Legends of Football

Did you know that the National Soccer League was played in winter? Harry was broadcasting the game on SBS and realised it could not compete with the established winter sports; rugby league, AFL and Union. In order to save the game, he lobbied prominent board member Nick Papalo (well known and successful lawyer) who in turn, managed to convince other Soccer Australia board members of the merit of Harry’s recommendation. The governing body did not have the advertising money to compete and so, the game was moved to a summer schedule. Harry’s strategic call reinvigorated the game and gave it a true national identity and life!

The Legends of Football function at ANZ Stadium (home of the Sydney Olympics) hosted by the Western Sydney Wanderers Football Club

Harry was recently honoured amongst other leading football luminaries in this country at the Legends of Football function at ANZ Stadium (home of the Sydney Olympics) hosted by the Western Sydney Wanderers Football Club

The function recognised the major contributors to the game in Australia and in particular, Harry was singled out as being the only man brave enough to take a chance broadcasting the game here. In fact, in the first year of his rights deal, he personally funded the entire season! He was only permitted to broadcast the second half of matches because SBS (the host network) and t he board of directors of Soccer Australia did not believe there was a television appetite for 90 minutes of football! So Harry had to film and produce an entire game only to have it literally cut in half. 

In attendance at the function were; Andy Paschalidis, Ian Holmes, Paul Wade (who Harry employed with Mike Cockerill and Andy Harper as commentators/hosts at Optus Vision and C7 when he was Director for Soccer) Les Scheinflug, Peter Katholos, Gary Phillips, Manfred Schaefer, Alan Davidson and Remo Nogarotto to name just a few.