Episode #24 - Peter Katholos, Socceroo, Canterbury Junior Football Club, Belmore Eagles, St George, Sydney Olympic, APIA Leichhardt & Marconi

Today we speak with Peter Katholos. Once described by legendary Real Madrid and Hungarian player Ferenc Puskas as the best technical player in Australia, Peter was born in the Greek village of Myrsini in the Peloponnese. He migrated to Sydney with his family at the age nine and started playing football in the CDSFA for Canterbury Junior Football Club. Peter went on to have an illustrious playing career spanning 14 years in the National Soccer League, playing for St George, Sydney Olympic, APIA Leichhardt, Marconi and Parramatta, winning 3 NSL Championships, 2 NSL Cups and being voted Australian Footballer of the Year in 1982. He wore the green and gold on 22 occasions between 1981 and 1983 including a man of the match performance vs England at the SCG. He also had a stint in the Greek first division with Larissa.

He was coached by the greats: Tommy Docherty, Berti Mariani and Rale Rasic. Peter reunited with the CDSFA later on, playing for Belmore Eagles in the Over 45s men’s competition. He has also volunteered as an Under 8s Coach for the Earlwood Wanderers Football Club. Nicknamed “The Kat”, Peter has lived in the district for 50 years. He is now a Member of Football Federation Australia's Football Heritage Committee and is on a mission to transform the coaching culture in Australia.