Football United vs Soccer City

Welcome to episode 83 of the Football United vs Soccer City podcast.

Firstly I would like to sincerely thank all of the interviewees, listeners and the football community of the Illawarra, Australia and around the World who download this podcast. Additionally, I would like to say thank you to the brilliant people who contribute, comment and reminisce on the social media pages.

Mark Vinton is our interviewee in episode 83. Born in England in 1957, Mark was 9 years old when he immigrated to Australia with his Family. This interview records his football journey with various clubs in the Illawarra in particular his lifelong affiliation with Oak Flats Football Club.

It was an absolute pleasure to interview Mark and listen to his recollections. I would like to sincerely thank Mark for the time he spent preparing and completing this interview. And for allowing me into his house. 

Please enjoy episode 83.

Welcome to episode 82 of the Football United vs Soccer City podcast. 

Firstly I would like to sincerely thank all of the interviewees, listeners and the football community of the Illawarra, Australia and around the World who download this podcast. Additionally I would like to say thank you to the brilliant people who contribute, comment and reminisce on the social media pages.

John McGarva is our interviewee in episode 82. Born in Scotland in 1946, John was raised in working class Glasgow. This interview records his football journey in Scotland and Australia after immigrating out here in 1960 with his Family. We examine his time in the game in the Illawarra during the 60s and 70s with Berkeley Hostel, Berkeley High, Coniston, Wollongong Olympic, Wollongong Tech, Berkeley and Illawarra Representative teams (junior and senior).

It was an absolute delight to interview John and listen to his recollections. I would like to sincerely thank John for the time he spent preparing and completing this interview.

Please enjoy episode 82! 

Welcome to episode 81 of the Football United vs Soccer City podcast. 

Firstly, I would like to sincerely thank all of the interviewees, listeners and the football community of the Illawarra, Australia and around the World who download this podcast. Additionally, I would like to say thank you to the brilliant people who contribute, comment and reminisce on the social media pages.

Glenn Fontana is our interviewee in episode 81. Born in 1954, Glenn was born and raised in the football town of Balgownie and early on he developed a great love for the game. This interview records his journey of playing junior football, watching Federation football and the Socceroos, joining the senior ranks as a player and then his truly remarkable time in the game as a club and development coach.

It was an absolute pleasure to interview Glenn and listen to his memories. I would like to sincerely thank Glenn for the time spent with me before, during and after the interview and for allowing me into his home.

Please enjoy episode 81! 

Welcome to episode 80 of the Football United vs Soccer City podcast. 

Firstly I would like to sincerely thank all of the interviewees, listeners and the football community of the Illawarra, Australia and around the World who download this podcast. Additionally I would like to say thank you to the brilliant people who contribute, comment and reminisce on the social media pages.

Rob Noakes is our interviewee in episode 80. Born in 1956, Rob joined Unanderra Hearts JSC in 1964 and spent 5 seasons at the club. In three of these seasons he played in Illawarra representative teams tasting success at Country and State championships.

From 1969 through to 1972 Rob took a break from the round ball game and played rugby league. In 1973 he returned to junior football by joining Figtree JSC in the under 17s.

In 1974 Rob joined the senior ranks with the highly successful U18s team at Figtree. This started a remarkable and wonderful journey for Rob at Figtree and Wests Figtree, which lasted until the 1989 season.

During this period Rob played over 300 games, won several grand finals, league championships and cups as a player and as a coach. These halcyon days at Figtree created a great bond amongst the committee, players, coaches and supporters. Rob was a part of these successes and it was fantastic to go through his football journey. I would like to sincerely thank Rob for the time he gave in recording this interview, the materials he let me scan and for allowing me into his home.

Please enjoy episode 80!

Welcome to episode 79 of the Football United vs Soccer City podcast.

Firstly I would like to sincerely thank all of the interviewees, listeners and the football community of the Illawarra, Australia and around the World who download this podcast. Additionally I would like to say thank you to the brilliant people who contribute, comment and reminisce on the social media pages.

Ross Emerton is our interviewee in episode 79. Ross was born in 1947 and grew up on Wallace Road Fernhill. He had a love of football and in 1957 he joined Balgownie Junior Soccer Club. After one year at Balgownie, he then joined Tarrawanna Junior Soccer Club. This move was significant and cannot be understated as Ross is still involved today with Tarrawanna Junior Football Club and the Tarrawanna Blueys Football Club.

Across eight decades Ross has either played, coached and or been a committee member with the juniors and has played, coached and or been a committee member with the senior club (which he helped re-form in 1967 along with other great Tarrawanna people).

And in these eight decades Ross additionally played senior football with Bellambi, Fernhill and Balgownie Rangers. Plus he coached at Balgownie Rangers, was a committee member of the Illawarra Womens Soccer Association for a year, coached a women’s team at Fernhill Soccer Club in the mid-1980s and was an assistant coach with an Illawarra Women’s team who played in Sydney in the 1980s.

Ross is extremely modest about his abilities and achievements. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to his great journey and respect his energy and love for his Blueys. I would like to sincerely thank Ross for the time he gave up in recording this interview, the materials he let me scan and for allowing me into his home.

Please enjoy episode 79!

Welcome to episode 78 of the Football United vs Soccer City podcast. 

Firstly I would like to sincerely thank all of the interviewees, listeners and the football community of the Illawarra, Australia and around the World who download this podcast. Additionally I would like to say thank you to the brilliant people who contribute, comment and reminisce on the social media pages.

Rob Giraldi is our interviewee in episode 78. Born in 1961, Rob joined Woonona Junior Soccer Club in 1967. It is here where he started his path as a striker in the game under Jock Young. Growing up in this era Rob was watching Fairy Meadow out at Dalton Park with his Dad and of course he was watching South Coast United and Safeway United at the old Balls Paddock at Woonona.

After playing with Woonona Junior Soccer Club and in junior representative teams with Federation clubs Balgownie and Wollongong City, Rob then forged a brilliant career in the Illawarra District Soccer Association, NSW State League and National Soccer League playing with Fairy Meadow, Wollongong Macedonia, Wollongong Wolves, Port Kembla, Corrimal Rangers, Russell Vale, Northern United and Tarrawanna.

I appreciated the opportunity to record and listen to Rob’s football journey. I have sincere respect and thanks for the time Rob gave up to do this interview and for allowing me into his home. Please enjoy episode 78!

Welcome to episode 77 of the Football United vs Soccer City podcast. 

Firstly I would like to sincerely thank all of the interviewees, listeners and the football community of the Illawarra, Australia and around the World who download this podcast. Additionally I would like to say thank you to the brilliant people who contribute, comment and reminisce on the social media pages.

Walter Chichkan is our interviewee in episode 77. He was born in the Ukraine in 1938 and after surviving World War II, his Family came out to Australia on the 1st of August 1949. He grew up in the football village of Balgownie and it is here that his football career started at Balgownie Public School. 

After a period of time Walter then played fullback with the historic Balgownie Club in U14s and in U16s. Although he wanted to play in the goalkeeper position like his idol and big brother Victor, Walter was highly successful in representing his district and state at fullback in junior representative teams.

Walter joined Woonona-Bulli in the State League as a 17 year old in 1955. He broke into the first team that year playing nine games as a defender. Astoundingly in 1956 Walter then became the first grade goalkeeper for Woonona-Bulli, an amazing transition, which fulfilled his ambition of playing in goals. In 1957 and 1958 he continued to play for Woonona-Bulli, however in 1959 he re-joined his hometown club Balgownie in state league and played here until 1962.

After a year off in 1963 Walter then played goalkeeper at Helensburgh, Wollongong Olympic, Coledale and lastly with Fairy Meadow where he retired in 1971. In 1972 he became a referee in the IDSA competitions and did this for a year. In 1977 he joined the Fairy Meadow SC as a committee member. Walter was with Fairy Meadow until 1986 and he was a large part of their success in the late 1970s in the IDSA competition and in the 1980s in the NSW State league competitions. Plus I briefly speak to Walter about coaching his son and other players at Balgownie Junior Soccer Club.

I appreciated the opportunity to record and listen to Walter’s football journey. I have sincere respect and thanks for the time Walter gave up to do this interview and for allowing me into his home. And I must thank Walter’s son John for setting up the interview and for transferring 1950s Illawarra football film into digital files. Please note it is John’s voice you can occasionally hear in the background during the interview. Please enjoy episode 77!

Welcome to episode 76 of the Football United vs Soccer City podcast. 

Firstly I would like to sincerely thank all of the interviewees, listeners and the football community of the Illawarra, Australia and around the World who download this podcast. Additionally I would like to say thank you to the brilliant people who contribute, comment and reminisce on the social media pages.

Rade Stevanovski is our interviewee in episode 76. He was born in a village near Bitola, Macedonia, in 1958. With no structured football development in his childhood and teenage years, Rade had to develop and learn the game by watching TV and practising. With repetition, skill and perseverance, Rade then made his way into Bitola’s Transkop Football Club, which played against teams from all parts of Yugoslavia. 

In 1981 he received a phone call from his Aunty in Australia which changed his life trajectory and in that year he came out to Australia for a new opportunity and to play football with Wollongong Macedonia in the 2nd tier of the NSW State League. In the next 20 years Rade then made a name for himself in the National Soccer League, NSW State League and Illawarra Premier League. Most notably he was part of the highly successful Wollongong City Wolves team who won the double in the NSW State League in 1987 and won the 1988 NSL league championship.

I appreciated the opportunity to record and listen to Rade’s football journey. I have sincere respect and thanks for the time Rade spent in delving into his football career and for allowing me into his home. Please enjoy episode 76!

Welcome to episode 75 of the Football United vs Soccer City podcast. 

Firstly, I would like to sincerely thank all of the interviewees, listeners and the football community of the Illawarra, Australia and elsewhere around the World who download this podcast. Additionally, I would like to say thank you to the tremendous people who contribute, comment and reminisce on the social media pages.

Fabio Fabrianesi is our interviewee in episode 75. Born in Italy in 1952, Fabio and his family emigrated from Italy to Australia. His first initiation with football was with Port Kembla Danube JSC in 1962 as an outfield player. His love of the game further developed throughout the 1960s via playing and watching the game. And with his Father’s history as a goalkeeper in Italy and Fabio’s love of George Ramage from South Coast United it was no surprise that Fabio became a goalkeeper when the opportunity arose with Port Kembla United in senior football.

This podcast delves into his goalkeeping career, which encompasses his time in the Illawarra, Italy, Federation football, the Phillips Soccer League and then back to the Illawarra. Along with Fabio’s brilliant thoughts and memories there are three additionally interviews added into this podcast that give further insights into Fabio. So thank you to Dave Curley, Lou Del Turco and Albert Ciocci.

I appreciated the opportunity to record and listen to Fabio’s football experiences. I have sincere appreciation, respect and thanks for the time, Fabio spent in delving into his football journey. Please enjoy episode 75!

Welcome to episode 74 of the Football United vs Soccer City podcast. 

Firstly I would like to sincerely thank all of the interviewees, listeners and the football community of the Illawarra, Australia and elsewhere around the World who download this podcast. Additionally I would like to say thank you to the tremendous people who contribute, comment and reminisce on the social media pages.

Allan Piggot is our interviewee in episode 74. Born in Dundee Scotland in 1953 Allan developed a deep passion for football early in his life. Allan started playing football in the streets of Dundee and at Ann Street Primary School in the 1950s. In these early years Allan would go and watch Dundee at Dens Park when they played midweek and even went by himself to watch Dundee against Rangers in the 1963-64 Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park with 120,000 other supporters.

In his teenage years Allan played in school, youth club and representative football teams. After he left school he joined Kirriemuir Thistle FC and was training with East Fife FC. And it was at this point in his life he saw a newspaper article about Safeway United’s manager and Dundee local Jim Harris that changed his life. In the article Jim Harris said if any footballers were interested in coming to Australia then they should contact Jim. Allan contacted Jim and in the space of 10 days his Australian adventure had begun.

I appreciated the opportunity to record and listen to Allan’s football experiences. I have sincere appreciation, respect and thanks for the time Allan spent in driving down from Singleton to Corrimal to record this interview. Please enjoy episode 74!