State Teams (Men's)
1940-1959
The post-War period was one of significant success for the State men’s team, who won the 1948 Southern States Carnival and placed second at the 1954 All-States Carnival.
Additionally, the State team tested themselves against the Australian and South African national teams along with touring club sides from Yugoslavia, Austria, Hungary, Hong Kong, England and Scotland.
19 April 1947
Western Australia 2 (William Waddell, Alan Beale)
South Africa 12 (Basil Clack 5, Horace Smethurst 3, Don Wilson 2, Gordon Falconer 2)
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Don Baxter, Tommy Morris, Bernie Same, Raymond Martin (c), Jack Smethurst, Frank McShane, Arthur Taylor, Bill Same (T.Robinson), Alan Beale, Edgar Hughes, William Waddell
South Africa: Jim Pickerill, H.McCready, Ernie Dowell, Cecil Kurland, Ray Ferriman, Don Forbes, Don Wilson, Gordon Falconer, Basil Clack, Horace Smethurst, Len Anley
Managers:
Referee: H.Walters
Venue: Subiaco Oval, Subiaco
Attendance: 9,393
1948 Southern States Carnival
Western Australia was untroubled in winning their first interstate trophy, the one-off Southern States Carnival. The three-State competition brought South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia together in Adelaide.
The mid-week tournament opened with South Australia being held to a draw by Tasmania, thanks largely to the hosts squandering a trio of penalty kicks. Western Australia hit four goals on successive days against South Australia and Tasmania to meet the latter in the play-off game.
The final proved to be a one-sided affair with five players sharing Western Australia’s six goals. Jack Smethurst was named ‘Best Player for WA’ while Alan Beale, a late call-up to replace an injured Jack Segal, was the tournament’s top scorer with six goals.’
1 September 1948
South Australia 2
Western Australia 4 (Alan Beale 2, Bert Robertson 2)
Status: Southern States Carnival
South Australia (squad): A.Cotton, T.Jackson, W.Thompson, J.Smith, G.Combe, K.Heffernan, A.Deed, J.McKinlay, A.Dunstan, O.Dunstan, D.Martin, C.Williams, W.Gibson, D.Turnbull, P.Cranswick, R.Bracegirdle
Western Australia: Ron Oswald, Bob Cherry, Allan Miller, Frank McShane, Alex Mansfield (c), Jack Smethurst, Ron Robertson, Alan Beale, Bert Robertson, Don Turner, Raymond Martin
Coaches: Alex Mansfield (Western Australia)
Referee: J.Harvey
Venue: Norwood Oval, Adelaide
Attendance:
2 September 1948
Tasmania 3
Western Australia 4 (Alan Beale 3, Jack Smethurst)
Status: Southern States Carnival
Tasmania (squad): H.Wise, J.Coad, J.Blackburn, W.Grimwood, R.Wilson, L.Cleaver, J.Tanner, M.Arnold, B.Southern, M.Vince, C.Holmes, G.Turner, J.Dewhurst, MacDonald, Mackie, J.Stafford
Western Australia (squad): Ron Oswald, Bob Cherry, Allan Miller, Frank McShane, Alex Mansfield (c), Stewart Johnson, Jack Smethurst, Don Hunter, Raymond Martin, Alan Beale, Bert Robertson, Don Turner, Bill Brackenbridge, George Allison
Coaches: Alex Mansfield (Western Australia)
Referee: H.McAllister
Venue: Norwood Oval, Adelaide
Attendance:
4 September 1948
Tasmania 2 (Doe, G.Turner)
Western Australia 6 (Jack Smethurst 2, Alan Beale, Don Turner, Bert Robertson, Bill Brackenbridge)
Status: Southern States Carnival
Tasmania (squad): H.Wise, J.Coad, J.Blackburn, W.Grimwood, R.Wilson, L.Cleaver, J.Tanner, M.Arnold, B.Southern, M.Vince, C.Holmes, G.Turner, J.Dewhurst, MacDonald, Mackie, J.Stafford
Western Australia (squad): Ron Oswald, Bob Cherry, Allan Miller, Frank McShane, Alex Mansfield (c), Stewart Johnson, Jack Smethurst, Don Hunter, Raymond Martin, Alan Beale, Bert Robertson, Don Turner, Bill Brackenbridge, George Allison
Coaches: Alex Mansfield (Western Australia)
Referee: K.Jamieson
Venue: Norwood Oval, Adelaide
Attendance:
24 September 1949
Western Australia 1 (Jack Smethurst)
Hadjuk Split 14
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Syd McGovern, Jim Thompson, Bob Cherry, Frank Reid, Alex Mansfield (c), Frank McShane, Bill Den Ridder, Arthur Atkin, Alan Beale, Jack Smethurst, Henry Joosten
Hadjuk Split: Vladimir Beara, Miljenko Batinic, Bozo Broketa, Ivo Mrcic, Ervin Katnic, Tonci Radovnikovic, Dragutin Drvodjelic, Vojko Andrijasevic, Stane Krustulovic, Frane Matosic (c), (Josip Vidosic), Bernard Vukas
Coaches:
Referee: W.A.Blackhurst
Venue: WACA Ground, East Perth
Attendance: 7,182
27 September 1949
Western Australia 1 (Hammy McCaig)
Hadjuk Split 13
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Ron Oswald, Jim McDonald, Jimmy James, Frank Reid, Peter Jordan, Raymond Martin, Hammy McCaig, Bill Brackenbridge, David Hooks, Bert Robertson, Henry Joosten
Hadjuk Split: Vladimir Beara, Miljenko Batinic, Bozo Broketa, Ante Mladinic, Ervin Katnic, Tonci Radovnikovic, Branko Vidjak, Josip Vidovic, Stane Krustulovic, Frane Matosic (c), Bernard Vukas
Coaches:
Referee:
Venue: Subiaco Oval, Subiaco
Attendance:
17 August 1950
Western Australia 1 (Bert Robertson 48)
Australia 5 (own goal 32, Gordon Nunn 43, 88, Frank Parsons 62, Eric Hulme 80)
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Syd McGovern, Ron Adair, Gordon Nash, John Grant, Bob Cherry (c), Stewart Johnson, Edgar Hughes, Jack Smethurst, Alan Beale, Bert Robertson, Robert Norman
Australia: Norman Conquest, Kevin O’Neill, Cec Drummond, Bob Lawrie (c), Tom Jack, Bob Young, Allan Johns, Frank Parsons, Eric Hulme, Gordon Nunn, Harry Robertson
Coaches: A.Craigie (Western Australia)
Referee: A.Gilchrist
Venue: Subiaco Oval, Subiaco
Attendance:
30 August 1952
Western Australia 0
Australia XI 2 (Charlie Stewart, William Copeland)
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Domenic Di Lollo, Guiseppe Scarparolo, Jim Ward, Frank Reid, Ron Adair, Jack Smethurst, Vince Partatoni, Edmund Faletti, Bert Robertson (c), Frank McShane, Jim McMillan
Australia XI: Bill Mahoney, Eric Heath, Mick O’Malley, Bob Bignall (c), Pat Clarke, Eric Duff, Charlie Stewart, J.Freckleton, William Copeland, C.Rawlings, David Pitcairn
Coaches: Oscar Mate (Western Australia)
Referee: R.Hill
Venue: WACA Ground, East Perth
Attendance: 10,000
1 September 1952
Western Australia 1 (Jim McMillan 55)
Australia XI 1 (Eric Duff 40)
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Domenic Di Lollo, John Beveridge, Jim Ward, Frank Reid, Ron Adair, Frank McShane, Joe Szymanski, Edmund Faletti, Bert Robertson (c), David Young, Jim McMillan
Australia XI: Bill Mahoney, Eric Heath (David Pitcairn), Mick O’Malley, Bob Bignall (c), Jack Mather, Pat Clarke, Angus Drennan, Charlie Stewart, William Copeland, Eric Duff, Cliff Sander
Coaches: Oscar Mate (Western Australia)
Referee: H.Baker
Venue: WACA Ground, East Perth
Attendance: 10,000
1954 All-States Carnival
“Western Australia proved that it can field a team the equal of any in Australia,” asserted Frank Smith, chairman of the West Australian Soccer Football Association, after the State team finished second to New South Wales at the 1954 All-States Carnival.
Making their first appearance at the tournament, Western Australia won three, drew one and lost one of their five games in Adelaide. The tournament went down to the wire with New South Wales scoring a late minute winner against Western Australia on the final day of competition to secure the trophy.
Ron Adair was voted Western Australia’s best player and Joe Szymanski was our top scorer with five goals. “At least three of our players – (Max) Lucchesi, (Con) Purser and Ron Adair – probably will receive consideration when the next Australian Test team is picked,” added Smith.
15 April 1954
South Australia 2
Western Australia 4 (Ron Adair, Joe Szymanski 2, Franco Franchi)
Status: All-States Carnival
South Australia (squad): C.Ritossa, L.Tissato, M.O’Malley, S.Gennari, L.Suchanek, M.Busidoni, H.Scalamera, R.Lee, K.Gein, D.Pozza, A.Kitas, L.Toth, J.Kelemen, Giglio, K.Lange, A.Beattie
Western Australia: Ron Oswald, John Beveridge, Cec Malec, Con Purser, Max Lucchesi, Ron Adair (c), Bill Adair, Jim Duggan, Mario Casotti, Franco Franchi, Joe Szymanski
Coaches: Ken Jones (Western Australia)
Referee: W.T.Burnett
Venue: Norwood Oval, Adelaide
Attendance:
16 April 1954
Queensland 2
Western Australia 4 (Joe Szymanski 3, Franco Franchi)
Status: All-States Carnival
Queensland (squad): D.Leo, M.Newlands, B.Lawrie, C.Sander, S.Kitching, G.B.Nunn, C.Takacz, M.Wild, R.Porter, B.Topfer, R.Hughes, A.Warren, C.Kitching, V.Volger, A.Pitcairn, A.Duncan
Western Australia: Ron Oswald, Ron Adair (c), Don McArdle, Con Purser, Max Lucchesi, Gil Nobbs, Jim McMillan, Jim Duggan, Bill Adair, Franco Franchi, Joe Szymanski
Coaches: Ken Jones (Western Australia)
Referee: H.A.Gaskell
Venue: Norwood Oval, Adelaide
Attendance:
17 April 1954
Tasmania 2
Western Australia 4 (Franco Franchi 2, Mario Casotti, Bill Adair)
Status: All-States Carnival
Tasmania (squad): J.McCreadie, P.McGinley, W.Smith, R.Ramsey, B.Woods, M.Arnold, J.Lancaster, A.Rattray, J.Lynch, F.Flanagan, J.Mooney, G.Arnott, A.Harmsen, J.De Boer, R.Alexander, W.Milne
Western Australia: Domenic Di Lollo, John Beveridge, Don McArdle, Con Purser, Ron Adair (c), Gil Nobbs, John Masiero, Bill Adair, Mario Casotti, Franco Franchi, Joe Szymanski
Coaches: Ken Jones (Western Australia)
Referee: J.Harvey
Venue: Kensington Oval, Adelaide
Attendance:
18 April 1954
Victoria 2
Western Australia 2 (Jim McMillan 2)
Status: All-States Carnival
Victoria (squad): T.Jack, P.Clarke, S.Thomas, J.Gottesman, H.Sutherland M.Vesovic, S.Czauderna, B.Zablocki, P.Shipperheyn, N.Garncarozuk, R.Walker, A.Drennan, R.McKenzie, R.Weymss, L.Scott, J.Lachman
Western Australia: Ron Oswald, John Beveridge, Don McArdle, John Masiero, Ron Adair (c), Gil Nobbs, Cec Malec, Jim Duggan, Bill Adair, Franco Franchi, Jim McMillan
Coaches: Ken Jones (Western Australia)
Referee: W.T.Burnett
Venue: Norwood Oval, Adelaide
Attendance:
19 April 1954
New South Wales 1 (F.Sands)
Western Australia 0
Status: All-States Carnival
New South Wales (squad): R.Lord, W.Henderson, D.Wendt, C.Almond, K.O’Neill, W.Williams, L.Hearne, D.McComish, K.Walker, R.Herd, C.Stewart, F.Sands, K.Learmont, J.Lennard, J.Peel. H.Robertson
Western Australia: Ron Oswald, John Beveridge, Don McArdle, Con Purser, Max Lucchesi, Ron Adair (c), Mario Casitto, Jim Duggan, Bill Adair, Franco Franchi, Joe Szymanski
Coaches: Ken Jones (Western Australia)
Referee: R.Karney
Venue: Kilburn, Adelaide
Attendance:
6 August 1955
Western Australia 1 (Bill Adair)
Rapid Vienna 6
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Joe Ruyters, Noel Adair (Bob Lynn), Don McArdle, Miro Ulehla, Ron Adair, Don West, Doug Stewart, Con Purser (c), Bill Adair, David Young, Danny Burton
Rapid Vienna: Herbert Gartner, Paul Halla, Josef Bertalan, Gerhard Hanappi, Robert Kaffka, Karl Geisser, Robert Koerner (c), Josef Riegler, Robert Dienst, Bruno Mehsarosch, Alfred Koerner
Coaches: Alex Mansfield (Western Australia), Franz Wagner (Rapid Vienna)
Referee: R.Hill
Venue: Subiaco Oval, Subiaco
Attendance: 14,000
8 August 1955
Western Australia 0
Rapid Vienna 10
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Ron Oswald, Colin Beaman, Bob Lynn, Con Purser (c), Ron Adair, Don West, Bruno Leandri, Bill Adair, Jack Smethurst, Norm Corner, Danny Burton
Rapid Vienna: Walter Zeman, Paul Halla, Karl Honig, Gerhard Hanappi, Robert Kaffka, Lothar Bileck, Robert Koerner (c), Bruno Mehsarosch, Robert Dienst, Alfred Keorner, Josef Bertalan
Coaches: Alex Mansfield (Western Australia), Franz Wagner (Rapid Vienna)
Referee: Ted Bude
Venue: Subiaco Oval, Subiaco
Attendance: 4,300
20 August 1955
Western Australia 1 (Norm Corner)
South Africa 2
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Joe Ruyters, Bob Lynn, Don McArdle, Miro Ulehla, Ron Adair, Don West, Jack Smethurst, Con Purser (c), Bill Adair, Doug Stewart, Norm Corner
South Africa: Albert Uyenbogaardt, John Hastie, Gordon Frew (c), Ken Ziesing, Roelof Oelofse, Cliff Jacques, Danny Le Roux, Brian Gibson, Harold Paton, Ian Palmer, Les Fourie
Coaches: Alex Mansfield (Western Australia), J.E.Kennedy (South Africa)
Referee: R.Hill
Venue: WACA Ground, East Perth
Attendance: 7,000
4 October 1955
Western Australia 1 (Con Purser)
South Africa 2
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Joe Ruyters, Bob Lynn, Eric Shipman, Con Purser (c), Noel Adair, Don West, Bill McBirnie, Ron Adair, Joe Szymanski, Jack Adair, Doug Stewart
South Africa: Albert Uyenbogaardt, John Hastie, Maurice Jacobson, Ken Ziesing, Gordon Frew (c), Cliff Jacques, Danny Le Roux, Harold Paton, Peter Hughes, Brian Petersen, Les Fourie
Coaches: Alex Mansfield (Western Australia), J.E.Kennedy (South Africa)
Referee: R.Hill
Venue: WACA Ground, East Perth
Attendance: 4,500
14 July 1956
Western Australia 1 (Bill Adair)
Australia XI 4 (Colin Kitching 2, Brian Vogler, Spencer Kitching)
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Frank Franken, Noel Adair, Ron Adair, Con Purser (c), Bob Lynn, Don West, Doug Stewart, Tommy Clayton, Ron Churchward, Bill Adair, Bill McBirnie
Australia XI: Bill Henderson, Bob Bignall (c), John Pettigrew, Bob Wemyss, Alwyn Warren, Cliff Sander, Don Brown, Spencer Kitching, Colin Kitching, Graham McMillan, Brian Vogler
Coaches: Alex Mansfield (Western Australia)
Referee: Ben Owenell
Venue: Bayswater Oval, Bayswater
Attendance: 5,240
29 June 1957
Western Australia 1 (Campbell)
Ferencvaros 6
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Peter Vader, John Beveridge, Don McArdle, Con Purser (c), Ron Adair, Don West, Tommy Clayton, Tom Coates, Ken Campbell, Maurice Thorne, Doug Stewart
Ferencvaros: Geza Gulyas (Jozsef Virag), Imre Ombodi, Jeno Dalnoki, Andras Gerendas, Sandor Matri (Mihaly Kispeter), Ferenc Dekany (c), Tamas Kertesz, Miklos Borsos, Pal Orosz, Oskar Vileszal (Zoltan Friedmansky), Mate Fenyvesi
Coaches: Con Purser (Western Australia)
Referee: R.Hill
Venue: WACA Ground, East Perth
Attendance: 9,500
30 June 1957
Western Australia 0
Ferencvaros 9
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Peter Vader, Peter Atkinson, Don McArdle, Con Purser (c), Ron Adair, Don West, Ken Campbell (Renato Del Basso), Vince Rakich, Maurice Thorne, Doug Stewart, Tommy Clayton
Ferencvaros: Geza Gulyas (Jozsef Virag), Imre Ombodi, Jeno Dalnoki (c), Andras Gerendas (T.Tolonics), Sandor Matri, Jozsef Meszaros, Tamas Kertesz (Miklos Borsos), Karoly Lang, Ferenc Szigeti, Oskar Vileszal, Mate Fenyvesi
Coaches: Con Purser (Western Australia)
Referee: R.Mentlein
Venue: WACA Ground, East Perth
Attendance: 11,000
17 August 1957
Western Australia 2 (Bert Turner, Morris Thorne)
Eastern Athletic 6
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Peter Vader (Domenico Di Lollo), John Beveridge, Don McArdle, Con Purser (c), Ron Adair, Don West, Ken Campbell, Tommy Clayton, Bert Turner, Maurice Thorne, Doug Stewart
Eastern Athletic: Yong Poy Dor, Lee Ping-Chiu, Lau Yee, Chan Fai-Hung, Ko Po-Keung (c) (Seto Yiu), Kwok Yau, Ho Cheng-Yau, Yeung Wai-To, Lo Kwok-Tai, Seto Man
Coaches: Con Purser (Western Australia), L.J.Channing (Eastern Athletic)
Referee: R.Mentlein
Venue: WACA Ground, East Perth
Attendance: 4,500
18 August 1957
Western Australia 0
Eastern Athletic 2
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Domenico Di Lollo, John Beveridge, Don McArdle, Maurice Thorne, Con Purser (c), Ron Adair, Don West, John Browning, Tommy Clayton, Bert Turner (Ken Campbell), Tony Monks
Eastern Athletic: Tam Chi Keung, Szeto Yiu, Lau Yee, Chan Fai-Hung, Ko Po-Keung (c), Chau Man-Chi, Ho Ying-Fun, Ho Cheng-Yau, Chau Wing-Keung, Kwok Yau, Szeto Man
Coaches: Con Purser (Western Australia), L.J.Channing (Eastern Athletic)
Referee:
Venue: Bayswater Oval, Bayswater
Attendance: 3,000
2 June 1958
Western Australia 0
Blackpool 2 (Roy Charnley 2)
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Attillo Pasqualotto, John Beveridge, Ron Adair (c), Con Purser, Bob Lynn, Don West, John Bryson, Tommy Clayton, John McInroy, Graham Oughton, Doug Stewart
Blackpool: George Farm, Jimmy Armfield, Barrie Martin, Ewan Fenton, Roy Gratix, Hugh Kelly (c), Peter Hauser, Jimmy Hagan, Roy Charnley, Malcolm Starkey, Jack Wright
Coaches: Con Purser (Western Australia)
Referee: Roy Stedman
Venue: WACA Ground, East Perth
Attendance: 11,000
16 June 1958
South Australia 2 (M.Jobaggy, A.Beattie)
Western Australia 2 (John Bryson, Con Purser)
Status: Friendly
South Australia: J.McCabe, C.Di Bartolo, F.Pagani, G.Chiappin, J.Mather (c), W.Graham, W.McLean, J.Vincic, A.Beattie, B.Esca, M.Jobbagy
Western Australia: Attillo Pasqualotto, John Beveridge, Ron Adair (c), Con Purser, Bob Lynn (Joe Rakich), Don West, John Bryson, Tommy Clayton, John McInroy, Doug Stewart, Graham Oughton
Coaches: Con Purser (Western Australia)
Referee: R.Karney
Venue: Thebarton Oval, Adelaide
Attendance: 3,000
18 June 1958
South Australia 5 (W.McLean 2, A.Beattie, M.Jobaggy, R.Jacobs)
Western Australia 2 (Tommy Clayton, Graham Oughton)
Status: Friendly
South Australia: J.McCabe, C.Di Bartolo, F.Pagani, G.Chiappin, J.Mather (c), W.Graham, W.McLean, K.Welker, A.Beattie, R.Jacobs, M.Jobbagy
Western Australia: Attillo Pasqualotto, John Beveridge, Bob Lynn, Con Purser, Ron Adair (c), Don West, Tommy Clayton, Joe Rakich, John McInroy (John Browning), Doug Stewart, Graham Oughton
Coaches: Con Purser (Western Australia)
Referee: F.R.Ward
Venue: Norwood Oval, Adelaide
Attendance:
15 June 1959
Western Australia 1 (John McInroy)
Heart of Midlothian 10 (Ian Crawford 4, Willie Bauld 3, Alex Young, George Thomson, John Hamilton)
Status: Friendly
Western Australia: Frank Franken, Don McArdle, Ron Adair (c), Peter Atkinson, Noel Adair, Bob Lynn, Jack Dougan, Tommy Clayton, John McInroy, John Bryson, Steve Negroponte
Heart of Midlothian: Gordon Marshall, Robert Kirk, John Lough, Jim Murray, J.Fotheringham, John Cumming, John Hamilton, Alex Young, Willie Bauld (c), George Thomson, Ian Crawford
Coaches: Doug Stewart (Western Australia), Tommy Walker (Heart of Midlothian)
Referee: Roy Stedman
Venue: WACA Ground, East Perth
Attendance: 3,500
