Jimmy Rooney
Encyclopedia
James "Jimmy" Rooney is a former football (soccer)
player. He was a member of the Australian 1974 World Cup squad in West Germany.
Rooney was a left sided midfielder who played first team football with Lochee United
, Peterborough United
and Montrose F.C.
in the United Kingdom, before emigrating to Melbourne, Australia in the late 1960s. He was an instant success there with Ukrainian Essendon Lions before transferring to Sydney to join the Prague
club in 1970, and later playing at APIA Leichhardt
, in the New South Wales First Division
. In 1977, with APIA not joining the newly formed National Soccer League
, Rooney joined Marconi Fairfield
for two seasons, before moving back to Victoria where he played with Fitzroy Alexander
and Croydon City Arrows
He made his Australian debut against the England
in 1971, going on play 99 times for his country in a career spanning a decade. He was Australia's first choice midfielder in the 1974 World Cup campaign, earning himself many admirers for his hard tackling and ball distribution. The Jimmy Rooney Medal, awarded from 1992 onwards to the man of the match in the Victorian Premier League
Grand Final, was named in his honour.
He has recently settled to a managerial role of Victorian senior team, Eastern Lions, and also hosts a junior training program. He is also currently the head coach of the first eleven soccer team at St Kevin's College, Melbourne, Australia. In his second season in charge in 2009, he delivered the APS soccer premiership to the school, ending a nine year drought.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player. He was a member of the Australian 1974 World Cup squad in West Germany.
Rooney was a left sided midfielder who played first team football with Lochee United
Lochee United F.C.
Lochee United Football Club are a Scottish junior football club from the Lochee area of Dundee. Formed in 1892, they play their home games at Thomson Park, which has room for 3,200 spectators, 170 of whom can be seated. Lochee's colours are blue shirts, blue shorts and white socks...
, Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
and Montrose F.C.
Montrose F.C.
Montrose Football Club is a Scottish semi-professional football team, based in the town of Montrose, Angus. They are members of the Scottish Football League and currently play in the Third Division.- Early years :...
in the United Kingdom, before emigrating to Melbourne, Australia in the late 1960s. He was an instant success there with Ukrainian Essendon Lions before transferring to Sydney to join the Prague
Sydney Prague
Sydney Prague, commonly known as Prague was a former association football club formed in 1957 by predominantly Czech Australians, which participated in the NSW State League from its foundation in 1957 until its amalgamation with Yugal at the beginning of the 1973 season.Sydney Prague were one of...
club in 1970, and later playing at APIA Leichhardt
A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers
APIA Leichhardt Tigers Football Club, also known as APIA Tigers and Sydney Tigers, is an Australian football club based in Sydney, Australia. The club was formed in 1954, known as APIA Leichhardt, by Italian Australians...
, in the New South Wales First Division
New South Wales Premier League
The New South Wales Premier League is the highest state-level men's soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. Nationally, it is considered one grade lower than the A-League...
. In 1977, with APIA not joining the newly formed National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
, Rooney joined Marconi Fairfield
Marconi Stallions
The Marconi Stallions Football Club is an Australian football club located in Sydney, Australia. The club won the National Soccer League title a record four times, along with South Melbourne FC and Sydney City SC...
for two seasons, before moving back to Victoria where he played with Fitzroy Alexander
Heidelberg United
Heidelberg United Football Club is a football club based in the northern Melbourne suburb of Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia...
and Croydon City Arrows
He made his Australian debut against the England
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
in 1971, going on play 99 times for his country in a career spanning a decade. He was Australia's first choice midfielder in the 1974 World Cup campaign, earning himself many admirers for his hard tackling and ball distribution. The Jimmy Rooney Medal, awarded from 1992 onwards to the man of the match in the Victorian Premier League
Victorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
Grand Final, was named in his honour.
He has recently settled to a managerial role of Victorian senior team, Eastern Lions, and also hosts a junior training program. He is also currently the head coach of the first eleven soccer team at St Kevin's College, Melbourne, Australia. In his second season in charge in 2009, he delivered the APS soccer premiership to the school, ending a nine year drought.