Sydney Football Stadium's memorable moments: 30 years of thrills, spills and occasional bit of biff

Updated

When the Sydney Football Stadium was opened in 1988 it was manna from heaven for sports fans.

They had been crying for a shiny new facility at which to enjoy some of Australia's major events in the country's largest city.

The honeymoon period, however, wasn't long. Issues with access, in-venue facilities, protection from the elements, transport and safety have led to calls for a major revamp.

On Saturday night the final sports event will be held at the stadium before it is torn down and a replacement built on the same ground.

However, despite recent criticism, the much-maligned venue can lay claim, even in its short life, to having played host to some of the most significant and memorable sporting moments in Australia's modern history.

In the beginning

January 24, 1988

Sitting next to the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) , the Sydney Football Stadium (SFS) finally offers fans a purpose-built rectangular stadium in which to enjoy sports such as rugby league and soccer.

Trumpeted as technically one of the best stadiums in the world, comfort and proximity to the pitch is at the forefront of the SCG Trust's vision for the venue.

With a seating capacity of 40,000, an opening night concert features star performances from John Denver, Air Supply, Dragon and Joe Cocker.

Origin story

May 17, 1988

Allan Langer scores two tries and is named man of the match as Queensland beat NSW 26-18 in their State of Origin clash. Queensland would go on to win the series 3-0.

Beating the world champions

July 14, 1988

The Socceroos secure what remains one of their greatest triumphs to date, beating Argentina 4-1 in the Bicentennial Gold Cup, which also featured Brazil and Saudi Arabia.

Goals from Paul Wade, two from Charlie Yankos and one to Vlado Bozinovski helped the Socceroos defeat the reigning world champions and progress to the final.

Wild scenes ensued in the changerooms at the SFS, with the Australians basking in their great upset.

They couldn't get the job done against Brazil three days later though, with Romario and Muller scoring for another South American heavyweight.

Hanley a lamb to the slaughter

September 11, 1988

Within the opening 30 minutes of the 1988 NSWRL grand final, Canterbury's Terry Lamb knocks out Balmain's Ellery Hanley, taking the Tigers' star out of the match.

Lamb scores late as Canterbury-Bankstown go on to beat Balmain 24-12. It would be Steve Mortimer's final game and Paul Dunn is named Clive Churchill medallist.

Lewis is going to get there … he's in!

June 14, 1989

Queensland overcome a series of injuries to beat NSW 16-12 in their State of Origin clash. Maroons skipper Wally Lewis produces arguably the greatest performance of his Origin career, scoring a memorable try in the win.

The greatest grand final ever?

September 24, 1989

Balmain are back in the grand final and chasing their first rugby league title in 20 years.

It's held up by many as one of — if not the — greatest rugby league grand finals of all time, with the Tigers taking on a Canberra outfit on the rise.

Despite leading 12-2 at the break, Balmain can't close it out and Canberra's John 'Chicka' Ferguson scores in the final two minutes to force it to extra time.

Raiders prop Steve Jackson then scores a brilliant running try, carrying a handful of players on his back to help Canberra secure their first-ever premiership, leaving Balmain to rue another one which got away.

Winning in the rain

May 29, 1991

In driving rain, NSW secure a famous State of Origin victory over Queensland after Michael O'Connor kicks a conversion from the sideline to give the Blues a 14-12 game-two win.

England come to town

June 1, 1991

One-time World Cup golden boot winner, and more recently World Cup semi-finalist, Gary Lineker leads England against the Socceroos in a rare trip Down Under.

England wins a tightly fought match 1-0.

Giving blood for the cause

May 6, 1992

Benny Elias puts in a starring performance as NSW beat Queensland 14-6 during Phil Gould's first State of Origin series as coach. Elias gives sideline interviews after the match, with his mum wiping blood from his face.

Bunce's try for the ages in vain

July 4, 1992

The Wallabies beat New Zealand 16-15, despite All Blacks centre Frank Bunce scoring one of the greatest-ever tries after New Zealand go the length of the field.

A few metres out from their own line, New Zealand halfback Ant Straughan gathers a loose ball and tosses it to Walter Little.

From that point there are seven more passes as the All Blacks weave their way up the ground.

Australia also wins the second Test 19-17 in Brisbane, before New Zealand wins the third Test 26-23, also in Sydney.

Springboks' winning return

July 31, 1993

South Africa return to Australia for the first time since 1971, having the year before been readmitted to international rugby following the abolition of their government's apartheid policy.

Francois Pienaar captains the Springboks to a 19-12 win over the Wallabies.

Simply the best

September 26, 1993

Tina Turner performs at the rugby league grand final and the Broncos win their second successive premiership, beating St George 14-6.

El Diego v the Socceroos

October 31, 1993

Diego Maradona and Argentina take on Australia's Socceroos in the final round of World Cup qualifying. In front of a crowd of 43,967, the Socceroos draw the match 1-1, before losing the return leg 1-0 in Buenos Aires.

'That's not a try, that's a miracle'

May 23, 1994

Considered by many to be the most memorable moment in Queensland Origin history, Mark Coyne scores the "miracle" try on the final play of the game to help the Maroons beat NSW 16-12.

With the Blues leading 12-10 in the opening game of the series, and 41,859 fans in attendance, from their own 40, Queensland toss the ball around, passing it nine times on their way to a match-winning try to Coyne in the corner.

Television broadcaster Ray Warren famously declares soon after the play: "That's not a try, that's a miracle!"

'That tackle'

August 17, 1994

George Gregan produces one of the moments of his storied career, and arguably of Bledisloe Cup history, when he comes flying across the field to deny All Blacks winger Jeff Wilson in the corner.

The Bob Dwyer-coached Australia had led for most of the match but having pegged the margin back to one point, New Zealand released Wilson down the right.

Having beaten a host of tackles, he looked certain to score.

But in just his fourth Test match, Wallabies halfback Gregan comes flying across the field and in a tackle he knocks the ball from Wilson's grasp, leaving him with a stunned look on his face, and allowing Australia to go on and win 20-16.

Newcastle's maiden premiership

September 28, 1997

In the final seconds, Andrew Johns sets up Darren Albert to score for Newcastle, guiding the Knights to their maiden premiership, with a 22-16 win over Manly.

Ahead of the game, cars and people had lined the highway as Newcastle travelled to Sydney. Similar scenes followed afterwards on the way home.

"I've turned around, just put my hands in the air, jumped up obviously and put my hands in the air and just a wall of the boys just came straight at me," Albert told ABC Grandstand.

"It was probably one of the biggest hits of the game. I got smashed. There was about six or seven guys and dropped me on to the ground and it was just one of those feelings and the rest is just a blur. I remember nothing really after that. It was just an amazing thing.

"When we came home it was pretty much a crawl all the way home. We didn't really get that fast because everyone was driving next to us and waving and then all the way into town.

"Over the next couple of days we had a ticker-tape parade through Newcastle and they ended up having half a day off for everyone."

Canterbury's epic comeback

September 20, 1998

Trailing 18-2 with 11 minutes remaining, the Bulldogs score three tries to push the game to extra time. Craig Polla-Mounter then scores a try and kicks two field goals as Canterbury beat the Eels 32-20.

All gold for Norway

September 28, 2000

The Sydney Olympics women's football competition comes to a close as Norway beats USA 3-2 in the gold medal match.

The Americans had beaten the same opponents in an earlier group game at the MCG but were denied by an extra time winner in Sydney after the match had ended 2-2 after the 90 minutes.

McRae loses his cool

June 23, 2001

Waratahs fullback Duncan McRae is sent from the field for attacking Ronan O'Gara during a tour match against the British and Irish Lions. The Lions win 41-14.

Rabbitohs return from the wilderness

February 16, 2002

After a two-year exile, South Sydney return to rugby league's main stage, drawing 20-all with St George Illawarra in the Charity Shield.

In their season-opener against Sydney Roosters, Russell Crowe and Albert Clift, the oldest surviving Rabbitohs player, ring the club's famous timekeeper's bell, which Crowe bought at an auction in 1999.

A modern tradition is born

April 25, 2002

The start of one of rugby league's showpiece events, the NRL's first ANZAC Day clash takes place between Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra.

The Roosters win the match 24-20, but an occasion much bigger than just a football match is established for fans of Australian sport.

Dunning's logic-defying drop goal

May 10, 2003

Playing the Chiefs at the SFS, the Waratahs need a bonus-point win to secure a Super Rugby finals berth.

Hunting a late try that would allow them to do so, the Waratahs are piling the pressure on their New Zealand opposition.

But with time running out, Waratahs and Wallabies prop Matt Dunning slots a perfect drop goal from 32 metres out, defying form and logic.

The ball sails over for three points, but having also handed the ball away, the Waratahs miss out the chance of scoring their try. Despite winning 25-14, NSW miss the finals with the Brumbies going through at their expense.

A whole new ball game

August 28, 2005

Another chapter in Australian soccer history is written, with Sydney FC making their A-League home debut, and the SFS welcoming another Australian sporting franchise.

Former Manchester United star Dwight Yorke scores for the Sky Blues in their 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory, also giving rise to the now-famous Big Blue clash between the two sides.

For the round-ball game, it's part of the dawn of a new era for the sport as its new professional league begins.

Boxing takes centre stage

May 17, 2006

The first boxing fight takes place at the SFS and Anthony Mundine beats Danny Green in their WBA super middleweight title eliminator.

It's the biggest-grossing bout in Australian boxing history.

Lockyer leaves it late

November 25, 2006

Australia beat New Zealand 16-12 in the final of rugby league's Tri-Nations. Darren Lockyer scores in the second period of extra time to win the match for Australia

Rusty gives chooks the finger

March 15, 2009

Russell Crowe channels The Gladiator and gives the thumbs down from a corporate box as the Rabbitohs beat the Roosters 52-12 in round one of the NRL season.

Waratahs launch final countdown

July 26, 2014

The Waratahs hammer the Brumbies 26-8 to reach the Super Rugby final, which they win the following week at Sydney's Olympic Stadium against the Crusaders, for their first title.

Maloney shoots down Cowboys

September 19, 2014

James Maloney's 76th-minute field goal helps the Roosters beat the Cowboys 31-30 in their NRL semi-final. Led by Johnathan Thurston, North Queensland had threatened to pull off the biggest comeback in 106 years of premiership rugby league, after coming back from 30-0 down after half an hour, to be level at 30-all with 23 minutes remaining.

A local rivalry is ignited

October 18, 2014

After enjoying sole residency as the city's A-League club, in 2012 Sydney FC has to come to terms with a noisy neighbour in the form of the boisterous, passionate Western Sydney Wanderers. Proximity demands an instant conflict.

But the intensity of the rivalry is brought to its fullest at the first match between the pair in the 2014-15 season, the seventh time they meet.

Some 41,213 fans pack the SFS, those in red and black dominating the noise as their side take a two-goal lead. However, Sydney's three unanswered goals thereafter complete a famous comeback win in a tense match where tackles fly and cards are brandished throughout.

Sydney FC fans storm the pitch in celebration at the final whistle. The two sides share a mutual antagonism to this day.

Under the weather

April 25, 2015

A hail storm hits the ANZAC Day clash between Roosters and Dragons, forcing the match to be interrupted. Plenty of sturdy fans brave the weather to see the Dragons beat the Roosters 14-12.

Sydney turns Sky Blue

May 7, 2017

Milos Ninkovic scores the winning penalty kick in the shootout against Melbourne Victory to give Sydney FC a memorable grand final win over their longstanding rivals.

Topics: sport, soccer, nrl, rugby-league, rugby-union, olympics-summer, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

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