Slice of Australian football history goes on display as Robbie Slater’s Maradona shirt lands at the SCG
SINCE 1993 it has sat in a drawer, only its owner understanding its true worth. But now the shirt that Diego Maradona gave to Robbie Slater 25 years ago is to go on display.
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SINCE 1993 it has sat in a drawer, only its owner understanding its true worth.
But now the shirt that Diego Maradona gave to Robbie Slater after the World Cup playoff at what is now Allianz Stadium 25 years ago is to go on display at that very precinct, as a reminder of one of the game’s momentous nights.
A chance conversation between SCG Trust officials and Slater sparked the idea, and the shirt has been loaned by the former Socceroo for the SCG Museum., where he has been promised it will be revered as highly as a Don Bradman bat.
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Famously Maradona’s wife sought out Slater’s shirt after the game, and a short while later Diego himself reciprocated in kind.
“I think it’s only right it goes on display because it was a record crowd (of 43,967) and an incredible occasion,” said Slater. “It’s been locked away and it’s nice to see football commemorated.
“We don’t have a museum of football as such, but at least this is a start.”
See you soon @chrisikonomidis #WSW pic.twitter.com/gGJk0KUrCU
— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) February 1, 2018
WESTERN Sydney can take kudos for landing Lazio attacker Chris Ikonomidis, but they had some competition. Melbourne City made a big play for the young Socceroo, and Adelaide were keen too, but we hear Josep Gombau’s relationship with Ikonomidis from the Australian U23s swung the day.
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MARINERS midfielder Liam Rose knocked back the chance to move to Melbourne City this week, and the question of the 20-year-old’s future is a confusing one.
Rose had an option in his contract to activate another season on the Central Coast, and when he didn’t activate it by the required deadline the club assumed he would be moving on.
But now Rose has told teammates he wants to stay with the Mariners and win his place back.
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THERE’S no doubting how seriously Sydney FC are taking the AFC Champions League, which begins for them on Valentine’s Day with a home fixture against Suwon Bluewings. Sky Blues assistant coach Phil Moss, along with one of the club’s football analysts, travelled to South Korea to watch Suwon’s playoff match against Thanh Hoa, which they easily won 5-1 without former Sydney defender Matt Jurman.
OTHER codes, including the NRL, have taken notice of the Western Sydney Wanderers W-League mentoring program and are aiming to follow suit.
The program matches every W-League player with a suitable mentor for the duration of the season. It’s designed to help the players plan for the future, while also supporting their mental and physical health. Specifically aimed at female players, the program aims to ensure they receive enough support to balance home life, work and football.
THE pitch for Friday night’s clash between Sydney FC and Wellington will be as bumpy as you’d expect after a weekend of Rugby 7s on it just a few days ago.
But we hear the 7s tournament was marked in the diary a year ago. Clearly FFA has a logistic nightmare in putting its schedule together, especially when you add in trying to give Sydney and Melbourne Victory respite around the Asian Champions League.
But you have to wonder whether this might not have been a game to take elsewhere as a one-off, even a regional round.
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FORMER Sydney FC CEO Tony Pignata won’t be back on the A-League treadmill — he’s told friends he won’t be applying for the same post at Melbourne Victory.