Sydney United celebrate 50 years at football?s pinnacle

Dubbed by many as one of the country?s most successful football clubs, Sydney United has produced a mass amount of Australian representatives which included Tim Cahill, Mark Bosnich, Atti Abonyi, Jim Patikas, Graham Arnold, Zeljko Kalac, Jason Culina, Robbie Slater, Tony Popovic, Ante Milicic among many others.
The evening also saw the club launch its official 300 page hard bound book, ?More than the game ? 50 Years of Sydney United?, which was published to mark its fiftieth anniversary.
The book traces the origins of the club from games between newly arrived migrants in Sydney’s Moore Park in the 1950s and recounts its many footballing successes over the past 50 years.
Sydney United FC President Harry Stilin stated that, ?Never in the history of Croatia Sydney SFC / Sydney United FC, has there ever been a turnout such as this which is rich in football greatness and talent. The club has had no fewer than 48 full Internationals play for the Socceroos which were as follows:
PLAYER HONOURS – AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONALS
Atti Abonyi, Zlatko Arambasic, Walter Ardone, Graham Arnold, Francis Awaritefe, Mark Babic, Zeljko Babic , Paul Bilokapic, Mark Bosnich, Ken Boden, Jacob Burns, Ron Corry, John Davies, John Doyle, Robert Enes, Craig Foster, Tony Franken, Aytek Genc, Mike Gibson, Mike Grbevski, Joel Griffiths, Robert Hooker, Alan Hunter, Graham Jennings, Zeljko Kalac, Eddy Krncevic, Tony Krslovic, John McDonald, David Mitchell, Ante Moric, Kevin Mullen, Zarko Odzakov, Jim Patikas, Tony Popovic, Ray Richards, John Russell, Abbas Saad, Wally Savor, Hilton Silva, Robbie Slater, Mile Sterjovski, Peter Stone, Robert Trajkovski, Billy Vojtek, Greg Woodhouse, Brett Woods, Ned Zelic, David Zdrilic.
Stilin further stated that, ?It is very important for the club to keep producing players who go to the next level and play in the A-League and or overseas and the club is committed towards their ongoing vision of producing fine players for the future.
?The club?s success can only measured by its ability to nurture hence the clubs goal and vision is to keep producing players of exceptional quality.?
The night was that extra special when an All Stars side was selected as part of the 50 year festivities on the evening.
Each ?All Star? was given a commemorative crystal football honouring them for their services to the club. The 50th Anniversary All Stars were as follows:
SYDNEY UNITED FC – 50th Anniversary All Stars 2008
Goalkeepers
Ron Corry, Zeljko Kalac
Defenders
Wally Savor, Vedran Rozic, Mirko Susa, Velimir Kupresak, Tony Popovic
Midfielders
Eduardo Massey, Zarko Odzakov, Marijan Kovacic, Ivan Petkovic, Maurice Sullivan
Forwards
Graham Arnold, Robbie Slater, Atti Abonyi, Mannis Lammond, Ante Milicic
Coach: Branko Culina
Football NSW would like to acknowledge and congratulate Sydney United on its 50th anniversary and will also wish to thank the club for presenting a special 50th anniversary plaque.