Joe Marston

Joe Marston

Marston in 1964
Personal information
Full name	James Edward Marston
Date of birth	(1926-01-07)7 January 1926
Place of birth	Leichhardt, New South Wales,Australia
Date of death	29 November 2015(2015-11-29)(aged 89)
Position(s)	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1943–1949	Leichhardt-Annandale
1950–1955	Preston North End	185	(0)
1955–1958	Leichhardt-Annandale
1959–1964	APIA Leichhardt
1969	Western Suburbs
International career
1947–1958	Australia	13	(0)
Managerial career
1958	Australia(Player-Coach)
1965	APIA Leichhardt
1966	Australia
1966	APIA Leichhardt
1967–1969	Western Suburbs
1972–1973	APIA Leichhardt
1974–1977	Auburn
1978–1979	Sydney Olympic
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

James Edward"Joe"MarstonMBE(7 January 1926 – 29 November 2015) was an Australianassociation footballerwho played as adefender.He became the first Australian to appear in aFA Cup Finalwhen he turned out forPreston North Endin their 1954 defeat toWest Bromwich Albion.

Biography

Marston was 28 when he played atWembley StadiumalongsideTom FinneyandTommy Docherty.After the War, Marston had played forLeichhardt-Annandalein Division 1 of theNew South Wales State League,supplementing his income by working as a painter and life-guard.

In December 1949, Marston received correspondence from a scout in England who had watched him play, informing him that Preston wished to offer him a trial. Their interest was such that they paid for Marston's wife, Edith, to join him on the journey to England.

Marston spent time in the reserves, until an injury toHarry Mattinsonenabled him to get a run in the first team during the Second Division title season in 1951 and losing out toArsenalfor the 1952–53 season on goal average; remaining at centre-half atDeepdaleas an ever-present until 1954, making 154 appearances and being selected for theFootball League sideagainst theScottish Football League XI.Marston eventually returned to Australia in 1956 because of homesickness, despite pleas from Preston to stay. Marston was also the target of a purported 80,000 pound transfer offer made by Arsenal.

International career

Marston was an Australian football international appearing for the Socceroos during Blackpool's 1958 tour of Australia in whichStanley Matthewsappeared; and appearing and coaching the national side duringHeartstour of the country in 1959.

Retirement

Joe Marston and his wife Edith retired on the New South Wales Central Coast and maintained their passionate interest in association football.

Recognition

Marston was awarded an MBE (1980)and anAustralian Sports Medal(2000) for services to his sport.He was inducted into theSport Australia Hall of Famein 1988.

Marston is an inductee into the NSW Hall of Champions. In September 2008, he was a recipient of one of the two inauguralAlex Tobin Medalsawarded by the Australian Professional Footballers Association.TheJoe Marston Medal,awarded to the man of the match in theA-LeagueandNational Soccer Leaguegrand finals, was named in his honour. In January 2012, Marston was featured on a postage stamp issued byAustralia Postin a series commemorating notable Australian footballers from several codes.

Death

On 29 November 2015, it was announced that Marston had died of natural causes after having been in frail health for a while.

Honours

Preston North End

• FA Cuprunner-up:1953–54

External links

• Oz Football profile
• Sydney Morning Herald obituary