Sydney Showgrounds, New South Wales

New South Wales versus Torpedo Moscow Sunday 21 March, 1965.

Photo: Laurie Schwab collection, Deakin University Library, sourced from Soccer World Yearbook, 1966

The New South Wales team from left to right is: Les Scheinflug, Herbert Ninaus, Pat Woods, Vic Fernandez, John Giacometti, Roy Blitz, Sretan Dacevski, Pat Hughes, Mita Stojanovic, Trevor Edwards (obscured), Brian Rhodes.

The Australian Soccer Federation, which succeeded the Australian Soccer Football Association, had only had its membership of FIFA restored in July 1963. That allowed tours by overseas teams to recommence, so Torpedo and Chelsea were among the early teams to come to Australia and they both drew big crowds.

The Russians won 1-0 in the final game of their seven-match tour, with a goal scored by Oleg Sergeyev in the 53rd minute.

The attendance at the Sydney Showgrounds was 30,150.

The above information is courtesy of Roy Hay, director of  Sports and Editorial Services Australia and Greg Stock, of  ozfootball.net

The Showgrounds are more conventionally known for parades, woodchops, sheep judging competitions and the like.

This photo was taken in 1964, and is courtesy of the National Archives of Australia.

To see a sheep-judging scoreboard (for medium merinos), visit the State Library of New South Wales.

The Showgrounds precinct is now also home to the new Australian Rules football team, Greater Western Sydney. The Giants will be playing a handful of games at Skoda Stadium later this year.