Soccer in Australia: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively ← Previous edit Next edit →Content deleted Content addedVisual WikitextInline

Revision as of 20:07, 4 August 2004 editMintguy (talk \| contribs)11,899 editsm correction← Previous edit		Revision as of 20:09, 4 August 2004 edit undoMintguy (talk \| contribs)11,899 editsmNo edit summaryNext edit →
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''Soccer''', known in most countries simply as ], was probably first played in ] by English immigrants during the 1860s, following the formation of the ] in ] in ], and the circulation of its rules, from that time onwards. However, the first recorded club was Wanderers, founded by a school teacher named W. J. Fletcher at ] in ]. The first game known to have occurred in Australia under FA rules took place the same year, when Wanderers played the Kings School rugby team at Parramatta Common. However the oldest existing club is ], founded in ], which still competes in the ] regional league.		'''Soccer''', known in most countries simply as ], was probably first played in ] by English immigrants during the 1860s, following the formation of the ] in ] in ], and the circulation of its rules, from that time onwards. However, the first recorded club was Wanderers, founded by a school teacher named W. J. Fletcher at ] in ]. The first game known to have occurred in Australia under FA rules took place the same year, when Wanderers played the Kings School rugby team at Parramatta Common. However the oldest existing club is ], founded in ], which still competes in the ] regional league.

	The early governing bodies of soccer in Australia had to distinguish themselves from ] and ], rival sports which had became very popular in the various Australian ] during the 1860s and 1870s. The ] (NSW) association was founded by ] in ] as the ''English Football ~~Soccer~~ Association'' (later to become the ''New South Wales British Football Association''); NSW and the neighbouring Colony of ] played each other for the first time in ]. A Victorian association, the ''Anglo-Australian Football Association'' was founded in 1884; the ''] British Football Association'' followed in ]; the ''] Soccer Football Association'' in ]; the ''] British Football Association'' in ]; and a ] association in about ]-]. The first Australia-wide body was the ''Commonwealth Football Association'', formed in ], although this folded two years later.		The early governing bodies of soccer in Australia had to distinguish themselves from ] and ], rival sports which had became very popular in the various Australian ] during the 1860s and 1870s. The ] (NSW) association was founded by ] in ] as the ''English Football Association'' (later to become the ''New South Wales British Football Association''); NSW and the neighbouring Colony of ] played each other for the first time in ]. A Victorian association, the ''Anglo-Australian Football Association'' was founded in 1884; the ''] British Football Association'' followed in ]; the ''] Soccer Football Association'' in ]; the ''] British Football Association'' in ]; and a ] association in about ]-]. The first Australia-wide body was the ''Commonwealth Football Association'', formed in ], although this folded two years later.

	While native-born Australians overwhelmingly played and watched Australian Rules or Rugby, soccer was highly popular with the ]an immigrant communities which expanded rapidly during the 1950s and 1960s. These communities, particularly ], ], and ]ns gave rise to most of the largest clubs. At the time, soccer served as a bonding force within those ethnic communities, and as a point of identity amongst them and the wider Australian community. A similiarly increasing number of British migrants also retained an interest in soccer. ], who captained the ] to their first and only ] finals appearance, in ], entitled his memoir ''Sheilas, Wogs, and Poofters'', giving an indication of how the wider Australian community viewed "wogball" in the 1970s.		While native-born Australians overwhelmingly played and watched Australian Rules or Rugby, soccer was highly popular with the ]an immigrant communities which expanded rapidly during the 1950s and 1960s. These communities, particularly ], ], and ]ns gave rise to most of the largest clubs. At the time, soccer served as a bonding force within those ethnic communities, and as a point of identity amongst them and the wider Australian community. A similiarly increasing number of British migrants also retained an interest in soccer. ], who captained the ] to their first and only ] finals appearance, in ], entitled his memoir ''Sheilas, Wogs, and Poofters'', giving an indication of how the wider Australian community viewed "wogball" in the 1970s.

Revision as of 20:09, 4 August 2004

Soccer, known in most countries simply as football, was probably first played in Australia by English immigrants during the 1860s, following the formation of the Football Association in London in 1863, and the circulation of its rules, from that time onwards. However, the first recorded club was Wanderers, founded by a school teacher named W. J. Fletcher at Parramatta in 1880. The first game known to have occurred in Australia under FA rules took place the same year, when Wanderers played the Kings School rugby team at Parramatta Common. However the oldest existing club is Balgownie Rangers, founded in 1883, which still competes in the Illawarra regional league.

The early governing bodies of soccer in Australia had to distinguish themselves from Australian Rules Football and rugby football, rival sports which had became very popular in the various Australian colonies during the 1860s and 1870s. The New South Wales (NSW) association was founded by John Waiter Fletcher in 1882 as the English Football Association (later to become the New South Wales British Football Association); NSW and the neighbouring Colony of Victoria played each other for the first time in 1883. A Victorian association, the Anglo-Australian Football Association was founded in 1884; the Queensland British Football Association followed in 1889; the Western Australian Soccer Football Association in 1896; the South Australian British Football Association in 1902; and a Tasmanian association in about 1910-1912. The first Australia-wide body was the Commonwealth Football Association, formed in 1912, although this folded two years later.

While native-born Australians overwhelmingly played and watched Australian Rules or Rugby, soccer was highly popular with the Southern European immigrant communities which expanded rapidly during the 1950s and 1960s. These communities, particularly Greeks, Italians, and Croatians gave rise to most of the largest clubs. At the time, soccer served as a bonding force within those ethnic communities, and as a point of identity amongst them and the wider Australian community. A similiarly increasing number of British migrants also retained an interest in soccer. Johnny Warren, who captained the national team to their first and only World Cup finals appearance, in 1974, entitled his memoir Sheilas, Wogs, and Poofters, giving an indication of how the wider Australian community viewed "wogball" in the 1970s.

The National Soccer League (NSL) was established in 1977 and was arguably the first truly national "football" competition in Australia. A new league, the Australian Premier League, is being organised by the Australian Soccer Association during 2004.

The national soccer team is now usually known as the Socceroos.