Seven former players and coaches of Inglewood United were inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame’s 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner at Crown Perth on Saturday evening. Alan Vest, who coached Inglewood in 2006 and again three years later, made history by becoming the first non-playing Hall of Legends inductee.
Attacking midfielder Paul Strudwick (1995-1996) gained a place in the Hall of Champions, Hall of Merit for Players recognition was bestowed on Alan Armstrong (1985-1986), Alex Cummings (2000-2002), John Hunter (1996-2000) and Robert Lee (1974) while the late John Davies (1976-1977) was added to the Hall of Recognition.
Alan Vest
Vest is Western Australia’s most successful coach. Between 1974 and 1976 he guided the State team to 16 victories from 21 games, including the memorable defeat of Glasgow Rangers and the Marah Halim Cup triumph in Indonesia. On the national stage Vest coached Newcastle KB United, West Adelaide and Perth Glory, and locally with Perth Italia, Floreat Athena, ECU Joondalup and Inglewood.
Paul Strudwick
Attack-minded Strudwick burst onto the local scene with Bassendean Caldeonian before spells with Perth Italia and Inglewood Kiev. He topped the S-League goal scoring charts as a Perth Kangaroos players and was a member of Perth Glory’s inaugural squad, making 68 national league appearances in total. Strudwick represented Western Australia on 6 occasions.
Alan Armstrong
Bunbury-raised Armstrong made his Inglewood Kiev debut as a teenager before touring England in 1986 with the Australian Schoolboys. Following trials at Derby County he returned to Perth for spells with Stirling Macedonia, Floreat Athena and ECU Joondalup, plus four appearances for the State. Armstrong, a towering defender, declined the opportunity to join Perth Glory for work reasons.
Alex Cummings
Cummings was a Forrestfield United junior prior to accepting a scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport and representing Australia at Under-20 level. A midfielder or defender, he wore Brisbane Lions, Morwell Falcons and Perth Kangaroos colours domestically, and those of Spearwood Dalmatinac, Stirling Macedonia, Western Knights, Inglewood United and Fremantle City locally. Amid this Cummings gained 21 appearances for the State.
John Hunter
Hunter, an impressive striker with a dynamic left-foot, is one of the best finishers to have graced the local stage. He scooped the Golden Boot with Stirling Macedonia and Floreat Athena, with who he also won the Gold Medal, before enjoying an extended spell with Malaysian side Sarawak. Hunter played his part in Inglewood topping the league in 1996, and later spent two seasons as club coach.
Robert Lee
A powerful forward, Lee initially made his mark with Cottesloe where he finsihed his debut season as the league’s second highest goalscorer. He helped Morley Windmills win the league and also shone for Inglewood Kiev, Olympic and Sorrento. Lee wore the black and gold of Western Australian on ten occasions.
John Davies
Davies, the younger brother of Welsh international Reg Davies, played with success at Bayswater United and Inglewood Kiev. He helped Western Australia to Marah Halim Cup glory in 1976 and the following year was an integral part of Inglewood’s State Cup-Four Four Cup double winning squad. Davies later coached Spearwood Dalmatinac and Perth Azzurri along with the State team.
PHOTO: Alex Cummings and John Hunter enjoying the Hall of Fame’s 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner, courtesy of Richard Kreider
Inglewood United’s Inductees into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame
HALL OF LEGENDS
Sandra Brentnall (inducted 2005)
Gary Marocchi (2005)
Alan Vest (2016)
Robert Zabica (2005)
HALL OF CHAMPIONS
John Davidson (1996)
Bobby Despotovski (2012)
Len Dundo (1996)
Sauro Iozzelli (2002)
Mike Ireson (2002)
Roy Jones (2005)
Nick McCallum (2005)
Saverio Madaschi (2002)
David O’Callaghan (1996)
Zygmunt Pieda (2002)
Paul Strudwick (2016)
Norrie Sutton (2008)
HALL OF MERIT FOR PLAYERS
Peter Atkinson (2012)
Alan Armstrong (2016)
Alex Cummings (2016)
Ernie Hannigan (2012)
John Hunter (2016)
Robert Lee (2016)
Alex Senjuschenko (2008)
HALL OF RECOGNITION
John Birighitti (2012)
John Davies (2016)
Zyggie Kramer (2002)
