1990 - 2009
The sleeping giant has awakened
1990
Perth Italia’s Peter Murphy scores nine times in the 10-1 win over Kwinana United to equal the post-war record set by John McInroy in 1959.
The Soccer Administration of Western Australia is formed under the supervision of the State Government. SAWA oversees and has the support of the men’s, women’s juniors and amateur bodies.
It’s a memorable years for John Hunter who wins the Gold Medal and Golden Boot awards. The Floreat Athena striker gets five hat-tricks on his way to scoring 31 goals from 17 games.
1991
The Soccer Federation of Western Australia withdraw their membership of SAWA. Eleven clubs promptly resign from SFWA and join the new Professional Soccer League.
Tony Carbone captains Australia at the Under-17 World Championship in Italy. Vas Kalogeracos is also part of the squad, which bows out in the quarter-finals to Argentina.
West Australia returns to Indonesia’s Marah Halim Cup where a 3-1 victory over Jakarta earns third place.
1992
The Western Australian Women’s Soccer Association secures a management licence on Gibbney Reserve in Maylands.
On Saturday June 6 Western Australia surge to a shock 3-2 win over German side Werder Bremen, who had won the European Cup Winners Cup two weeks previously.
The Professional Soccer Federation is established following a merger between PSL and SFWA. Two years later they change their operating name to Soccer West Coast.
Tony Carbone, Vas Kalogeracos, Vince Matassa and Dale Wingell are part of the Australia Youth team that defeats Brazil 1-0 in a friendly at Fremantle Oval.
1993
Perth referee Marilyn Learmont becomes the first woman to officiate in a National Soccer League match when she runs the line in the West Adelaide-Brisbane Strikers clash on Sunday February 21.
Tony Carbone scores the first ever golden goal in world football on Saturday March 13. The midfielder nets 99 minutes into Australia’s World Youth Championship quarter-final clash with Uruguay.
1994
Scotland-born Eddie Lennie wins the Australian Referee of the Year.
The newly-formed Perth Kangaroos are crowned Singapore League champions after completing the season without loss. Paul Strudwick is the league’s joint top scorer with 16 goals.
Lizzy Claydon and Tracey Wheeler are selected in the first Australian women’s squad to tour Europe. The duo are later part of the Matilda’s squad at the 1995 Women’s World Cup tournament in Sweden.
1995
Stan Lazaridis signs for London club West Ham United. The left winger will make close to 400 appearances in a professional career spanning 14-seasons in Australia and England.
The State team gets the better of English clubs West Ham United and Nottingham Forest in mid-year friendlies.
The second ‘A’ international played in West Australia sees Ghana stun the Socceroos 1-0 at the WACA Ground.
Perth Glory is revealed as the name of Western Australia’s first national league team on Friday December 1.
1996
Referee Eddie Lennie is one of 16 officials at the Atlanta Olympic Games, where he takes charge of three games.
Perth Glory’s NSL debut is a 4-1 loss to UTS Olympic at Perth Oval. Alan MacKenzie scores the fledgling club’s solitary goal after 89 minutes on Sunday October 13.
Gary Marocchi becomes the first association footballer to be inducted into the West Australian Institute of Sport Hall of Champions.
1997
Perth Glory finish their inaugural season in seventh place, just a single point short of the finals. Their average attendance of 11,871 is close to double that of most other NSL clubs.
1998
The total number of registered junior players in West Australia exceeds the 10,000 mark.
Eddie Lennie is named amongst 32 referee’s for the World Cup finals tournament in France. He officiates the Italy-Cameroon and Romania-Tunisia fixtures before being fourth official for Morocco vs Norway.
Stirling Macedonia defender Andy Wright collects the Gold Medal as the league’s best player for the second time in 12 months. The previous year he shared the award with Spearwood Dalmatinac attacker Paul Lincoln.
1999
“Review of the Administration Structure of Soccer in Western Australia” calls for SAWA to be abolished and a new peak body implemented to control and manage all aspects for the game.
ECU Joondalup complete a remarkable rise to the top when they win the Premier League title, only five years after entering the ranks of Saturday football.
2000
Perth Glory finish top of the NSL for the first time. A few weeks later a record crowd of 43,242 endure a rollercoaster of emotions as Glory go down to Wollongong Wolves on penalties in the Grand Final at Subiaco Oval.
2001
The West Australian Under-19s line-up at the Tournoi de Criox in Lille, France. The State youth team makes the trip again twelve months later.
2002
Fremantle City’s Robert Zabica is Goalkeeper of the Year for the fourth time. The 27-time capped Socceroo previously won the award with Spearwood Dalmatinac (1995), Bayswater City (1999) and Inglewood United (2000).
Perth Glory dominate the home and away series to win their second Minor Premiership. But like two years earlier they lose the Grand Final, this time to Olympic Sharks.
2003
Perth Glory win their first NSL Grand Final, defeating Olympic Sharks 2-0 at Subiaco Oval courtesy of goals from Jamie Harnwell and Damian Mori.
Lisa De Vanna (Adelaide Sensation) is joint winner of the Julie Dolan Medal, awarded to the best player in the women’s national league, with Heather Garriock (Queensland Sting). The Fremantle-born striker is also presented the Golden Boot award.
Midfielder Tal Karp starts all three of Australia’s games at the Women’s World Cup tournament in the United States of America.
Perth SC win their fourth successive Grand Final, defeating Western Knights 2-1.
2004
Nik Mrdja comes off the bench to propel Perth Glory to a 1-0 win over Parramatta Power in the 2003/04 NSL Grand Final.
Western Waves become Western Australia’s first women’s national league team. They are captained by Tanya Oxtoby and coached by Alistair Edwards.
2005
Football West replaces SAWA as the game’s governing body. All facets of the code – mens, womens, juniors and amateurs – now come under the one umbrella.
Australia defeats Indonesia 3-0 in a friendly at Subiaco Oval. Ante Milicic scores twice and David Zdrilic once in a fundraiser for victims of a Tsunami tragedy in Indonesia.
2006
Bobby Despotovski collects the 2005/06 Johnny Warren Medal as the A-League’s player of the year. The 35-year old striker also shares the Golden Boot award.
Referee Angelo Nardi is awarded his fifth Golden Whistle award. The following year he officiates the ‘A’ international friendly between Japan and Peru.
2007
Floreat Athena complete a remarkable Premier League campaign 15 points of clear of their nearest rival. They win 18 and draw four of 22 home and away games.
2008
Perth Glory finish the inaugural W-League season second from bottom having picked up only three wins from ten games. Tanya Oxtoby captains the team, which is coached by Nicola Williams.
2009
15-year old Samantha Kerr is the recipient of the Players’ Player of the Year at the annual W-League awards night.
