What or who got you into football?

[Kevin Keegan71]

Even at 9 years old I don't think my heart has ever been torn so much in football than Iran

That was such a tragic result at the MCG never really looked like losing until that dick ran on the pitch jumped on the goalposts and after that point they scored 2 fast goals - game over that was a good team with Venables in charge too

 

[Kevin Keegan71]

But my favourite player as a kid was Ned Zelic

Yes always liked him - bit of a maverick too

 

[LFC]

Mate knee high to a grasshopper stood on the Kop missed a shitload of goals as the crowd pushed down and swayed often had to fight to stay on my feet - had to wait till I got home to watch the goals on match of the day but wouldnt change it for a thing great days back then the other thing was the Kop stank of piss back in those days plenty of rolled up newspapers if you know what I mean

LOL mate - can imagine - lucky you survived at goal celebration pandamonians - haha the stench.
Imagine today complaints.

Interesting MTuckerman, a bee supporter - did you back Neds 1860 those games ?
Always been a fav of mine as well was pissed he and Farina had their outfall, thats it mavericks.

 

[MikeTuckerman]

Interesting MTuckerman, a bee supporter - did you back Neds 1860 those games ?
Always been a fav of mine as well was pissed he and Farina had their outfall, thats it mavericks.

Absolutely not! Ned knows I'm a BVB fan for life.

Interestingly enough, I was on the Südtribüne when he came back with 1860 and they absolutely torched us. Paul Agostino scored twice!

But Zelic was different class. He was one of the best players in the Bundesliga, often captained 1860, and spoke fluent German. One of the greatest Aussie players ever, in my opinion.

 

[Beretta]

What's your first memory of getting into football

 

[LFC]

haha - I was taking the piss you gathered maybe.
Yep he was class - huge loss for us Roo wise, quality midfielder.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Great question.

The first team I ever really took notice of was the Socceroos. I played football as a kid and went to a few Socceroos games with a friend at the old Sydney Football Stadium in the early 1990s. I was in the crowd the day we beat Canada on penalties and drew with Argentina in 1993. My Dad also took me to a few national team games when I was younger. So my first football love will always be the Socceroos.

But my favourite player as a kid was Ned Zelic, and I was absolutely obsessed with Borussia Dortmund. I went to a somewhat dodgy public high school that got quasi-taken-over (administratively) by the state government. They were happy to throw taxpayer money at us and my German teacher was smart enough to apply for it. As a result, I went on a two-week taxpayer-funded trip to Germany when I was 14 and the family I stayed with took me to my first Bundesliga game (1.FC Köln vs Borussia Dortmund at the old Müngersdorferstadion).

I moved to Germany as an exchange student for a year when I was 17 (I think I majored in the Bundesliga) and I shared a season ticket on the Südtribüne with a kid I knew from my high school in Western Sydney. (Long story. I grew up in a weird area). We used to go down to training from time to time to talk to the players, with varying degrees of success.

I hadn't been back to the Westfalenstadion in almost 25 years, but finally got back there last year for Marco Reus' final home game. They're a popular club these days and I had to lean on a connection to get in. (How popular? These are the club's own tickets! Second-last row of the stadium). I'd only ever stood on the Südtribüne in the past, so it was nice to get a different perspective of the ground.

I'm not sure why I was such a fan of the Bundesliga. I have no German heritage whatsoever! But I still watch it today, and I was glad to be able to take my wife to a place I was obsessed with as a kid.

View attachment 1722

Thats thing of absolute beauty .... to much in awe to even be jealous... bucket list destination even though I skew slightly blue in the Derby

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Mate knee high to a grasshopper stood on the Kop missed a shitload of goals as the crowd pushed down and swayed often had to fight to stay on my feet - had to wait till I got home to watch the goals on match of the day but wouldnt change it for a thing great days back then the other thing was the Kop stank of piss back in those days plenty of rolled up newspapers if you know what I mean

I remember in the earlier days of the NSL older British lads would whip it out and piss in the terraces ..... just thought it was bizarre

 

[booney52]

Mate knee high to a grasshopper stood on the Kop missed a shitload of goals as the crowd pushed down and swayed often had to fight to stay on my feet - had to wait till I got home to watch the goals on match of the day but wouldnt change it for a thing great days back then the other thing was the Kop stank of piss back in those days plenty of rolled up newspapers if you know what I mean

So it should be known as the Pisskop

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

So it should be known as the Pisskop

Easy there Daniel Craig

 

[Son of Sam]

I keep on forgetting some of you had a choice in the matter...I was brought up surrounded by family who all knew that football is life...
I'm told I was taken to Middle Park for the first time at 3 or 4 years old but earliest memories are probably at 6 or 7, kicking the ball around under the old scoreboard while wolfing down a souva.. occasionally returning to the terraces to check on what was going on on the pitch... and cold nights, up on the couch with dad watching some grainy black and white european or world cup match with sleepy eyes...

Like LFC, every family gathering, Easter, Christmas, New Years, Birthdays, Name Days, Baptisms, even at most weddings... teams where picked, jumpers where put down as goals and blood was spilled.........

I always like telling my fellow Greeks that i went against the grain.

I was brought up with Australian Rules via my father, who arrived in1952 from Cyprus and was introduced to the game by his uncle who had arrived in 1924, and started supporting Carlton at some point.

I was, of course, aware of soccer, but I can probably remember the amount of games i went to on one hand before I finished high school in 1983.

Between 1988 and 1993, I had equal love for both codes. But then I fell out of love with Australian Rules, as I perceived the degradation of the game as a spectacle. But, unfortunately, I also become disillusioned with the ethno-centric nature of Soccer in this country.

By the year 2000, I was attending neither code!

It was only in 2012, that my metamorphosis from a 'New Dawner' back to a traditionalist reached a stage that I was ready to go back and support South Melbourne Hellas.

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

I always like telling my fellow Greeks that i went against the grain.

I was brought up with Australian Rules via my father, who arrived in1952 from Cyprus and was introduced to the game by his uncle who had arrived in 1924, and started supporting Carlton at some point.

I was, of course, aware of soccer, but I can probably remember the amount of games i went to on one hand before I finished high school in 1983.

Between 1988 and 1993, I had equal love for both codes. But then I fell out of love with Australian Rules, as I perceived the degradation of the game as a spectacle. But, unfortunately, I also become disillusioned with the ethno-centric nature of Soccer in this country.

By the year 2000, I was attending neither code!

It was only in 2012, that my metamorphosis from a 'New Dawner' back to a traditionalist reached a stage that I was ready to go back and support South Melbourne Hellas.

One should always strive for personal and spiritual growth and I guess you get that in buckets down at Lakeside these days eh?

As for going against the grain, your really aren't mate.. My father in law has the very same story to tell, came from a mountainous village straight to the factory floors, AFL was a way to integrate into society (and the way he tells it, you could get in free after quarter time and buying the foreman a few cold ones on Saturday afternoon got you overtime shift the following Saturday) The later migrants 60s and 70s where alot more soaked in Greek soccer when they landed here and passed that on to their kids.... AFL for me was something to play and discuss at primary school with the anglo kids .. Soccer was the "language" that my friends and family spoke

 

[Kitwally]

Dad was from Melbourne and played reserves for St Kilda as a 15yo. Dad then moved to Canberra and no AFL, so played Union and League. Don Furner offered him a League contract but he had a knee injury and turned it down to marry my Mum and start a family. Despite his background, Dad insisted on my brother and I playing football so I started in the Westlawn U-8s in Coffs Harbour. Moved to Sydney and played for various teams in the St. George area: Carrs Park, Sans Souci, Connells Point, and Lugarno playing against Rockdale Ilenden and Hurstville Zagreb. Our Blakehurst High School team had two Joey’s players and a couple of state players so we were able to make the final of the Commonwealth Bank Cup, but most of the rep players were injured or away playing so we lost. Remember playing against a young Peter Tskenis.
Back in the day used to watch the round up of the EPL on tv on the ABC and the FA Cup final every year. Craig Johnston was a hero. Read his book “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and dreamed of being a pro player in Europe.
From the St.George area so used to go to St.George games, have memories of a 17 year old Robbie Slater.
Have watched most of the Socceroos World Cup Qualifiers on tv starting with Scotland in 1986. Was at the ground to see Romario playing for Brazil in the 1988 Bicentennial Cup, where Scott Ollerenshaw was away on goal and got rugby tackled, and saw Maradona playing in Argentina’s WCQ in Sydney in 1994. Have been to a few other WCQ since but as I’ve been abroad the majority have been on tv.
In Europe in 1995 while staying with my relatives in Lugano, saw a young Roberto Carlos playing for Inter against Lugano in the UEFA Cup as it was then called, and while in Bourdeaux saw a young Zinédine Zidane playing for Bourdeaux against Frankfurt in the Intertoto Cup.

 

[Son of Sam]

One should always strive for personal and spiritual growth and I guess you get that in buckets down at Lakeside these days eh?

As for going against the grain, your really aren't mate.. My father in law has the very same story to tell, came from a mountainous village straight to the factory floors, AFL was a way to integrate into society (and the way he tells it, you could get in free after quarter time and buying the foreman a few cold ones on Saturday afternoon got you overtime shift the following Saturday) The later migrants 60s and 70s where alot more soaked in Greek soccer when they landed here and passed that on to their kids.... AFL for me was something to play and discuss at primary school with the anglo kids .. Soccer was the "language" that my friends and family spoke

I demanded Pro/Rel ... and it looks like I'll be buried by it!

Hmmm ... looks like, sounds like ........

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

I demanded Pro/Rel ... and it looks like I'll be buried by it!

Hmmm ... looks like, sounds like ........

I for one welcome the chance to play in the VPL 1 and the Australian Championship simultaneously

With any luck maybe playing in Oceania at the same time ... Hope the sea levels dont rise too much before the league gets up and running... lol

 

[LFC]

I for one welcome the chance to play in the VPL 1 and the Australian Championship simultaneously

With any luck maybe playing in Oceania at the same time ... Hope the sea levels dont rise too much before the league gets up and running... lol

make sure you have a rubber duckie stashed when your at Fiji or other pacific islands mate, need to see your match day experiences on GG haha greeks can navigate and swim if need be.