Few figures loom larger over Australian football than that of Joe Marston. As the Norm Smith medal is to the AFL, the Joe Marston Medal is to the A-League. The grandstand at Lambert Park, home to Apia Leichhardt since the 1950s carries the Marston name, and footballers of each generation since the 50s hold his name in due reverence.
The first Australian to appear in an F.A Cup Final, the first Australian to sign a contract with an English Division 1 club, Preston North End began his football journey in the late 1930s in the Sydney Protestant Churches Competition with St.Augustines CoE in Stanmore.
Marston would graduate to the local state league side Leichhardt-Annandale, who's home was Lambert Park, play for the Nth v. the South, NSW and then make his debut for Australia against the touring Springboks in 1947.
In 1950 he signed with Preston Nth End then in the second division, where he stayed for four seasons enjoying promotion to the English First Division. He succumbed to homesickness, after the disappointment of Preston's FA Cup loss, returning to the Reds from Lambert Park for the 1954 season.
Joe would go on to star with, then coach Apia, who took over Leichhardt-Annaldale, then becoming Apia Leichhardt. The comforts of the local area stayed with the Marston until he and his wife retired to Umina.
Marston's was the brightest star to arise from the district and it all began with his local church team St.Augustines. Sadly the church is no longer standing.
The first Australian to appear in an F.A Cup Final, the first Australian to sign a contract with an English Division 1 club, Preston North End began his football journey in the late 1930s in the Sydney Protestant Churches Competition with St.Augustines CoE in Stanmore.
Marston would graduate to the local state league side Leichhardt-Annandale, who's home was Lambert Park, play for the Nth v. the South, NSW and then make his debut for Australia against the touring Springboks in 1947.
In 1950 he signed with Preston Nth End then in the second division, where he stayed for four seasons enjoying promotion to the English First Division. He succumbed to homesickness, after the disappointment of Preston's FA Cup loss, returning to the Reds from Lambert Park for the 1954 season.
Joe would go on to star with, then coach Apia, who took over Leichhardt-Annaldale, then becoming Apia Leichhardt. The comforts of the local area stayed with the Marston until he and his wife retired to Umina.
Marston's was the brightest star to arise from the district and it all began with his local church team St.Augustines. Sadly the church is no longer standing.
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