Sandra Brentnall makes history

20.05.2012

The 49-year-old re-wrote the sporting record books at the Football Hall of Fame WA induction ceremony at a Perth hotel.

Along with WA’s record international goalkeeper Robert Zabica, who was also welcomed into the Hall of Legends at the gala celebration, Brentnall joined an elite band of players to be elevated to legendary status.

The inaugural members of the Hall of Legends, which was established in 2005, are former Australian captains Gary Marocchi and Ron Adair, international defender Robbie Dunn and record goalscorer John McInroy.

Brentnall was the first female to score an international goal for Australia back in 1979 when she struck in the 2-2 draw against New Zealand in the Trans Tasman Cup.

A year later, she became the first Australian to get an international hat-trick when she bagged a triple in the 3-2 win over New Zealand.

Spearwood-born Zabica played 42 times for Australia - his most famous being against Argentina’s Diego Maradona in a 1994 World Cup qualifier - and won two NSL titles with Adelaide City. He had a spell with Perth Glory and was Australia’s Goalkeeper of the Year in 1992.

Among those who were inducted into the Hall of Champions on Saturday night were WA’s most-capped international Stan Lazaridis, former Socceroos goalkeeper Tony Franken and two other ex-internationals in Bobby Despotovski and Scott Miller.

Julie Gorton and Judy Pettitt, who played many times for the Australian women’s team, were also inducted into the Hall of Champions.

Brothers Steve and Paul Tombides became the third set of siblings to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. They were among a group of 14 to be welcomed into the Hall of Merit for Players.

Two former referees Andy Gorton and Frank Moretti were inducted into the Hall of Recognition, which also honoured former Perth Azzurri coaches John Birighitti and Doug Stewart, 81, who flew in from Queensland to accept his award.

The list of inductees is:

HALL OF LEGENDS

Sandra Brentnall

Robert Zabica

HALL OF CHAMPIONS

Bobby Despotovski

Tony Franken

Wally Gardner

Julie Gorton (nee Clayton)

Stan Lazaridis

Willie McNally

Scott Miller

Judy Pettitt

Allan Pottier

HALL OF MERIT FOR PLAYERS

Peter Atkinson

Troy Bernard

Alf De Bono

Edmundo Faletti

Frank Faraone

Glenn Giudici

Ernie Hannigan

Steve Martin

Peter Murphy

Brian Newell

Mike Smith

Steve Stacey

Paul Tombides

Steve Tombides

HALL OF RECOGNITION

John Birighitti

Giuliano Cantoni

Peter Faulks

Dr Ken Fitch

Andy Gorton

Dr Ken Maguire

Jimmy Mayers

Frank Moretti

Doug Stewart

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