Soccer - The common name for Association Football.

My father-in-law, William (Bill)Stewart, was born in July 1911 (unintentionally - mid-soccer season in South Africa).

After attending Malvern Intermediate School, he matriculated at Parktown Boys High in 1927.

A Bachelor of Arts degree at Wits (The University of the Witwatersrand) and a teaching certificate from JCE (The Johannesburg College of Education) was the official qualification needed for his teaching career. He also had a passion for teaching all players men and school boys, how SOCCER SHOULD BE ENJOYED, PLAYED AND LOVED. His infectious enthusiasm – especially for young people, and his fervent commitment has indelibly affected the lives of countless thousands over the years!

Bill played for JSAR Club (Johannesburg South African Railways), which in 1947 was forced to change its name to Johannesburg Ramblers. Here he played Transvaal League soccer, (the highest league – prior to the advent of professional soccer) and also began a long association with schools soccer. He was Chairman of Southern Transvaal Schools Football Association for 20 years and also started the National Under 13 Primary Schools Football Tournament. Currently, this tournament is still playing for the Bill Stewart Trophy.

For over 30 years Bill also refereed soccer, and in 1959, was awarded his Springbok Blazer/Colors for refereeing. (This was at the time he refereed the Bolton Wanderers game against the last amateur South African Xl.

This football fan served in administrative capacities for more than 25 years as Chairman, Vice-President, or President of the Southern Transvaal Referees Association, while also serving as Chairman of the Transvaal Committee responsible for the Transvaal League – the biggest league in South Africa at that time, and which was formed in 1889.

The nineteen-sixties started with Bill being honored with Life Membership by both the Southern Transvaal Schools Referees Association and the Southern Transvaal Football Association. He was also awarded a gold medal of honour by the Football Association of South Africa.

His, son, Ian, my husband, also played soccer. He played for Kensington Polytechnic Club, which became Bedfordview Pollys and then for Wanderers Club in the Transvaal league 1st Southern Transvaal in the inter-provincial Currie Cup competition which was the highest amateur football competition at that time. Ian, together with his brother-in-law, Terrence Watson, were in the team when Southern Transvaal won the Currie Cup in 1969. I was a very enthusiastic spectator at Wanderer’s soccer matches, every Saturday afternoon throughout the 1970’s up to 1981 when Ian played for the Veteran’s over 30’s side. division. He was chosen twice to play for

2010 heralds the FIFA Soccer World Cup hosted by South Africa. Soccer fans will again be packing our soccer stadiums throughout the country. Our family, together with millions of South African soccer fans will be rooting for our national team, Bafana Bafana.