The book also tells the Socceroos history pre-world war two and Howe revealed that the first ever Socceroo Alex Gibb had a son that also represented Australia.

“So Alex Gibb the first Socceroo was born in Ireland to Scottish parents and moved out to Australia in 1911 and lived and grew up in Ipswich," he said.

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"He ended up having a son Lex Gibb who also ended up playing for Australia in the 1940’s.”

“The first teams in the 1920’s were mostly Australian born but a significant number were overseas born mainly from England and Scotland.

“Through the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s migration to Australia really slowed and you see that in the make-up of the national team as well.

“In the 1940’s less than one in ten Australians was born overseas and less than one in 20 of the national team were born overseas."

While the history of the Socceroo reflects the history of Australia in terms migration and settlement patterns Howe discovered some anamolies.

"I’ve found out about Bill Shovelburger from the 1930s, he was Swiss," he said. 

"Then there was George Vlahos (Sheppard) a Greek born player who played a non -'A' international game verses an England Amateurs team in 1937.

"It was very rare, right up until the 50s for a player not born in Australia or in the United Kingdom to play for Australia. So very rare. So I enjoyed discovering that.

“Then the post-world war two migration boom saw lots of people came to Australia from southern and eastern Europe and you see that in the national team and a lot of our best players came out to Australia in that period.

“They played for Australia and they were also migrants that created these clubs that launched the careers of a lot more national team players in the 80’s and 90’s and through to today.”

To learn more about the Encyclopedia of Socceroos and who and what are some of the features, join Andrew Howe and launch events in Sydney (THIS FRIDAY), Newcastle (Monday 28th), Melbourne (Tuesday 29th), Ipswich (Thursday 31st), Adelaide (Wednesday 6th) and Canberra (Saturday 9th).  Order the book HERE.

 

LISTEN! 442FM DISCUSSES THE BOOK WITH PUBLISHER BONITA MERSIADES:

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