George Town United's past, and a few snippets from the present

Photo: George Town United circa 1984 [From the Ralph Dymond collection]

A recent flick through my photographic files uncovered the above photo of the George Town United side of 1984.

George Town United won the Northern top-flight title that season, their first since 1970.

The photo was taken at George Town before the State premiership match against southern champions Juventus Pioneeer, which was contested over two legs.

Juventus won 2-0 to win the State title 4-0 on aggregate.

This was a fine era for George Town United, who had won the Cadbury Trophy a couple of seasons earlier.

New Zealander Peter Davidson is second from the left in the back row, while Liam Monagle is second from the right in the back row and Peter Sawdon is to his left.

Gary Pennicott, father of South Hobart’s Jim Pennicott, is second from the left in the front row, while leading scorer Andy Scheibl is fourth from the left in the front row.

That was quite a team and its demise within a few years was a huge set-back for Tasmanian football.

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South Hobart utility player David Cooper is joining Kingborough Lions United, where his brother, Phil, is a coach.

Green Gully’s Tasmanian striker Mathew Sanders is home for Christmas and has trained with his former club Glenorchy Knights.

Sanders is looking extremely fit and is keeping up his fitness work while back home.

Apparently, his Melbourne club fines players $100 for every kilogram they are over weight.

Darren Frost has been re-elected president of New Town Eagles after the club's AGM.

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Some famous names from the past have passed away in Europe this week.

Ralph Coates, one of Tottenham Hotspur’s greats of the late 1960s and early 1970s died aged 64.

Coates also played for Burnley and Leyton Orient and won four England caps.

He is best known for his winning goal in Tottenham’s 1973 League Cup Final victory over Norwich City, and he was also a member of the Spurs team that won the Uefa Cup the year before.

Two former Liverpool players also passed away this week.

Avi Cohen, the Israeli whose goal earned Bob Paisley’s Liverpool the 1980 league championship, died from head injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident on 20 December. He was 54 years old.

Cohen also played for Glasgow Rangers.

His son, Tamir, plays in midfield for Bolton Wanderers.

Bill Jones, another former Liverpool player, passed away aged 89.

A moment of respect for both former players was held before Liverpool’s game on Wednesday night at Anfield against Wolverhampton Wanderers, a game that Liverpool lost 1-0.

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English Premier League results from Wednesday night:

Liverpool 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wigan Athletic 2-2 Arsenal

Chelsea 1-0 Bolton Wanderers

International friendly

South Korea 1-0 Syria