BARRIE Greenwood, former WA State team manager, referee, author and TV and radio commentator, died on August 13 after a lengthy illness. He was 84.
Originally from Rochdale in England, Barrie arrived in Western Australia on the SS Fairsea in September, 1958 and almost immediately linked up as a player with Caledonian, playing as a left-half with them for five seasons.
He won the Fairest and Best with Caledonian in 1961.
Barrie turned to refereeing after his playing career, being an influential whistler for seven years, during which time he was the man in the middle in several cup finals.
He also refereed many State team games against international competition.
Having put away his whistle, Barrie began a record 51-game stint as WA State Team manager in 1969, leading the representative side in the 1970 Anniversary Cup in Indonesia and in the Merdeka Tournament in Malaysia in the same year.
He received a commemorative plaque from the Football Hall of Fame WA when many of the 1970 Merdeka Cup playing squad and team officials were honoured at a function in 2007.
Julius Re, who was President of the Soccer Federation of WA during most of Barrie's term as State Team Manager, was also honoured at the same gathering.
Barrie also served on the SFWA board in various roles, including assistant secretary, registrar and vice president. He was also an executive member of the Australian Soccer Federation from 1971 to 1974. He later became a Life Member of the SFWA.
He was also a member of the Football West Disciplinary and Grievance committee for 16 years.
Barrie acted as Liaison Officer for many of the international teams that visited WA and became friendly with many of the star players who guested for Perth teams, including England World Cup captain Bobby Moore.
He wrote extensively about the game for several newspapers and was also a soccer commentator for Channel Nine.
He was an influential figure for many years in the local game, wearing many hats, and former State team star John Davidson said. "Barry was a legend of the great game and did so much for the game in WA.
"He was the man that looked after me as a naive 17 yr old when I arrived in Perth 1970. RIP Barrie."
Another former State team player, Mike Smith, said: "Barrie will be missed. I did a couple of overseas soccer tours with Barrie. Had a great time and he was always looking to promote the game or the players. RIP"
He was also held in high esteem on the east coast of Australia.
In the Foreword to Barrie's book on Soccer in West Australia (published in 2000), former Socceroos coach Rale Rasic said: "I always appreciated Barrie's co-operation and support, especially during the 'golden years' of Australian soccer - 1970 to 1974.
"We shared many glorious, as well as painful, moments during Australia's qualification period for the 1974 World Cup.
"Barrie has always been positive and supportive of the world's greatest game at State, National and International level."

PIC ONE: Barrie Greenwood (left) and Julius Re. PIC TWO: England World Cup captain Bobby Moore with Barrie.