up by Azzurri and was on his way to becoming one of the most devastating wingers to have played in WA. Nicknamed 'Skippy' for his quick hopping style of running, it was not long before he was picked in the State side and would play a record equalling forty-one times, including important overseas tours. After Azzurri he moved to East Fremantle Tricolore and then to Western Suburbs (Sydney) before returning to WA to play for Bayswater, Kiev, Windmills, Macedonia (Second Division), Windmills again, Macedonia again, Sorrento (Second Division) and finally Balga before retiring in 1985. He enjoyed success on the local front being a member of clubs that won two First Division championships, two D'Orsogna Cups, one Night Series Cup and one Top Four Cup.
John O’Connell (inducted 1996)
Born in Southport near Liverpool (England) in 1944, John O'Connell emigrated to Australia in 1965, testing the waters with short playing stints in Melbourne and Sydney before coming to Perth. His fourteen-year career included being selected a record fory-one times for WA - seven as captain. O'Connell was a handy goal scorer, always figured among the leaders for the 'Fairest and Best' award and was always a thorn in the opposing sides with his speed and skill. He played with Swan Valley for three seasons (1966 to 1968), Morley Windmills from 1969 and then made his biggest impression with East Fremantle Tricolore between 1972 and 1979. In that time he was a member of trophy winning sides on six occasions, including four D'Orsogna Cup successes with Tricolore. In the 1980's, 1990's and into the new millennium John O'Connell's passion for the game remains unabated, coaching at every level and promoting the game through his media interests.
Graham Oughton (inducted 1996)
Graham Oughton was born in Birmingham (England) in 1940 and emigrated to WA in 1958. His first club was East Claremont Menora followed by stints at Fremantle City and Azzurri before trying his luck in Victoria. On his return he joined East Fremantle Tricolore, first as a player and then player-coach, helping them to ten major trophies, including four First Division championships during what was a golden period for the club. He was selected twenty-three times for WA including touring matches to Asia for the Merdeka tournaments in 1967 and 1970, the latter as captain-coach. In 1968 he moved to Cottesloe as coach and against all expectations guided them to fourth spot, and ended his career with Second Division Cockburn United in 1971.
Theo Papp (inducted 1996)
A Dutchman born in Amsterdam in 1943, Theo Paap came to Perth in 1956. He was, naturally, attracted to local Dutch club Windmills and entered the club's senior ranks in 1960. He'd stay for sixteen seasons, playing in the heart of the defence with a calm analytical approach. Paap captained the club for ten years from 1964 and won their 'Fairest and Best' award on eight occasions. His winning the Carbonell Cup for the 'Fairest and Best' player in WA a record four times (1964, 1967, 1968 and 1970) mirrored his great impact on the local game. He was a member of teams that won seven major titles including two First Division championships (1961 and 1973), two Night Series' (1969 and 1976), one Top Four Cup (1962) and two D'Orsogna Cups (1974 and 1975). State honours came his way eighteen times including two tours to the Merdeka tournament in Malaysia (1967 and 1969).
Zygmunt Pieda (inducted 2002)
Zygmunt 'Ziggie' Pieda was a 13 time Polish international when he came to WA. He played 203 games for Ruch and a further 65 for Legia Warsaw before being imported by Cracovia in 1965 along with three other Polish internationals. From the start it was clear that he was someone special with on-field skills and exceptional leadership qualities. He played twenty-two times for WA and for much of that time held the position of player-coach. His greatest success came in the 1968 Malaysian Merdeka tournament when he almost guided WA to winning this prestigious tournament, eventually finishing third. He played and coached Cracovia to a first division championship (1966), a D'Orsogna Cup victory (1967) and success in the Night Series final (1967). He won the D'Orsogna medal as 'Man of the Match' in the D'Orsogna Cup final. He also coached with distinction Windmills, Swan Athletic, Kiev and Osborne Park Galeb before retiring in 1984.
Con Purser (inducted 1996)
Con Purser, born in Collie in 1931, was the first WA born player to be selected in an Australian side at an Olympic Games - the Melbourne Games in 1956. He played eighteen times for WA and was captain on nine occasions, making his State debut against South Africa in 1955, and then was appointed as the playing-coach of WA in 1957 and 1958. Loyalty to club kept him at North Perth for his thirteen season senior career, winning five major trophies that included three First Division championships (1952, 1955 and 1956), one Top Four Challenge Cup (1952) and association Cup (1954). He captained North Perth for five years and coached the club's first team for several seasons. He was runner up in the Ledger Medal for the 'Fairest and Best' player in 1954 and 1955, having to settle for second best against the best player of the era in Ron Adair.
Steven Sceats (inducted 1996)
An Englishman, Stephen Sceats emigrated to WA when he was 18, and shortly after his arrival signed with Ascot, the powerhouse club of the 1970's. In a First Division career that lasted thirteen years he was capped a record equalling forty-one times for WA, and was appointed captain on twelve of those occasions. As a member of clubs such as Ascot, Olympic and Balga, the dynamic midfielder was a significant influence in winning three First Division championships, three Top Four Cups and two Night Series trophies.
Nino Segon (inducted 2005)
Born in Trieste (Italy), Nino arrived in WA at the age of 10 and he was developed under the expertise of Azzurri's youth talent program. He was to stay with one club for his entire senior career that started in 1957 and ended in 1970, captaining the side many times during that period. Small in stature, his speed and nose for goals made him one of the most prolific scorers in the game. He notched a hat-trick in the first match played under the auspices of the Soccer Federation in 1960. Later that year he scored four more in the 7-3 demolition of Tricolore in the final of the D'Orsogna Cup. Though he never won the scoring award he never finished below sixth on the table, forging a productive partnership with Johnny Van Oosten that brought many honours to Azzurri. In his time he was a member of Azzurri teams that won six First Division championships, one Charity Cup (1958), one Challenge Cup (1958), five D'Orsogna Cups, three Night Series, and three Top Four Cups. On seventeen occasions he was chosen for WA, making State debut in the 2-2 draw with South Australia in 1960.
Anna Senjuschenko (inducted 1996)
Anna Senjushenko was born into a soccer family in Perth and started her playing career at the age of 12 in 1973. It was short, brilliant career that ended suddenly five years later when she was killed in a bizarre traffic accident while a passenger in a car in central Perth. Senjushenko was a beautiful woman, tall and elegant who took that style onto the field as a majestic central defender with the power to score goals from 30-metres with apparent ease. She represented WA in 1976 , 1977 and 1978 with national honours following in 1977 and 1978. In the 1978 Womens World Cup in Taiwan she was voted the best player of the Australian team and was was selected in the World Eleven after the Taiwan tournament. In 1979 she was named 'Youth of the Year' by the Bayswater Shire Council, and the Women's Soccer Association instigated the Anna Senjushenko Memorial Shield.
Jack Smethurst (inducted 1996)
Jack Smethurst, born in the United Kingdom in 1925, arrived in WA five eyars later. At the age of 13 he was selected for a senior Metropolitan Suburban League team playing in the Eastern Goldfields league where he won the 'Fairest and Best' medal. At 16 he was selected for the WA side that played Palestine. Drafted into the navy in 1943, he continued to play, signing with the Leichhardt Annadale club in Sydney. After the war he returned to WA and was never out of the State side for international and interstate matches between 1948 and 1952, appearing again in 1955. Smethurst's presence in a number of positions from attack to the last line of defence did much to help Caledonians and then Perth City to periods of dominance in the WA First Division. He shone as one of the greats during an extremely competitive era. For many years in retirement he gave back to the code with help and guidance to young players.
Paul Sobek (inducted 2002)
Paul Sobek was a Polish international on nine occasions, an Olympian twice, the 1962/93 'Player of the Year' in Silesia, and in total played over 400 club games in Poland. He was bought to Perth by the Cracovia club along with three other players in 1965 and helped change the culture of the game in WA. Within a year he was playing for WA and in all would turn out 33 times for the State, touring three times to the prestigious Malaysian Merdeka tournament. In the 1967 tournament he was the top scorer with six goals. He was instrumental in Cracovia winning the First Division championship when the title race went down to the wire with Sobek scoring the only goal against Azzurri in the final match of the season. He also has a D'Orsogna Cup and Night Series medal from 1967 in his possession.
John Spanos (inducted 2005)
Born in Leeds (England) in 1961, John Spanos played for Ascot before collecting the 'Best First Year Player' award at Morley Windmills as a 16-year old. The eastern states then beckoned the talented utility player in 1980 and he didn't hesitate in making an impression with Sydney City. He won the national league's 'Under-21 Player of the Year' that same season and rates his debut against Heidelberg as his greatest highlight, scoring on debut. Spanos won three national league titles (1980, 1981 and 1982) with the Sydney club, and later played for Heidelberg, Marconi and Blacktown City for a total 138 appearances and eight goals. He represented the Australian Schoolboys and Under-20 sides before gaining his first A-international cap against Indonesia in 1980 and made two 'B' appearances against Dynamo Zagreb not long after. He closed his playing career in the South Australian local leagues with Port Adelaide and Adelaide Cobras. He played twice for the State, scoring one goal.
John Van Oosten (inducted 2005)
Born in The Hague (Holland), John Van Oosten joined Windmills at the start of his career in 1964 and ten years later ended it with the same club. In between he established himself as one of the most prolific goalscorers in the history of the WA game having scored 213 goals in league matches alone - most of them with Azzurri. Van Oosten can boast five First Division championships, three Night Series, three D'Orsogna Cup and three Top Four Cup medals. He was twice leading scorer in the State in 1968 and 1971 with 29 and 39 goals respectively. His representative career for WA was impressive, playing on twenty-eight occasions, scoring 16 goals. The highlight for John was in almost leading the State to success in the Malaysian Merdeka Tournament in 1968 when WA finished third. He scored six goals on that occasion and for that he was awarded the Merdeka medal for the 'Best Player of the Tournament'.
William Waddell (inducted 1996)
Although born in Scotland, William Waddell was a product of WA, having arrived in Fremantle when he was only two years old. His career started with Maylands juniors in 1925 before he moved into the senior ranks with Perth City in 1928 and then on to Thistle in 1930. He made his final move to Caledonians to join a host of other Scotsmen in one of the most successful teams of the era and stayed with that club for fifteen seasons. His eighteen years at the top was marked by exceptional skill and a tremendous burst of speed on the right wing. One paper report described him as the best goal creator seen in WA. He was also a talented athlete, winning many State trophies in the 100-yard sprint. Waddell played in every State match between 1937 and 1947 - six games.
Chris Wissink (inducted 2005)
Chris Wissink, who was born in 1946 in Eindhoven (Holland), is yet another in a long line of talented goalkeepers to ply their trade in the west. He starred mostly with Morley Windmills, where he was the recipient of a D'Orsogna Cup medal with the Dutch-backed side in 1974. His most cherished honours include a 'Fairest and Best' trophy for Windmills and two similar awards with Swan Athletic. He also had a spell with Ascot. He represented the WA State team in two Merdeka tournaments, unfortunately, the first in 1967 saw him receive a ruptured spleen during a collision on the pitch which forced him to remain in a Malaysian hospital while his team mates returned to WA. He was outstanding in the same tournament in 1968, thrilling the local fans against South Korea when WA won 3-0 and went on to finish third in the event. He ended up playing twenty-five times for the State.
Tony Witschge (inducted 2002)
Born in WA, Tony Witschge started with Ascot in 1975 but played most of his senior career with Spearwood Dalmatinac, later having a season with Kwinana United and then in 1985 joining East Fremantle Tricolore. His first of thirty-five State games began with selection in the 1975 Indonesian Marah Halim tournament. He gave an outstanding performance in the superb win against Glasgow Rangers and ended his outstanding international career against the University of Dublin in 1982. In the intervening years he played against such clubs as Manchester United, Rangers, Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland, Red Star Belgrade and Norwich. In his twelve First Division seasons he appeared in sides that won three First Division championships, one D'Orsogna Cup, two Night Series and one Top Four Cup.