Mariners honour Joe Marsden

Peninsula resident Mr Joe Marsden was one of four ex-Socceroos living on the Central Coast honoured by the Mariners recently at the Central Coast Stadium.

Mr Marsden was the first major Australian soccer export when he went to the UK to play in the English Premiere League.

There he played in a famous championship winning side at the time, Preston North End.

Mr Marsden and his wife of 58 years, Edith, met at Lambert Park in Sydney at a soccer match when Joe was playing for Leichhardt Annandale, the precursor to the Italian-backed APIA Leichhardt who took over the ground at a later date.

They married in 1947 when Joe was 22 years old.

When Mr Marsden signed for the Premiere League club, they flew to England on a Constellation which was the first intercontinental airliner and the trip took four days, staying over at first class hotels each night.

They remained in England for five and a half years where Joe was treated as a local hero.

In 1990, the Australian Soccer Federation named the medal presented to the best and fairest player in the National Soccer League grand final in Mr Marsden's honour.

Mr Marsden is now 80 years old and is still very interested in football following the local and international competitions closely, staying up late at night to watch live matches on television.

Mr and Mrs Marsden live in Umina, having lived on the Central Coast for eight years.

"His new-found recognition by the Central Coast Mariners has further rejuvenated his interest in the sport," his wife said.

"He goes to all their games and has enjoyed them immensely."

Cec Bucello, September 2