Football Australia is proud to announce the induction of four extraordinary individuals into the Football Australia Hall of Fame at the CommBank Matildas' match against Brazil at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Thursday evening.
A trailblazer for women match officials, Jenny Bray; former Socceroos' Captain, broadcaster, and advocate for player rights, multiculturalism, and social justice through football, Craig Foster AM; prominent football administrator, Ian Holmes; and football visionary pioneer, the late Alex Pongrass AM have been recognised for their exceptional contributions to Australian football, joining an esteemed list of Australian football identities in the Football Australia Hall of Fame.
All four were nominated to be inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame Class of 2024 via a public process, with the nominees then considered by a panel of Australian football historians.
The panel of historians provided their recommendations to the Football Australia Board, with Football Australia's Directors subsequently ratifying each person's elevation into the Football Australia Hall of Fame.
Football Australia Chair, Anter Isaac, said: "It is with immense pride that we celebrate the induction of four outstanding individuals into the Football Australia Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame honours those who have made exceptional contributions to our game, and this year's inductees - Jenny Bray, Craig Foster AM, Ian Holmes, and the late Alex Pongrass AM - are remarkable figures whose legacies on Australian football will endure for generations.
"Each of these honourees has left a lasting mark on the sport. Jenny Bray has not only broken new ground for women in refereeing, but she has also dedicated herself to mentoring future generations of officials, both nationally and internationally. Her commitment and leadership have been instrumental in advancing opportunities for female referees in Australia and beyond.
"Craig Foster AM has made a profound impact on football and society, using the sport as a powerful platform for advocacy. From his decorated playing career with the Socceroos to his tireless efforts in promoting multiculturalism and human rights, Craig continues to inspire on and off the field.
"Ian Holmes has devoted more than 50 years to football, playing an essential role in the game's administration at every level. His leadership in navigating both challenges and achievements has been vital to the sport's growth, and his contributions to infrastructure development have set the foundation for the future.
"The late Alex Pongrass AM stands as a towering figure in the history of Australian football. His role in establishing the National Soccer League and his dedication to the game's development, particularly through his leadership at St. George-Budapest, has left a profound legacy. Alex's vision and passion have shaped the landscape of Australian football in ways that continue to resonate.
"Each of these honourees embodies the core values of football in Australia - dedication, integrity, and an unwavering passion for the game. Their individual and collective achievements have not only shaped our game but also inspired countless others to contribute to football in Australia," concluded Isaac.
Since the initial induction of 84 players and participants in 1999, more than 250 male and female players, coaches, referees, administrators, and media representatives have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to our game.
Following the induction of the quartet, Football Australia Chief Executive Officer, James Johnson said: "The Football Australia Hall of Fame celebrates individuals who have shaped the landscape of Australian football, and this year's inductees exemplify that spirit of excellence and dedication. Jenny Bray, Craig Foster AM, Ian Holmes, and Alex Pongrass AM have each made significant contributions to the growth, professionalism and inclusivity of our game.
"Their remarkable achievements inspire us to continue driving the sport forward, ensuring football remains the game that unites and uplifts communities across Australia. We are proud to honour their legacy and the lasting impact they've made on football in this country," added Johnson.
Football Australia Class of 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees
Jenny Bray
Jenny Bray has devoted 40 years of her life to refereeing and making refereeing accessible for other women. She set the original path for future Australian women referees through her distinguished career as a national and international referee, helping raise awareness of the calibre of Australia's women referee talent pool at FIFA, and the Oceania and Asian Football Confederations.
Bray started her refereeing career in 1984 with the St George Association before moving to the NSW state league level.
Her hard work and focus on advancement and training saw her appointed Australia's first female FIFA referee in 1995.
In 1998, she turned her sights to referee coaching and assessing for the national governing body, and in 2000 was awarded an Australian Sports Medal for her contributions to date, despite having a number of years of service ahead.
Bray moved to Malaysia in 2006 to take on a development officer role for the Asian Football Confederation (where Australia had only recently joined) where she mentored and assisted female referees to develop from national to FIFA international standard, some becoming FIFA World Cup referees.
More recently she moved back into a local role as Director of Coaching with the St George Association (Football NSW) and continues in her role as an AFC Referee Assessor
Craig Foster AM
Craig Foster AM has made a profound impact on football and society, excelling in multiple roles as a player, broadcaster, and advocate for player rights, multiculturalism, and social justice through football.
Foster's journey began when he represented Australia in the inaugural 1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship. He went on to earn 29 caps as Socceroo Cap #419 and served as the 40th captain of the Socceroos.
His passionate commentary during the Socceroos' 2005 FIFA World Cup™ qualifier against Uruguay, broadcast on SBS, symbolised his deep commitment to the game.
Over a distinguished 20-year broadcasting career, Foster provided in-depth analysis and promoted football literacy across men's and women's FIFA World Cups, Olympic Games, and UEFA Champions Leagues
A fierce advocate for football's role in promoting multiculturalism, Foster, a former NSW Australian of the Year, is a Life Member of Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), where he also served as CEO and Chair.
He is the Patron of Indigenous representative teams and has led successful youth teams, including winning the National Championships with NSW.
Beyond the pitch, Foster's advocacy for human rights has resonated globally, with his leadership in the #SaveHakeem campaign standing out as a notable example of his dedication to justice.
Ian Holmes
Ian Holmes has given 50 years to football at local, state, and national levels. Starting his football life at Belmore Police Citizens Boys Club in Sydney, he soon became heavily involved in sports administration as he took on a committee position with the club.
A young Holmes quickly progressed to the Association level and was elected the Canterbury District Association's youngest ever President in 1975 aged just 19. Seven years later he was elected President of the NSW Amateur Soccer Federation, the largest Federation in Australia, at 25 years of age.
He became a director of the NSW Soccer Federation in 1985.
With football needing an overhaul from the top down, Holmes was soon in a position to help make fundamental change as the General Manager of the NSW Soccer Federation (1987-1991) and CEO and Commissioner of the Australian Soccer Federation (1991-1995).
He then took on the General Manager roles of the NSW Amateur Soccer Federation (1998-1999), Soccer Australia (1999-2002) and Football NSW (2007-2011) before returning to his roots at Canterbury. At the National level, he was responsible for delivering the 1988 Bicentennial Gold Cup and the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship.
His leading and mentoring roles guided the sport through some of its best and worst times over recent decades, setting up the game for its recent growth spurt including by securing millions of dollars of Commonwealth, State and Local grants for infrastructure development within the Canterbury Association.
Alex Pongrass AM
Alex Pongrass AM was a towering figure in Australian football. He helped shape the game in Australia as president of the St-George Budapest Football Club for over 40 years and played a pivotal role in establishing the NSL, the nation's first national sporting competition, in 1977.
He overcame many challenges, including the loss of both of his parents in the Holocaust, evading capture by the Nazis while distributing life-saving visas as a member of the Budapest Jewish Underground, and escaping communism for a better life in Australia. He never let these challenges define him and instead embraced his life as "an Australian by choice" and worked to build not only a better future for himself but also a lasting and positive impact on his adopted homeland and footballing community.
Alex and his wife Clara arrived in Sydney as refugees in 1950, and they welcomed two sets of twins. Together with his brother George, he set up a small engineering company in Mascot. This later grew to a publicly listed Pongrass Industries employing 600 people and became a significant player in Australia's industrial and commercial landscape. Despite his business successes, Alex's greatest passion was football. In 1958, he took over the St. George-Budapest Football Club, transforming it into a powerhouse of Australian football. Under his leadership, the club won the NSL in 1983 and five NSW First Division championships.
A visionary in the sport, Alex co-founded the National Soccer League (NSL) in 1977, alongside Frank Lowy. He convened the first meeting of clubs, laying the foundation for Australia's first national soccer competition. His foresight brought professional coaching to the game, notably when he recruited Frank Arok and hired Rale Rasic, who referred to Alex as "a giant of Australian football."
He was instrumental in the career of Johnny Warren, who wrote that Alex was "in many ways my mentor and hard as nails but, in the end, always fair and someone who contributed so much to Australian Football." Alex's influence extended to the women's game, as the St.George Budapest women's team made up all but two of the recently recognised "first Matildas".
As a primary benefactor of the St. George Stadium at Barton Park, Alex helped create a venue that hosted local and international matches, including Pele's 1972 trip to Australia with Santos.
In recognition of his vast contributions, he was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1988 for "Services to Soccer".
Alex Pongrass AM passed away in 2000.
