Ray Baartz
Raymond Henry "Ray" Baartz (born 6 March 1947) is an Australian former soccer player. He represented Australia 48 times, scoring 18 goals, making him the 8th highest goal scorer of all time.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Raymond Henry Baartz[1] | ||
Date of birth | 6 March 1947 | ||
Place of birth | Newcastle, New South Wales | ||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[1] | ||
Playing position(s) | Striker | ||
Youth career | |||
1963 | Adamstown Rosebuds | ||
1963–1965 | Manchester United | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1966–1974 | Sydney Hakoah | 236 | (211) |
National team‡ | |||
1967–1974 | Australia | 48 | (18) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 August 2007 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 25 August 2007 |
Baartz was born in Newcastle, New South Wales and spent his early years playing for Adamstown. At 17 he joined Manchester United and after 6 months signed on a two-year contract. In 1966 he returned to Australia and transferred to Sydney Hakoah for a then Australian record of ₤5600. He played 236 club matches scoring 211 goals.
Baartz was selected in the Australian squad to play in the World Cup finals in 1974[2] but his career was prematurely ended after he was felled by a blow from Uruguay's Luis Garisto in a friendly international fixture at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The blow to his throat had damaged his carotid artery.[3]
Ray currently still lives in Newcastle.
Awards & Recognition
Baartz was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985.[4]
Baartz Terrace in the Sydney suburb of Glenwood is named for him.[5]
On 5 December 2000, Baartz was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for services to soccer.[6]
On 12 July 2012, Baartz was named in the Greatest ever Australian team.[7]
References
- "Player Biographies". sonsofunited.com. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
- 1974 World Cup Wikipedia link. Retrieved: 20 November 2010
- "Moments in time". The Age, Melbourne. 19 November 2005. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
- "Ray Baartz". Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- O'Maley, Christine (20 January 2010). "Park is a goner". Blacktown Advocate. Cumberland Newspapers. p. 14.
...streets are named after well known football identities...
- "Ray Baartz". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- "Harry Kewell named as greatest ever Australian footballer". The Herald Sun. Retrieved 12 July 2012.