Phil Luskan

Welcome everybody to episode 42 of the Football United vs Soccer City podcast. I would like to sincerely thank all the interviewees, listeners and the soccer public of the Illawarra/Australia who download this podcast. I must note that we do have some international listeners, so thank you for the people who download around the world. Additionally I would like to say thank you to the people who contribute, comment and reminisce on the social media pages. Please note if you have any Illawarra soccer team pictures, newspaper articles, programmes or artefacts that you would like to share please get in contact with me.

This episode’s interviewee was born in 1955 in Oyster Bay in the Sutherland Shire, where he played for the Georges River Tigers in 1963. In 1966 Phil Luskan then moved to the North Sutherland Rockets. In 1967 Phil moved to the Illawarra as his Dad had a job down here in the area. Due to this move he joined the Dapto Olympic Football Club in the junior ranks. In 1970 as a 15 year old Phil was picked to play first grade at Dapto Olympic. Playing out of Lakelands Oval, Phil learnt the goalkeeping trade amongst men.

During this period Phil was additionally playing soccer at school and made the Southern Illawarra High Schools representative team. The Dapto High student then was selected along with other Illawarra players Mile Terziovski and Brian Dodd in the 1973 NSW Combined High Schools team. This team travelled to Adelaide to play in the Australian Championship, playing three games. The NSW team drew their 3 games and held onto the Australian Championship as they held it from the previous carnival. The highlight of this carnival was playing alongside future Socceroos in Mark Jankovics and John Kosmina.

Late in 1973 Phil started training with St George Budapest along players such as Jim Fraser, Manfred Schafer and Johnny Warren. Although a great experience, Phil decided to trial locally with Balgownie who were in the 2nd division of the state league. In 1974 after being selected by Balgownie he played under coach George Ramage at Balgownie Sportsground. In this stint he played with some great players that year and it culminated in Phil being award Balgownie Soccer Club’s player of the year and additionally in April 1974 Phil played with Balgownie against an Australian Second XI in a warm up game for the Australian team as part of their preparations for the World Cup in Germany that year. After the first few weeks of 1975 he stopped playing with Balgownie due to work and life commitments. He then returned to Dapto for a couple of seasons.

In 1977 he joined Figtree and it is here where he spent the rest of his soccer career. At Figtree, Phil spent time in both first grade and reserve grade and additionally was on the committee up until his retirement at the end of 1985 season. Here Phil spent just under ten years and amassed some fantastic friendships which endure through to today. And Phil is clear about the joy and ongoing friendships he has from his West Figtree playing days, which says a lot about him and the people at the club.

It was fantastic and a pleasure to interview Phil. My respect goes out to him and his wife Kate for allowing me into their home and giving up their time. Phil’s journey was a pleasure to record and I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I enjoyed recording it.