28 Socceroos presented with 'caps'

Football Federation Australia (FFA) today announced that twenty eight Socceroos will be presented with ‘caps’ prior to the Australia v Bahrain FIFA 2010 World Cup qualification match at Stadium Australia in Sydney last night.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) today announced that twenty eight Socceroos will be presented with ‘caps- prior to the Australia v Bahrain FIFA 2010 World Cup qualification match at Stadium Australia in Sydney last night.

The caps are awarded to every player who has played an 'A' international for Australia.

“The cap program is about celebrating the history of our code and the role all Socceroos have played in developing the game,” said FFA CEO, Ben Buckley.

“We are very proud of every player who has represented Australia and we thank them for their contribution to the growth of football.”

Each cap includes the match details of the player-s debut game, as well as their Socceroo ‘number-.

The group recognised tonight includes Socceroos who played for Australia from 1949 (Kevin O'Neill) through to 2006 (Michael Valkanis and Travis Dodd).

The most capped player in the group is Milan Ivanovic who represented Australia on 59 occasions.

Also recognised tonight is Jack Reilly, Australia's 1974 FIFA World Cup goalkeeper (and FFA Board member) and Col Curran who also played in the 1974 World Cup campaign.

In all over 500 players have pulled on the green and gold since Australia-s first international match in 1922.

Buckley said that the cap program was introduced only in recent years which is why there is still a catch-up with players of previous generations.

“Anyone who has pulled on the ‘green and gold- for their country deserves to have their achievement recognised appropriately,” Buckley said.

The players were (cap number listed in front of name): 113. Kevin O'Neill 136. Keith Learmonth 186. Alan Marnoch 214. Jack Reilly 218. Colin Curran 245. Gary Byrne 249. Jim Tansey 255. Kevin Mullen 276. Gary Meier 278. Tony Henderson 280. Steve O'Connor 285. Tommy Cumming 297. Danny Moulis 316. Brett Woods 319. David Ratcliffe 327.Peter Tredinnick 372. Milan Ivanovic 380. Andrew Marth 384. Darren Stewart 385. Mike Grbevski 401. John Markovski 416. George Kulcsar 417. Walter Ardone 426. Luke Casserly 437. Brad Maloney 471. Ante Juric 496. Travis Dodd 497. Michael Valkanis