Australian photographs secured for the future
Liam Watson

There’s nothing better than looking through the archives.

Seeing your favourite clubs and old-time players in action, plus reliving some memorable moments, should be cherished.

In a move to protect and secure the history of Australian soccer, Football NSW and Football Victoria have united with leaders in the game and passionate fans to ensure some old photographs are brought here to Australia.

The huge collection of photographs related to Australian soccer has been able to be retrieved thanks to the two member federations and seven leading individuals who have all contributed money to the cause.

There has been a deposit paid for more than 19,000 soccer photographs which was previously in Fairfax Media’s photographic collection.

Under Fairfax’s control, the Australian photographs were among two million of them which were sold by the media organisation to US interests in 2012.

Fairfax currently own the digitised collection of photographs, but the originals which represent Australian soccer history from the 1920s to the 1990s, are held in the United States.

With the help of several key Australian personnel, they’re aiming to bring these valuable photographs back home.

Along with Football NSW and Victoria Federations, the following have each added their contribution to a deposit for the photograph collection – FOX Sports commentator and journalist Simon Hill, Chairman and deputy Chairman of new A-League expansion side Macarthur FC, Rabieh Krayem and Gino Marra.

Adding to these key figures are fans Tom Kalas from Melbourne, Chris Kunz of Bowral, Bonita Mersiades of Sydney and Christo Patsan of Newcastle.

With their assistance, they are doing their bit to make sure Australian soccer’s history and heritage are preserved for future generations.

Who doesn’t love going back to old times? This is the exact thing that can help connect more people to the game of soccer and reminisce on the key moments that matter in our history.