THERE have been many Memorable Moments throughout the 60 years since semi-pro football was introduced to Western Australia in an historic move led by eight progressive clubs in July, 1960. Here are some of them...
PIC ONE: One of the great action photographs to be published in The West Australian. Photographer Ian Ferguson brilliantly captured this mighty leap by Perth Azzurri striker John Van Oosten as he headed towards the Swan Athletic goal at Dorrien Gardens in August, 1971. Azzurri won 4-1, with Van Oosten getting all four goals. The victory enabled the Sky Blues to tie up the league crown with four fixtures still remaining. Van Oosten got 39 goals that season, the third highest ever recorded in semi-pro football. He also snared 39 in 1968.
PIC TWO: The meeting of two great strikers. WA's Len Dundo and England's Mick Channon catch up with a beer after the State League game between Kingsway Olympic and Gosnells in June, 1981. Channon, who scored nearly 200 goals for Southampton, 24 for Manchester City and 21 for England in a glittering career, was making a guest appearance for Gosnells, getting their goal in the 1-1 draw. Olympic striker Dundo was one of WA's most prolific scorers, finishing top marksman on seven occasions (his best total was 34 in 1972). When Olympic won the league title in 1978, Len got four goals in their title-clinching 5-2 victory over Spearwood Dalmatinac.
PIC THREE: Local hero versus English hero. Perth Azzurri's Paul Tombides takes on the might of England's 1966 World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore, who was making a guest appearance for Inglewood Kiev in May, 1981. Tombides scored in the game and finished the season as the league's top marksman as Azzurri strode to the title with an unbeaten record. (Tombides, incidentally, was a tennage team-mate of Len Dundo when Olympic won the league crown in 1978). Moore, 38 at the time, played twice for Kiev and then had a one-off appearance with Rockingham. He later linked up with Cracovia for a tour of Malaysia in 1982.