Peter Wilson quotes
........ said by Peter Wilson

"Australia never played finer Football that in the first half. The Koreans started off like express trains for the first 10 minutes - then they ran out of steam. I never had any doubt that we would win but I’ve never been so glad to see a ball go into a net.“
Wilson after the third game against South Korea, in neutral Hong Kong in November 1973, wich Australia won to qualify for the 1974 World Cup Finals.

"I am proud to be a member of this Team and if anyone thinks that we are going to be Aunt Sallies
to Munich - forget it.“
Wilson after the third game against South Korea, Hong Kong, November 1973.

“I feel as though I’m walking on a cloud. I keep pinching myself to make sure the whole thing is real.”
Wilson moments after the third game against South Korea in Hong Kong, November 1973.

"If he wants to keep it, he should keep it."
Wilson after the World Cup game against West Germany, when an angry Franz Beckenbauer - the
German captain - did not want to exchange his jersey with him, 1974.

"Over there the competition is really fierce, especially for a defender. I would have liked to give it a go but now I am settled here that's the way it is."
Peter Wilson after the World Cup, when english clubs showed interest.                                   

"If I’d been a cricketer or a Rugby League player in a Giant competition like the World Cup, I’d be rolling in money now.“
Wilson after the World Cup in Germany, June 1974.

"Our styles differed a lot, but we struck up quite an understanding. I miss him in the game."
Wilson about his partner "Iron Man" Manfred Schaefer, who retired after the 1974 World Cup.

"The Israelis are always tough. I would rate them the hardest team for us to beat in the coming World Cup preliminaries.”
Wilson 1976 on Australia’s World Tour, after they drew with Israel in a friendly 1-1.

"It is an honour and a pleasure to play for Australia and it is also honour and a pleasure to be associated with people with soccer at heart.“
Wilson after his 50th international in an private letter, 1977.

"If it gets any worse, I could have a shot of heroin, I suppose.“
Wilson short before the World Cup qualifier game versus Iran in Melbourne (1977) referring to his sore
knee and a comment about Iranian coach who said that he heard rumours that the Socceroos are
using stimulants.

"I'm always available to play for the country."
Peter Wilson in 1978, hoping to get selected for the Greece games.

“I’ll continue playing next year, probably, but I don’t know what I’ll do when I finished up. I don’t really have much interesting in coaching. Maybe I’d be better off right out of soccer for a while”.
Wilson in 1981, responding to the question of weather he will play for another year.

"I have two main reasons. First, I'd been criticised for my age earlier when everybody was clamoring for a young team so I thought what the heck, if they want the kids I'll step aside. Then I diden't feel like being experimented with and being in an occasional call up. I was either going to be part of the team or not. And Gutendorf couldn't guarantee it, so I thanked him for his invitation and declined. Maybe I shouldn't have."
Peter Wilson about Socceroo coach Rudi Gutendorf's 1981 invitation to come back to the Socceroos.

“I think I will stay on the South Coast for ever. It’s alright there for me”.
Wilson about a move to Sydney because of his long drive to training sessions.

“It’s an absolute torture not being able to play or even train”.
Wilson in early 1982 when he had ongoing back pain.

"I certainly don’t want to retire yet. Soccer has been my life since my teens, I wouldn’t know what
to do without it.“
Wilson in 1982, short before he retired from Soccer.

“A lot of player before me gave a long service and were forgotten about”.
In 1982, when he was asked about the ASF failing to recognise Socceroos of the past.

"All I wanted was to give my old mate Alston a helping hand."
Wilson in early 1984, when he wanted to play a final season for Wollongong, as his friend Adrian Alston was the coach there. But APIA wanted $AUD 10,000 for Wilson, too much for Wollongong.

"I have finished playing soccer now. I was not enjoying coaching, so I gave the football game up completley"
Wilson in a private letter, 1984.

"I dont follow the game anymore. I lost totally the interest in Football. I haven't watched any game live or on TV for a long time."
Peter Wilson in a private talk, 2001.

People about Peter Wilson

"His fantastic goal, headed from some 18 yards in the round robin, was one of the best seen in
Sydney for many years."
Soccer World Magazine, 1969, about Wilsons goal against Polonia.

“In the games against Bulgaria, George Harris was one of Australia’s best players, second only to
big Peter Wilson.”
Lou Gautier for Soccer World about Australia’s three games vs. Bulgaria, 1973.

"Peter Wilson was the best player for Australia, similar to how he played in Adelaide, for example. He was a player who always played his best for the national team."
Lou Gautier for Soccer World about Australia’s two games against Ferencvaros, 1974.

"Wilson's stupendous, almost heroic display against overhelming odds and superior forces, a kind of Sergant York stemming the tide and stopping the enemy hordes."
Soccer World Magazine, 1974, about Wilson's performance against East Germany.

"He is the roughest man I’ve played against. He didn’t seem to care 
whether he kicked the ball, a leg, or a head.”
West German striker Gerd Muller, who scored in 63 Internationals 68 goals, about Wilson after the
1974 World Cup game against Australia.

"Some players had learned their craft in the British bone-mill, non more so than Libero Wilson. He was very strong in his challenges for the ball."
                           Uli Hoeness, forward, West Germany after the World Cup match against Australia.

"Peter Wilson could hold his own in most Polish First Division teams"
Legia Warsaw coach Vejvoda after the games against Australia in 1975.

"A brilliant Peter Wilson, even after a painful back injury, held together ther defence giving his best
display since the World Cup match against East Germany."
Soccer World after the game against Hakoah in 1976, when Wilson won the Ampol Cup with Wests.

“This was probably Wilson’s finest hour. He led by example and rallied his troops reminiscent of Montgomery at the battle of Alamein.”
Tom Anderson, Soccer writer after he saw Australia’s 1:1 draw versus New Zealand in Auckland 1977,
when “Wilson was a giant among giants.”

“I had my reasons for leaving him out at this stage, and discussed the matter with him. He showed his excellent character by telling me he fully understood what I was doing and my reasons. He supported my intention to give the younger players a trial and to try out some older players.”
Socceroo Coach Rudi Gutendorf, who told Wilson he wasen't in the squad, shortly before the
World Cup qualification games against New Zealand in 1981.

“Bring back Peter Wilson as Captain of the team, and than we would have the leadership and direction that was sadly missing in Auckland.”
Tom Anderson, Soccer writer after Australia’s game against New Zealand in 1981 which finished 3:3.

“Wilson should make his return to the Socceroo team later this month against the Kiwis at the SCG. That's our prediction and the hopes of tens of thousands of soccer supporters around Australia.
There is no doubt that on present form, Wilson is the most capable defender playing in Australia’s premier competition – the Philips Soccer League. Apart from that, Wilson is the most experienced player going around today. He is also the only man with the ability and vision to captain the Socceroos in their quest to gain a place in the World Cup finals next year in Spain.”
Lead article of an Australian Soccer Magazine in 1981 before the return game against New Zealand in Sydney.

"Wilson, obviously a man of taste and style, said he would prefer not to make a comeback - a slap in Rudi's face."
Soccer World Magazine, 1981.

"It is not the first time a player has been forced into retirement due to inconsiderate demands by clubs. Why can't a club give such an experienced player a free handshake as a token of
appreciation for services rendered ?"
Philip Micallef for Soccer Action, 1984, when Wilson finished his career because APIA wanted
$AUD 10,000 for Wilson's transfer to Wollongong.

“Peter Wilson was a strong defender, who could read the play very well but above all was a great Captain. As a person he didn’t say much. But deep down he was a funny person.”
Atti Abonyi, one of Australia’s best forwards ever about Wilson.

“Peter Wilson was an excellent Captain.”
Adrian (Noddy) Alston, member of Australia’s 74 World Cup team in Germany.

“Wilson was a fascinating character with incredible authority and understanding of the tactical aspects of the game. A loyal and extremely shy person. Proud to extremes. In brief, one of the best choices I have made as a coach, and no regrets”.
Rale Rasic, Australia’s Soccer Coach, 1970-74, who took the Socceroos to a
World Cup Finals for the first - and so far only - time.

“I did have the pleasure of not only playing with Peter Wilson, but also the opportunity to be coached by him. He was quite a character. But in saying that, he was very fair to all the players.”
Sebastian Giampaolo, who played together with Wilson for APIA Leichhardt.

“Peter Wilson was a very skilful player for a big man, very strong in the air, exceptional positional play and very calm under pressure. He possessed excellent distribution. A very good captain, he led by example. As a person he was very quiet, a bit of a loner keeping very much to himself.”
Soccer Legend Ray Baartz, vice – captain of Australia.

"I've heard so much about him but have never met him before. I know from what I've been told in the past and this has now been confirmed by many people, that he does not want much to do with soccer these days, which is a bit of a shame because he is such a legend."
               Francis Awaritefe, former Socceroo.

"He was what soccer people like to call a hard man. Uncompromising, but never dirty. He was a
thumping header of the ball and tackled ferociously."
Socceroo John Kosmina, 1996

"Peter Wilson was the best player I have ever played against."
Tony Brennan, top scorer in the Australian National League.

"Peter Wilson - now there was a footballer who just by his physical presence put the skids under some people I knew. He was a very commanding player, so strong in the air , who also seemed to be the lynchpin of the Australian team, and when he played well then so did Australia."
Brian Turner, New Zealand International from 1967 - 82.

"I had great respect for Peter as a player, he was a great defender - strong in the air and on the ground. Never gave his opponents an inch and was scared of no-one. I always enjoyed playing against him although he often gave me a battering. And scoring against him was an extra
special pleasure because he was so good."
Michael Denton, St.George, NSW and Socceroo goal machine.

"As a person he always seemed to me to hold himself aloof.As a player he was strong and fearless, intimidating, strong on the ground and in the air, a very commanding sweeper."
Ron Lord, Australia's legendary goalkeeper of the Olympic games 1956.

"Peter Wilson, John Watkiss and Ray Baartz are Australia's greatest Socceroos ever."
Soccer-legend Joe Marston (then 76 years-old) in an interview for SBS, 2002.

"Peter was a great Captain and a good guy, it is his choise to remain a private person
and I respect that."
Jimmy Tansey, Socceroo

"Peter was the best sweeper I ever played together."
Greg Woodhouse, APIA and Socceroo goalkeeper in the 80ties

"I loved to play together with him. He was fantastic, brilliant, the best Captain:”
Col Bennett, long time Socceroo and playing partner of Peter Wilson

"Peter Wilson was the best Captain we ever had, a real leader."
Jimmy Milisavljevic, goalkeeper World Cup 1974

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