The tour was to have included matches in Batavia, but the promotors could not agree with the Batavia city federation, which at the time was changing name from W.J.V.B. to V.B.O., on the financial terms (the demands of the V.B.O. were termed extravagant and risible by the Soerabaja-based Indische Courant). Instead, the promotors Weskin and Gregory arranged additional matches in Soerabaja at the end of the tour, including one against an official N.I.V.B. selection featuring two players from Batavia.
The tour followed big domestic political battles during 1927; the A.F.A. had tried to organise a team to play at the 1928 Olympics, but had been opposed by other sports and by other football groups who argued that football was not amateur. The powerful football association of New South Wales was trying to establish a semi professional league to start in 1928 and did not want the best players to be away from the country. They helped to undermine the Olympic lobby. The tour to the East Indies was seen as an attempt by the A.F.A. to maintain its international profile. The touring team was selected on the basis of quotas for Australian states in mind. It was regarded as being of a reasonable standard but did not include the star players of the day.
The Australian players aroused some curiosity by forming a circle before the start of the matches and declaiming the following "War Cry":
Ego Yah. Ego Yah.
The Emu. The Kangaroo. The Wallaby. The Wombat.
Who are, Who are, Who Are We?
We Are the Boys from the Southern Sea!
Bonzer Cobber Dinkie Die
Best of Luck to You And I.
We'll not fail her young Australia!
Boska!
As printed in the Indische Courant on 10 July 1928.
Matches in the Dutch East Indies generally were played over 2x30 minutes. In case of the match being drawn, this could be followed by 2x5 minutes extra time.
Matches in the Dutch East Indies (first stay)
NB: XIs by the hosts refer to the "Bondselftal" of the local football
federation, e.g. the M.V.B. for Makassar, the S.V.B. for Soerabaja,
etc. Excelsior, Go Ahead, H.B.S. and U.N.I. were club sides (all
from the city in which they hosted Australia).
on Celebes
2- 7 Makassar M.V.B. XI 1-2 Australia [HT: 1-2]
on Java
7- 7 Soerabaja H.B.S. 3-3 Australia [aet] [HT: 1-2]
8- 7 Soerabaja S.V.B. XI 1-3 Australia [HT: 0-1]
11- 7 Soerabaja Excelsior 1-4 Australia [HT: 0-2]
14- 7 Semarang Go Ahead 3-5 Australia [HT: 1-1]
15- 7 Semarang V.S.O. XI 0-3 Australia [HT: 0-1]
18- 7 Semarang Chinese Java XI 1-6 Australia [HT: 0-3] [*1]
21- 7 Bandoeng B.V.B. XI 3-4 Australia [HT: 2-1]
22- 7 Bandoeng U.N.I. 0-2 Australia [HT: 0-1]
[*1] the diary by A.J.Harris incorrectly lists the score as 0-6
Matches in Singapore
28- 7 Singapore Chinese/Malay XI 4-2 Australia [*2]
29- 7 Singapore All-Malaya XI 0-1 Australia [*3]
1- 8 Singapore European XI 0-6 Australia
2- 8 Singapore D. of Wellington 2-2 Australia [*4]
[*2] the diary by A.J.Harris has the score as 4-0 but it was reported
4-2 in the newspapers.
[*3] hosts were in fact a Singapore/Selangor Combined.
[*4] hosts were Duke of Wellington's Regiment (2nd Bataillon), reigning
champions of the league of the Singapore Amateur F.A.
Matches in the Dutch East Indies (second stay)
NB: XIs by the hosts refer to the "Bondselftal" of the local football
federation, e.g. the B.V.B. for Bandoeng, the C.V.B. for Cheribon,
etc. Excelsior, H.B.S., M.O.T. and T.H.O.R. were club sides (all
from the city in which they hosted Australia).
on Java
7- 8 Bandoeng B.V.B. XI 1-3 Australia [HT: 0-2]
8- 8 Cheribon C.V.B. XI 0-4 Australia [HT: 0-2]
11- 8 Semarang M.O.T. 2-2 Australia [HT: 1-1]
12- 8 Semarang V.S.O. XI 1-4 Australia [HT: 1-2]
15- 8 Soerabaja H.B.S. 0-0 Australia [HT: 0-0]
18- 8 Soerabaja Excelsior 1-3 Australia [HT: 1-2]
19- 8 Soerabaja N.I.V.B. XI 2-1 Australia [aet] [HT: 1-1]
22- 8 Soerabaja S.V.B. XI 1-5 Australia [HT: 0-3]
23- 8 Soerabaja T.H.O.R. 0-3 Australia [HT: 0-0]
on Celebes
25- 8 Makassar M.V.B. XI 0-4 Australia
Total Record Australia: 23 17 4 2 72-27 38
Squad Australia
NB: as reported in Singapore newspapers early August 1928. Corrections thanks
to Doug Butcher.
GK: F. Smith (New South Wales)
DF: H. Johnson (Queensland)
Tom Traynor (captain) (Queensland)
Arch. Harris (New South Wales) [also played as GK]
MF: Charlie O'Connor (Victoria)
Angus Marshall (Queensland)
C. Deacons (South Australia)
Sid Hinton (West Australia)
Frank Coolahan (New South Wales) [also played as GK]
FW: Joe Grieves (Victoria)
Alec Sandy Cameron (New South Wales)
H. Coates (New South Wales)
Johnny Johnstone (Victoria)
Tom "Tichy" Thompson (New South Wales)
H. Robertson (New South Wales)
Les Cook (New South Wales)
NB: Charlie O'Connor had earlier represented Natal in South Africa.
O'Connor and Johnstone were also part of the Australia squad which toured Celebes and
Java in 1931.
Match Details
7- 7 H.B.S. 3-3 Australia
H.B.S.: Hermanus; E.de Raadt, Fruneau; Dorrins, Marten, Robben;
Knufman, W.Voll, G.de Raadt, Uktolseja, Frederiks
A.F.A.: Smith; Traynor, Harris; O'Connor, Marshall, Coolahan;
Grieves, Cameron, Thompson, Johnstone, Robertson
referee: Gobus
Goals: Thompson 0-1, Thompson 0-2, G.de Raadt 1-2, unknown 2-2,
Knufman (pen) 3-2, Thompson (pen) 3-3
Half-Time: 1-2, Full-Time 3-3
Note: 2x5 minutes extra time played but no more goals scored
8- 7 S.V.B. XI 1-3 Australia
S.V.B.: Hermanus (H.B.S.); Boyer (T.H.O.R.), E.de Raadt (H.B.S.);
Wasterval (Excelsior), Whitton (Excelsior), Reep (Excelsior);
Klencke (T.H.O.R.), Knufman (H.B.S.), Looyen (Zeemacht),
Sadjimin (Excelsior), Koemeniet (Excelsior)
A.F.A.: Coolahan; Johnson, Traynor; O'Connor, Marshall, Hinton;
Grieves, Cameron, Coates, Thompson, Robertson
referee: Walsarie Wolff
Goals: Coates 0-1, Thompson 0-2, Cameron 0-3, Sadjimin 1-3
Half-Time: 0-1
11- 7 Excelsior 1-4 Australia
Excelsior: Hertel; Theo Jahn, Berkholst; Wasterval, Whitton, Reep;
Jahn sr., Tremio, Sadjimin, Cuno, Koemeniet
A.F.A.: Coolahan; Traynor, Harris; O'Connor, Marshall, Hinton;
Coates, Cameron, Thompson, Johnstone, Robertson
referee: Van der Kasteele
Goals: 3' Thompson 0-1, Coates 0-2, Robertson 0-3, Johnstone 0-4, Cuno 1-4
Half-Time: 0-2
14- 7 Go Ahead 3-5 Australia
Go Ahead: Daerden; Elzinga, Galstaun; Overbeek Bloem, Altmann, De la Croix;
Turpijn, Heiman, Willé, Overbeek Bloem, Jorissen
A.F.A.: Coolahan; Johnson, Traynor; O'Connor, Marshall, Harris;
Coates, Cook, Deacons, Johnstone, Thompson
referee: Hartog
Goals: N.N. 0-1, Bloem 1-1, Jorissen 2-1, N.N. (pen) 2-2, Johnstone 2-3,
N.N. (own goal) 2-4, Willé 3-4, N.N. 3-5
Half-Time: 1-1
15- 7 V.S.O. XI 0-3 Australia
V.S.O.: Claassen; De Jong, Galstaun; De Jong, Risamena, Elzinga;
Turpijn, Eiternich, Tan Kiem Ing, Bloem, Rapp
A.F.A.: Smith; Harris, Traynor; Marshall, Hinton, O'Connor;
Coates, Cameron, Thompson, Johnstone, Robertson
referee: Van Hulsteyn
Goals: N.N. (pen) 0-1, Cameron 0-2, O'Connor 0-3
Half-Time: 0-1
18- 7 Chinese Java XI 1-6 Australia
Chin. Java: Ong Tjeng Soey; Oey Kian Soen, Oey Oen Hoa; Kwa Soen Tjay,
Liem Bian Bo, Liem Chiao Pek; Tan Yauw Siong, Liauw Kie Foeng,
Ong Ang Soen, Liem See Han, Hok Siang
A.F.A.: Smith; Johnson, Harris; Coolahan, O'Connor, Deacons;
Grieves, Cameron, Coates, Johnstone, Robertson
referee: Hartog
Goals: Robertson 0-1, Robertson 0-2, 8' Johnstone 0-3, N.N. (pen) 0-4,
Coates 0-5, Grieves 0-6, N.N. 1-6
Half-Time: 0-3
21- 7 B.V.B. XI 3-4 Australia
B.V.B.: Tjeng Soey; Zuidema, Goldman jr.; Boogh, Amrein, Rodrigues;
Hagenaar, Giesel, Lippelt sr., Goyers, Bochem
A.F.A.: Smith; Traynor, Harris; O'Connor, Marshall, Coolahan;
Greeves, Cameron, Thompson, Johnstone, Robertson
referee: De Wilde
Goals: Thompson 0-1, Bochem (pen) 1-1, Lippelt 2-1, Thompson 2-2,
Thompson 2-3, Robertson 2-4, Bochem (pen) 3-4
Half-Time: 2-1
22- 7 U.N.I. 0-2 Australia
U.N.I.: Van Bladel; Goldman jr., Zuidema; Altenburg, Amrein, Van der Putten;
Hagenaar, Giesel, Goyers, Goldman sr. (Welfers), Bochem
A.F.A.: Smith; Johnson, Traynor; O'Connor, Marshall, Hinton;
Greeves, Jonhstone, Coates, Thompson, Robertson
referee: Villevoye
Goals: Thompson 0-1, Johnstone 0-2
Half-Time: 0-1
Note: Welfers replaced the injured Goldman sr. during the first half
7- 8 B.V.B. XI 1-3 Australia
B.V.B.: Tjeng Soey; Zuidema, Goldman jr.; Boogh, Amrein, Rodrigues;
Hagenaar, Giesel, Lippelt sr., Goyers, Bochem
A.F.A.: Smith; Traynor, Harris; O'Connor, Marshall, Hinton:
Coates, Cameron, Thompson, Johnstone, Robertson
referee: Villevoye
Goals: 7' Cameron 0-1, 9' Robertson 0-2, Giesel 1-2, 45' Robertson 1-3
Half-Time: 0-2
11- 8 M.O.T. 2-2 Australia
M.O.T.: W.Claassen; W.de Iongh, J.de Iongh; J.Poot, Risamena, Lammerding;
J.Rapp, B.Keesing, Soen, Alwi, Borlee
A.F.A.: Smith; Harris, Hinton; O'Connor, Marshall, Coolahan;
Greeves, Johnston, Coates, Thompson, Robertson
referee: Bousché
Half-Time: 1-1
12- 8 V.S.O. XI 1-4 Australia
V.S.O.: W.Claassen; J.de Iongh, Elzinga; Lammerding, Risamena, W.de Iongh;
Rapp, Overbeek Bloem, P.Willé, W.Heijman, Erkelens
A.F.A.: Smith; Traynor, Hinton; O'Connor, Marshall, Coolahan;
Greeves, Johnston, Coates, Thompson, Robertson
referee: Metz
Goals: 1-0 by Overbeek Bloem
Half-Time: 1-2
15- 8 H.B.S. 0-0 Australia
H.B.S.: Hermanus; E.de Raadt, Fruneau; Hayer, Marten, Robben;
W.Voll, Knufman, G.de Raadt, Claassen, Priester
A.F.A.: Harris; Traynor, Hinton; O'Connor, Marshall, Coolahan;
Grieves, Cameron, Thompson, Johnstone, Deacon
referee: Weggeman
Note: no extra time played
18- 8 Excelsior 1-3 Australia
Excelsior: Hertel; Wasterval, Tremio; Theo Jahn, Fr.Jahn, Reep;
Koemeniet, Zweerts, Whitton, Sadjimin, Cuno,
A.F.A.: Smith; Johnson, Traynor; O'Connor, Marshall, Coolahan;
Cook, Cameron, Coates, Thompson, Robertson
referee: Cortenbach
Goals: Cameron 0-1, Cameron 0-2, Tremio 1-2, Coates 1-3
Half-Time: 1-2
19- 8 N.I.V.B. XI 2-1 Australia
N.I.V.B.: W.Claassen (Semarang); E.de Raadt (Soerabaja), W.de Iongh (Semarang);
Wasterval (Soerabaja), Risamena (Semarang), J.de Iongh (Semarang);
Hagenaar (Bandoeng), Meyers (Soerabaja), Kho Liong (Malang),
Rehatta (Batavia), Malaihollo (Batavia)
A.F.A.: Harris; Traynor, Hinton; O'Connor, Marshall, Coolahan;
Grieves, Cameron, Thompson, Johnstone, Robertson
referee: Van der Kasteele
Goals: 10' Cameron 0-1, 30' Rehatta 1-1, ET: 5' Rehatta 2-1
Half-Time: 1-1, Full-Time 1-1
Note: At H.B.S.-veld, Passer Toerie.
2x5 minutes extra time played; contemporary newspapers in the
Dutch East Indies agreed that the winning goal should have been
disallowed for off-side. In an article from 1938 the winning goal
was credited to Kho Biauw Liang.
This match was one of five additional matches in Soerabaja arranged
after the promotors had failed to agree terms with the Batavia city
federation on the three planned matches in Batavia; on 30 July, the
N.I.V.B. announced the following pre-selection for this match:
GK: Claassen (Semarang); DF: Denkelaar (Batavia), P. Leslie Miller
(Soerabaja); MF: Wasterval (Soerabaja), Risamena (Semarang),
Boogh (Bandoeng); FW: Hagenaar (Bandoeng), Knufman (Soerabaja),
W.Galstaun (Semarang), Rehatta (Batavia), Malaihollo (Batavia);
reserves: Hermanus; E.de Raadt, W.de Iongh, Whitton, dr. Smit,
Pipper, Koemeniet. Later additions included Kho Biauw Liang,
from Malang-based Hak Sing Hwee.
22- 8 S.V.B. XI 1-5 Australia
S.V.B.: Hermanus; E.de Raadt, Nyssen; Wasterval, Whitton, Reep;
Jahn sr., P.Keasberry, Tremio, Sadjimin, Koemeniet
A.F.A.: Smith; Johnson, Traynor; Harris, O'Connor, Coolahan;
Coates, Cameron, Deacon, Johnstone, Robertson
referee: Van der Kasteele
Goals: Deacon 0-1, Cameron 0-2, Cameron 0-3, Cameron 0-4, Sadjimin 1-4,
Deacon 1-5
Half-Time: 0-3
23- 8 T.H.O.R. 0-3 Australia
T.H.O.R.: Alexander; Greve, Nyssen; Boyer, v.d. Kasteele, B.Keasberry;
Klencke, Weskin, Meyers, Marschner, Feuerberg
A.F.A.: Smith; Harris, Hinton; O'Connor, Marshall, Coolahan;
Grieves, Cook, Thompson, Deacon, Robertson
referee: Helmig
Goals: Cook 0-1, Thompson 0-2, Cook (pen) 0-3
Half-Time: 0-0
Information in the third paragraph of the introduction thanks to Trevor Thompson; additions and corrections on Australian player names thanks to Doug Butcher.
Sources included: [FIF 31],
A.J. Harris Java Tour Journal;
Indische Courant (Soerabaja), Bataviaasch Nieuwsblad (Batavia),
Locomotief (Semarang), The Straits Times (Singapore),
Malayan Saturday Post (Singapore), Brisbane Courier (Australia).
Prepared and maintained by Karel Stokkermans for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
Author: Karel Stokkermans
Last updated: 4 Jun 2020
(C) Copyright Karel Stokkermans and RSSSF 2011/20
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper
acknowledgement is given to the author. All rights reserved.