“MR & MRS SOCCER”

Not quite the “love at first sight; eyes that locked as they glanced around a crowded room” beginning but, a romance nonetheless.

For almost a quarter of a century, two blokes, from different backgrounds who through years of sharing a smoke, a bottle of Grand Marnier and a love of the World Game, have forged a partnership unequalled in sporting circles.

Together they have orchestrated the growth and popularity of world soccer in an Australian market once narrowed in its view of ball sports consisting purely of rugby league, union or Aussie rules.

The Beginning …

Les was a fan of Johnny’s before they were friends, watching him play for Canterbury in the NSW First Division soccer competition against the Budapest team (which later became St George)

The Urge (Les’s) family were fanatically, passionate about their soccer to the point of the five member clan (mum, dad & three boys) travelling from Wollongong each weekend to follow the Sydney clubs – to his own admission; almost “stalking” the players

Johnny moved from Canterbury to St George and found the supporters completely “into” everything about the team and sport - there were these kids hanging around all the time. Those kids were Les and his brothers

Les’s passion for the game stems from his European background – it’s like a religion. It’s not just sport … it’s the lifeblood of the world’s people

The Murray/Warren collaboration began with the pair in the commentary box calling the 1980 Grand Final between Sydney City and Heidelberg. Prior to this Johnny had been working with another sporting commentator, notorious for his one-eyed rugby league view and, on teaming up with Les reportedly said:- “I was {finally} working with someone who genuinely wanted to see the game develop, someone who called it as I saw it. The impact was instantaneous. From day one there was a unity of expression and belief; a common appreciation and sense of purpose.”

The courtship had begun …

Incidentally, this was the same year that Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) was formed.

The SBS Vehicle …

Following the 1980 NSL Grand Final, Les started at SBS full-time - SBS was prepared to give football a go and Les was the one to give it oxygen and impetus

Les formulated the World Soccer program which went for 20-odd years which has since been packaged into The World Game: 4 hours of non-stop soccer on Australian free to air television every Sunday

While Johnny was doing a few TV segments, some radio and columns – SBS was a specialist television station with football-mad people and Les thought he was a perfect fit to the SBS family

From a one-off Grand Final in 1980 to picking up an assortment of games here and there, to developing a soccer department, and uprooting and travelling overseas to cover Australia in the World Cup … Mr & Mrs Soccer’s partnership was concreted

On the Road …

Les & Johnny obviously don’t follow the old sporting adage of “what goes on tour, stays on tour” as they recount, in the book, some of their more memorable moments on the road following international soccer.

A few that come to mind:-

As Les apparently likes to drive everywhere, even when abroad, whilst in France in ’98 he managed to end up in Germany looking for Brazil’s training session. This was after a speech to the gathered staff that lateness , unprofessionalism and tardiness would not be tolerated.

After heading off for Brazil’s last open training session before the tournament, Les at the wheel, he managed to miss the turnoff, only realising as the next exit indicated that they were fast approaching Strasbourg, Germany.

They finally made it, weaving their way through quaint country villages asking directions along the way.
To their relief, they arrived for the start of the session as the Brazilian team (obviously not privy to Les’s speech on tardiness) were their usual two hours late anyway.

Another is when Les recalls the long hours, hectic schedule and tiredness whilst travelling together for Italia ’90 …

Les & Johnny, as usual, were sharing a bathroom in their apartment and, as Les points out, the vanity was full of Johnny’s “shit” – tonics, aftershaves, potions, supplements – you name it.
As the month wore on Johnny began looking a little under the weather and it reached the point where Dominic (Dominic Galati, SBS Head of Sport at the time) asked, ‘Johnny, are you OK? Your complexion’s a bit off, you’re looking a bit worn, and your hair looks like shit. What’s up?’

The morning after the exchange, Johnny was in the bathroom and started laughing as he recalled to Les …
“Dominic was right. I’ve just realised that for the last three weeks I’ve been using skin tonic on my hair and hair tonic on my face.”

A vivid demonstration of the term “Mr & Mrs Soccer” came in Portugal ’91 when a change in the supplier of official gear for the Socceroos meant some unwanted tracksuits were floating around and were passed on to Johnny & Les by the supplier’s rep.
Apparently the high quality, green & gold apparel was worn religiously by the pair – looking like Japanese honeymooners in their matching his & hers.

The aftermath of the 2002 World Cup was quite a turning point … as Johnny points out when he walked into Les’s office after the tournament with his desk covered in newspapers with massive colour photos of Ronaldo & Cafu celebrating Brazil’s win.

Les threw the paper at Johnny and said – “Our job is finished. Mission accomplished. The fight is over. Football is now where we’ve always wanted it to be.”

In a big way, Les was right. After twenty-three years of hard slog and fighting for recognition, in the afterglow of the massive television ratings, Australia was finally awake to the reality of football."