President of the Cringila Maltese Club, football reunion organiser and former player, Louis Parnis, with former Socceroo Ante Covic and event sponsor Frank Farrugia. Photo: Zoe Cartwright.
Replays of football glory from the 80s and 90s, passionate discussions about the merits of different players and fond memories of “Uncle Joe” made for a warm reunion for George Cross FC players in Cringila.
The club, later called the George Cross Falcons Club, fielded soccer teams in the 60s and again in the 80s and 90s as a way for members of the Maltese community to connect and share their passion for the game.
Maltese Club president Louis Parnis brought dozens of former players and their families together for a friendly reunion in the hall in Cringila where it all began.
Home videos of matches were projected onto the stage all evening, while attendees enjoyed plenty of good food, wine and company.
Former Socceroos goalkeeper Ante Covic attended to present the players with a shirt in the style of the original team uniform.
He said the enthusiasm in the room was palpable – and unsurprising.
“I don’t think you ever lose that competitive drive,” he said.
“Even now I’m retired I play in the over 45s at my junior club with a few friends, and I still get a little bit of that white-line fever; I still go out there to win. It’s hard to shake that.
“I have life-long friendships at that club from when I started playing at the age of five.
“My background is Croatian, and for immigrants who came in the 60s and 70s football was a meeting ground, it united them – Maltese, Italian, Greek, Croatian.
“It wasn’t just the football, it’s the social aspect; I think it’s fantastic.”
Members of the club thanked Ante for his many years on the football pitch, and for the joy that so many people got from watching him play.
But the guest of honour at the reunion was Uncle Joe Magro, Sr, with players sharing memories of his passion and dedication to the side.
“I remember him running up and down the sideline yelling, ‘You must score, you must score,'” Louis said.
Now aged 95, Joe does less running these days but was all smiles as his great-grandson walked him up to the stage to receive his T-shirt and matching hat.
Former George Cross football players attended a reunion in Cringila on Friday, 12 July. Featured front and centre is 95-year-old Uncle Joe Magro. Photo: Cringila Maltese Club.
Former second coach Frank Zammit shared his happiness at seeing so many former players in attendance.
“We had some wonderful players and I still have happy memories of those days,” he said.
“This is all thanks to Louis; I am so happy to see the players here today.
“This club has been good for soccer, and soccer has been good for the club.”
St George Cross Falcons Club in Cringila started in 1951 when some members of the Maltese community in Wollongong got together and decided to establish a club to help the newer migrants.
A committee was organised and would meet in a tin shed across from the club or at each other’s homes.
A fee of 10 cents per week was given by each member which went towards funding for the club.
In 1953 two block lots were bought for 200 pounds each. In 1955 two basement rooms were built by volunteers.
One of those volunteers was Joe Magro Sr. His son, Joe Magro Jr, said he remembered his parents’ commitment to supporting new arrivals.
“My parents came out in 1951; Mum was 19, Dad was 21,” he said.
“They settled in Wollongong and didn’t have any family or friends who migrated with them, so Dad got motivated to put this club together – there’s a photo of him digging the foundations in the Wollongong archives.
“Mum said when they got here she cried for a year. It’s hard to imagine, you come to a new country with no-one and don’t speak the language very well, but Australia has become their home.
“In the early days the club was very much a meeting place for the Maltese community, where they found friends and family.
“Dad had a bit of a welfare mentality as well – as a young child I remember people staying with us until they could get established and find a job and somewhere to live.
“Dad played for the first soccer team the club had back in the 60s; coming into the 80s he was instrumental in reviving it and got it going again.
“I played for the George Cross for a couple of years and then became secretary for a couple of years before handing over the reins to the next generation.
“It would be lovely to see more young ones in here; it’s wonderful Louis has put this on and to see some young ones come along is fantastic because they’re the new generation, they’re the ones who keep the Maltese spirit alive.”
Frank Ferrugia, owner of Frankie’s Auto Electrics at Albion Park Rail was the major sponsor of the event.
He said he was delighted to have the opportunity to support two of the great loves of his life – family and football.
“My true love in life is my family – the second would be football,” he said.
“It means so much to the Maltese community and the club really united the community down here.
“If you’re Maltese you’re very proud of your heritage and who you are; everyone here supports each other no matter what.
“It’s a wonderful thing – the club has really helped my Mum out through hard times in her life, so I was happy to give a bit back.”
While the club no longer fields a team, the future of football for the Illawarra Maltese community looks bright, with Frank’s young son delighted to don a specially-made reunion shirt.
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