1938 in Australian soccer

Ahead of the first match of the 1938 series against India on 3 September at the Royal Agricultural Showground in Sydney, the Australia team selectors selected what they deemed a "powerful side" regardless of critics views of Australia's difficulty of winning the match by virtue of the strength of the India national team.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133150094 |title=Soccer THE FIRST TEST |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate |issue=19,310 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=1 September 1938 |accessdate=15 November 2024 |page=15 |via=National Library of Australia}} The day before the first match, it was confirmed that debutant Alf Quill would be replaced by an attacker named 'Workman', and confirmed Jimmy Osborne was to play at left-half, Jock Parkes pivot, and further debutants Bill Coolahan would play right-half, and Alf Henwood playing full-back.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article125708482 |title=SOCCER TEST |newspaper=The Maitland Daily Mercury |issue=21,025 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=2 September 1938 |accessdate=15 November 2024 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}} Bill Coolhan was selected to captain the Australia team, with other debutants Alf Henwood, Alf Quill and Max Wynn{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article183453991 |title=India v. Australia In Soccer Test In Sydney To-morrow |newspaper=The Telegraph |location=Queensland, Australia |date=2 September 1938 |accessdate=15 November 2024 |page=14 (CITY FINAL LAST MINUTE NEWS) |via=National Library of Australia}} Australia scored the first goal in the last minute of the first half through Jim Wilkinson leading 1–0 at half time. A. Rahim scored to draw level for India in the second half. Jack Hughes regained Australia's with a brace extending Australia's lead up to 3–1. India fought by Karuna Bhattacharya scoring again for India bringing the match back to 3–2. Alf Quill on debut scored Australia's fourth goal regaining the two goal advantage, until India reduced the deficit for the second time at 4–3 through R. Lumsden. Quill again scored with the final result as a 5–3 win for Australia.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230806463 |title=CLOSE SOCCER GAME |newspaper=The Sun |issue=8943 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=3 September 1938 |accessdate=15 November 2024 |page=9 (LAST FINAL EXTRA) |via=National Library of Australia}}

Five new players; Cec Brittain, Lex Gibb (son of cap. no 1 Alex Gibb becoming the first father and son both capped{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230801386 |title=A SOCCER FAMILY |newspaper=The Sun |issue=1850 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=11 September 1938 |accessdate=15 November 2024 |page=54 |via=National Library of Australia}}), Fat Kitching, Tom Parry, Eric Petie were set to mark their debuts for Australia ahead of their second match against India at Brisbane Showgrounds in Brisbane.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167297699 |title=SECOND SOCCER TEST TEAM |newspaper=The Newcastle Sun |issue=6465 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=5 September 1938 |accessdate=15 November 2024 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}} Coolahan went out of the team, so Jack Evans was chosen to captain the side on the day of the match.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38711284 |title=INDIA MAY REPLACE GOALIE |newspaper=The Courier-mail |issue=1568 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=10 September 1938 |accessdate=15 November 2024 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}} The match was tied 0–0 at half time,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230814457 |title=SCORELESS HALF IN BIG SOCCER |newspaper=The Sun |issue=8949 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=10 September 1938 |accessdate=15 November 2024 |page=9 (LATE FINAL EXTRA) |via=National Library of Australia}} until India scored two goals in the first five minutes of the second half by Rahim and Bhattacharya. Hughes scored one back for Australia, only until India regained a two goal lead when Muhammad Noor made it 3–1. Hughes scored again bringing the game back for Australia, and Kitching on debut levelled the match 3–3. Another debutant Brittain sent Australia into the lead, however India levelled again through Lumsden, with the match finishing as a 4–4 draw.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98003718 |title=McNABB SAVED SIDE |newspaper=Sunday Mail |issue=438 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=11 September 1938 |accessdate=15 November 2024 |page=21 |via=National Library of Australia}}

{{football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = International Friendly

| date = 3 September

| time = 15:15 AEST

| team1 = {{fb-rt|AUS}}

| score = 5–3

| report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Socceroo/1938A.html

| team2 = {{fb|IND|British}}

| goals1 =

• Quill {{goal|?||?}}
• Hughes {{goal|?||?}}
• Wilkinson {{goal|?}}

| goals2 =

• A. Rahim {{goal|?}}
• Bhattacharya {{goal|?}}
• Lumsden {{goal|?}}

| stadium = Royal Agricultural Showground

| location = Sydney, Australia

| attendance = 12,603

| referee = Herbert Reay (Australia)

| result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = International Friendly

| date = 10 September

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|AUS}}

| score = 4–4

| report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Socceroo/1938A.html

| team2 = {{fb|IND|British}}

| goals1 =

• Hughes {{goal|?||?}}
• Kitching {{goal|?}}
• Brittain {{goal|?}}

| goals2 =

• Rahim {{goal|47}}
• Bhattacharya {{goal|49}}
• Mohammed {{goal|?}}
• Lumsden {{goal|?}}

| stadium = Brisbane Exhibition Ground

| location = Brisbane, Australia

| attendance = 10,412

| referee = J. Edwards (Australia)

| result = D

}}

{{football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = International Friendly

| date = 17 September

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|AUS}}

| score = 1–4

| report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Socceroo/1938A.html

| team2 = {{fb|IND|British}}

| goals1 =

• Hughes {{goal|?}}

| goals2 =

• A. Rahim {{goal|?}}
• Lumsden {{goal|?||46|pen.}}
• Bhattacharya {{goal|?}}

| stadium = Newcastle Sports Ground

| location = Newcastle, Australia

| attendance = 6,255

| referee =

| result = L

}}

{{football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = International Friendly

| date = 24 September

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|AUS}}

| score = 5–4

| report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Socceroo/1938A.html

| team2 = {{fb|IND|British}}

| goals1 =

• Hughes {{goal|?||?}}
• Wilkinson {{goal|?||?}}
• Bryant {{goal|?}}

| goals2 =

• K. Prosad {{goal}}
• Lumsden {{goal|?||?||?|pen.}}

| stadium = Royal Agricultural Showground

| location = Sydney, Australia

| attendance = 9,748

| referee =

| result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = International Friendly

| date = 1 October

| time =

| team1 = {{fb-rt|AUS}}

| score = 3–1

| report = http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Socceroo/1938A.html

| team2 = {{fb|IND|British}}

| goals1 =

• J. Hughes {{goal|?||?}}
• Coolahan {{goal|?}}
• McIver {{goal|?}}

| goals2 =

• Lumsden {{goal|?}}

| stadium = Melbourne Cricket Ground

| location = Melbourne, Australia

| attendance = 2,874

| referee = F.R. Thorpe (Australia)

| result = W

}}

• Soccer in Australia

{{Reflist}}

Category:Seasons in Australian soccer

Soccer