South Melbourne FC invited to be the host for the Melbourne launch of Andrew Howe’s Encyclopedia of Socceroos.
The Encyclopedia of Socceroos is the definitive history of the Socceroos and has been published, just weeks ahead of Australia taking part in its fourth successive World Cup tournament.
The book by Andrew Howe sheds light on the facts, figures and history of almost 600 men who have pulled on the green-and-gold for Australia as a ‘Socceroo’ will be launched at the South Melbourne Football Club on Tuesday 29 May.
Almost 400 pages, running to 200,000 words, with 300 photos and diagrams, and weighing a little under 2kg, the first ever Encyclopedia of Socceroos is a labour of love from Howe, who is a Australian statistician and passionate football fan.
A population expert by day with the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Howe has been both the unofficial and official statistician for Australian football for the past 25 years.
The Encyclopedia lists each of the 592 men who had played for Australia in official matches up to the end of 2017, giving facts and figures on their games, goals, their opponents, and biographical information.
There are also detailed tables showing who Australia has played, where games have taken place, the clubs that have had the most players, the captains, the coaches and the record holders.
Over 200 players from Victoria have played for the Socceroos, including 2006 World Cup captain Mark Viduka.
Almost 60 South Melbourne players have played for the Socceroos. When all clubs are ranked in terms of most Socceroos with that club at the time of their national team appearances, South Melbourne is ranked second, only behind Marconi from Sydney.
South Melbourne FC was invited by the publisher, Fair Play Publishing, to be the host for the launch venue in Melbourne because of the club’s strong historical connections to the Socceroos.
As well as the details on each player, the Encyclopedia of Socceroos features stories from longstanding journalist with The Australian, Ray Gatt, on each of Australia’s four World Cup captains to date – Peter Wilson (1974), Mark Viduka (2006), Lucas Neill (2010) and Mile Jedinak (2014). The Foreword is written by FOX Sports’ Andy Harper.
The Encyclopedia of Socceroos is published by Fair Play Publishing, a niche publisher of football books that tell Australian stories, and is available from good bookstores, Amazon and direct from the publisher.
For those wanting something more specific to the forthcoming World Cup, Howe and Fair Play Publishing have also combined to produce a World Cup Edition in digital format only, which profiles the Socceroos taking part in this year’s 2018 FIFA World Cup.
LAUNCH EVENT (Free entry)
5:30pm to 7:00pm Tuesday 29 May
1959 Bar & Grill, South Melbourne Football Club, Lakeside Stadium
South Melbourne FC would like to confirm that it has signed 26 year old striker Ndumba Makeche for the remainder of the 2018 season.
Makeche was born in Lusaka, Zambia where he developed his raw skills for the game at a young age. Emigrating to Australia in his early teens he found his way to Perth and played local football with Sterling Lions and Inglewood United. A youth contract at Perth Glory came at the age of 19 and then in 2012 he signed a senior A-League two-year contact.
After his time at Perth Glory Makeche travelled to Malaysia where he scored 15 goals in 35 appearances for Felda and then 11 goals in 21 games for Sarawak.
His talent and pace running at defenders will provide Coach Sasa Kolman with a potent up-front option in the attacking third.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, head coach Sasa Kolman “we have confidence Ndumba will deliver exciting football for us here at South Melbourne. He will link in well with our attacking line-up showing us the talent he displayed in the A-League at Perth Glory and then overseas in Malaysia. His maturity and experience will serve us well throughout the year.”
We wish Ndumba the best for his time with South Melbourne and we expect him to be available for selection from Round 14 against Bulleen.
Minister Martin Foley joins South A League Bid Team
Martin Foley, State Member for Albert Park and Victorian Minister for Housing, Disability, Ageing, Mental Health, Equality and Creative Industries, has officially joined the South Melbourne FC A-League Bid Team.
Mr Foley has worked closely with the club for over eight years and is South Melbourne’s number one ticket holder. He has been instrumental in a number of Club initiatives forging stronger ties with the Victorian Government and the local community. His influence and contribution was critical in the Club finalising its long-term 40-year lease at Lakeside Stadium.
South Melbourne Chairman Bill Papastergiadis spoke to smfc.com.au, highlighting that “South Melbourne FC have put together a bid team unrivaled in Australian football in terms of expertise and bi-partisan support. The addition of a Senior Victorian Government Minister to the A League Bid Team cements South Melbourne FC as the club with the talent necessary to win the next A League spot.
Attracting the best talent, who can make the best decisions for the game and for the Club reflects the maturity and strength of South Melbourne FC. We have a strong brand, almost 60 years of history and a solid and respected reputation both on and off the field.”
Mr Foley spoke highly of the community links South Melbourne FC has saying “the Club is located right in the heart of Albert Park Reserve where it’s been part of the community for over half a century. It’s an integral part of this community, it drives right across the South East of Melbourne so much of the football ecology and it’s a really dynamic club. Not just locally but in increasingly internationally. Its ground breaking work with Chinese football is something to be admired. Its engagement with all of our schools, all of our kids and its work in women’s football is just inspirational. This is a club that has got its act together and has a bright future and that future is in the A League.
I’ve worked really closely with the Bid Board Committee, we have secured this site here at Albert Park for decades to come. There’s not many clubs in the A League that can point to the kind of security that this club has at this facility. Close to public transport, plenty of parking, close to facilities, this is a venue of the future and the South Melbourne Football Club is at the heart of this community right here. It’s the key tenant of this facility and it can only get better once the Club is in the A League.
This is a club with a really rich proud tradition and success, hence the Oceania Team of the 20th Century, it’s come back from adversity and now its future is secure. It’s well run, it’s financial and it’s got bold and exciting vision for the A League.”
South Melbourne FC has bought together an expert field of professionals to contribute to and review its A-League bid package. Chairman Bill Paperstergiadis reflected on the bid journey, saying “I’m really proud of the Club and the team we have put together to work on our A-League bid. We have such a long standing and dynamic involvement across football, sports, government and the corporate environment. Our team has leveraged its diversity to attract some very influential professionals. In the political sphere, our bi-partisan support is evidenced by having the former Federal Liberal Sports Minister Andrew Thompson and now Martin Foley, State Labor Minister, on our team. We all unite for what is best for South Melbourne FC and for the world game.”
South Melbourne FC has finalised the bid documentation and is in the final stages of review ahead of the Expression of Interest submission deadline.
South Melbourne FC was invited by the publisher, Fair Play Publishing, to be the host for the launch venue in Melbourne because of the club’s strong historical connections to the Socceroos.
