Centenary of the Men’s National Football Team

This stamp design features a photograph of the inaugural Australian national team, taken in 1922, by Tyree Studios. The photograph is from the collection of Nelson Provincial Museum, New Zealand. The photograph has been colourised (with permission) to showcase the light blue and maroon playing strip, which incorporated the playing colours of New Zealand and Queensland, the states from which the players of this first team were selected. The playing shirt pocket emblem, which has been recreated for the stamp, comprised a maroon “A” and a golden fern leaf and kangaroo, to represent the two nations of the 1922 tour. It was worn until 1924, when green and gold, and the coat of arms, were incorporated into the uniform.

The name “Socceroos” was the product of an advertising campaign by the Australian Soccer Federation in 1972 and was first used when Dundee United toured Australia. By 1974, the name was in regular use. The logo for the 1974 World Cup campaign consisted of a kangaroo wearing football boots surrounded by “World Cup 1974 Socceroo”. This stamp shows several current Socceroos team members in action, to showcase the vitality and movement of the sport. The design features colours from the Socceroos’ official palette and a retail version of the current pocket emblem. The stamp photographs are by Noufal Ibrahim, courtesy of Football Australia.