George Alan Westwater (26 March 1946 – 27 June 2024) was a Scottish-Australian soccer player. He was named in the Football Federation Australia's "Team of the Decade" for the period 1963–1970 as a midfielder.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | George Alan Westwater | ||
| Date of birth | 26 March 1946 | ||
| Place of birth | Bridge of Allan, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 27 June 2024 (aged 78) | ||
| Place of death | Denny, Scotland | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1962 | Canterbury-Marrickville | ||
| 1963–1966 | Stirling Albion | 41 | (8) |
| 1966–1968 | Pan Hellenic | ||
| International career | |||
| 1967–1968 | Australia | 14 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Early life
editWestwater was born in Bridge of Allan in Scotland. His father Willie was a footballer for Morton F.C. in Scottish Division A. The Westwaters moved to Australia in 1957 when Willie transferred to Bankstown in Sydney.[2]
Club career
editIn 1962, as a 16-year-old, Westwater made his debut for Canterbury-Marrickville in the New South Wales State League as an active right-side midfielder. During his first season both he and his father played in the state league.[3]
In 1963 the Canterbury club raised £500 to enable the 17-year-old Westwater to try his luck in Scotland for the 1963–64 season. A condition imposed by the club was that Westwater had to play with them on his return to Sydney for two years. He tried out with the Rangers[4] but ended up signing with Stirling Albion on 31 August 1963.[5] After three seasons he returned to Sydney, Australia to play for Pan Hellenic.[6]
International career
editWestwater's composure in midfield and willingness to join in attack earned Westwater his international debut for Australia in 1967 against Scotland. He scored his first international goal against Singapore in November 1967 and scored his second goal ten days later against Singapore again. He played the last of his 14 international matches in April 1968 against Japan in Adelaide.[7][8]
Death
editWestwater died in Denny, Falkirk on 27 June 2024, at the age of 78.[9]
Honours
editCanterbury Bankstown
- NSW Federation Cup runner-up: 1962
Australia
Individual
In December 2013 Westwater was named in the Football Federation Australia "Team of the Decade" for the period 1963–1970.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b "FFA celebrates 50 years of FIFA membership by naming its 'Teams of the Decade'". Fox Sports Australia. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ Smith, Terry (13 April 1962). "Schoolboy in Soccer". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 12. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ^ "Best And Fairest - AWARDS TO FATHER, SON IN SOCCER". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 April 1962. p. 18. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ^ "Tour Plans by 3 Soccer Clubs". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 July 1963.
- ^ "Scottish Football Transfers 1963". Archived from the original on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ "Westwater, George Alan". Australian Player Database. OzFootball. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ^ Howe, Andrew (2008). The Australian National Men's Football Team: Caps And Captains. Football Federation Australia.
- ^ "Teams of the Decade | Men's 1963-1970". Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ "Vale Alan Westwater". Socceroos.com.au. Football Australia. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ "1967 Australia Men's National Team Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
External links
edit- Alan Westwater at National-Football-Teams.com
