Summary

Autographed Official Gold Cup Soccer Ball, signed by members of the Socceroos, in 1974. Distinguishable signatures are Peter Ollerton, Peter Wilson, Murray Barnes and Col Bennett. This ball is part of a collection of material relating to Attila Abonyi, former Socceroo and Melbourne Soccer Club player.

'My parents didn't have a word of English.but the fact there was a Hungarian soccer club, they could go along ...and mingle with Hungarians. It was a social event even more than a football club.' Attilla Abonyi quoted in Sportblog article, Joe Gorman, 2014

Attilla Abonyi was ten years old when his family fled Hungary in 1957, escaping the Soviet invasion. He migrated to Melbourne under the Hungarian Refugee Assistance Scheme. By 1960 Atti was playing for the newly formed Melbourne Hungaria and was part of the team that lifted the Australia Cup in 1967. He went on to play for the Socceroos in the 1974 World Cup, becoming one of Australia's greatest footballers.

Physical Description

Spherical white leather soccer ball made up of padded bands of leather which have been sewn together. A small round red valve is on top of the ball and is used to inflate it with air. A `Gold Cup' logo is printed underneath the valve, and the ball has been signed all over in black ink.

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