Julio Miranda (Part 1)

Welcome to episode 24 of the Football United vs Soccer City podcast. This episode has been split into two parts due to its length. Once again I would like to thank you the listener for the feedback on the podcasts thus far, both positive and constructive. I appreciate people's views and I will endeavour to improve on each episode in the various areas noted.

In regards to the social media pages I continue to ask people to send through photos, programmes, articles and other items. Our soccer history is important in the Illawarra and there are items out there that need to be published and saved. So please continue to encourage people you know to send through the items to me.

This episode’s interviewee has had a varied career as a player and coach. He started his journey in Chile in the 1970s and early 1980s, where he learned his football craft on the streets with his friends. Julio Miranda started to gain further recognition in the Chilean football system before he emigrated with his parents to Australia at the end of 1984.

From here Julio has played at various clubs at different levels, coached at different levels in the region and has interacted with some of the best players/coaches the Illawarra has seen from the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. After playing, coaching was inside his footballing heart and he has (like his playing career) tested himself at various levels with several clubs.

Personally I had interaction with him, while Julio was at Balgownie Rangers and I always found him passionate, focused and a lover of the game. I thoroughly enjoyed this interview and have the utmost respect for him and his wife Leanne for allowing me into their home for a couple hours on a Sunday morning. Please enjoy part one of episode 24, where Julio delves into his childhood and early career up until Richard Evans left Bulli Soccer Club in 1993.