Alan Westwater

George Alan Westwater (born 26 March 1946) is an Australian former footballer. He was named in the Football Federation Australia's "Team of the Decade" for the period 1963-1970 as a midfielder.[1]

Alan Westwater
Personal information
Full name George Alan Westwater
Date of birth (1946-03-26) 26 March 1946
Place of birth Bridge of Allan, Scotland
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1962 Canterbury-Marrickville
1963–1966 Stirling Albion 41 (8)
1966–1968 Pan Hellenic
National team
1967–1968 Australia 14 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Biography

Westwater was born in Bridge of Allan in Scotland. His father Willie was a footballer for Morton F.C. in the Scottish First Division. The Westwaters moved to Australia in 1957 when Willie transferred to Bankstown in Sydney.[2]

Playing career

In 1962, as a 16-year-old, he made his debut for Canterbury-Marrickville in the New South Wales State League as an active right-side midfielder. During his first season both he and his father played in the state league.[3]

In 1963 the Canterbury club raised £500 to enable the 17-year-old Westwater to try his luck in Scotland for the 1963–64 season. A condition imposed by the club was that Westwater had to play with them on his return to Sydney for two years. He tried out with the Rangers[4] but ended up signing with Stirling Albion on 31 August 1963.[5] After three seasons he returned to Sydney, Australia to play for Pan Hellenic.[6]

International career

His composure in midfield and willingness to join in attack earned Westwater his international debut for Australia in 1967 against Scotland. He scored his first international goal against Singapore in November 1967 and scored his second goal ten days later against Singapore again. He played the last of his 14 international matches in April 1968 against Japan in Adelaide.[7][8]

Honours

In December 2013 Westwater was named in the Football Federation Australia "Team of the Decade" for the period 1963–1970.[1]

References
  1. "FFA celebrates 50 years of FIFA membership by naming its 'Teams of the Decade'". Fox Sports Australia. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  2. Smith, Terry (13 April 1962). "Schoolboy in Soccer". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 12. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  3. "Best And Fairest - AWARDS TO FATHER, SON IN SOCCER". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 April 1962. p. 18. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  4. "Tour Plans by 3 Soccer Clubs". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 July 1963.
  5. "Scottish Football Transfers 1963". Archived from the original on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  6. "Westwater, George Alan". Australian Player Database. OzFootball. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  7. Howe, Andrew (2008). The Australian National Men's Football Team: Caps And Captains. Football Federation Australia.
  8. "Teams of the Decade | Men's 1963-1970". Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
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