Football medal

View this record on the National Museum of Australia's website

Type: Medals
Materials: Metal - non specific
Collection: John 'Johnny' Warren collection
Accession number: 2007.0084.0226

Description

A shield shaped medal with ribbon bar attachment at top with a length of red and white vertically striped ribbon. The shield features text that reads 'FOOTBALL / FRIENDLY MATCHES / 1971' and three football club emblems in coloured enamel. The ribbon bar features three national flags in coloured enamel, Australia, Denmark and Japan.

About the collection

The John 'Johnny' Warren Collection includes an extensive range of materials detailing his days playing for junior teams in the Botany area of South Sydney in the 1950s, through his senior club years in the 1960s and 1970s, and national representative career as a Socceroo from 1965 to 1974. The collection also details Warren's later work as a soccer coach and administrator, journalist and television commentator, and incorporates files and publications related to his work as a government advisor and advocate for the sport. Warren was Australia's most famous soccer player who tirelessly championed a sport regarded as a minor footballing code in this country. An attacking midfielder of great speed and skill, he played in the NSW State League and was chosen to represent Australia in 1965. His national representative career stretched over a decade, culminating in his participation in the 1974 World Cup in West Germany. After retiring as a player, Warren worked as a coach, administrator, journalist and television commentator promoting the sport he loved. He became the face of Australian soccer, championing the sport for many years through a long and cherished partnership with his colleague and friend Les Murray on SBS Television.

Read live from the Museum's Collection API (12/11/2026, 6:30:09 am). Record last updated by the Museum 2025-02-17. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.