Charlie Yankos Beat the Wall T-shirt

Charlie Yankos! A name synonymous with Australian soccer in the 1980s. Yankos was born in Melbourne and began his soccer journey at Lechia-West Newport and Polonia. As a 16-year-old, he joined Heidelberg in the early days of the National Soccer League. After 133 league appearances for the club he moved on to West Adelaide, then APIA Leichhardt (1987-1988 NSL Champions), Blacktown City and Wollongong Wolves. A stint at Greek club, PAOK Salonika wedged in between.

For all of Yankos' exploits at club level, it was his role as Frank Arok's captain in the underachieving Australia sides of the eighties that stood out. He was terribly unlucky not to go to a FIFA World Cup, with Scotland and Israel denying him and his men a place in the 1986 and 1990 Finals. However, Yankos will always be a cult hero to Australian soccer fans.

In 1988, Australia was celebrating as a nation, the bicentennial of first settlement at Port Jackson by Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788. A tournament was organised and named the Bicentennial Gold Cup, where reigning world champions Argentina, Brazil and Saudi Arabia participated. 

Yankos' free-kick from 30 yards sent the Sydney Football Stadium (and Arok) into pandemonium. Australia winning 4-1 on an evening no one in attendance will ever forget. He beat Israel's wall in 1989 to score from another free-kick, curling (with power) into the top right corner of the net. As history would have it, the goal was not enough to land a place in the Finals.

This design is a tribute to one of the greatest Australian captains to wear the green and gold, a master free-kick-taker and gentleman of the world game.

• Unisex, regular fit 
• Crew neck 
• Mid-weight, 180 GSM
• 100% combed cotton
• Neck ribbing, side seamed, shoulder to shoulder tape, double needle hems, preshrunk to minimise shrinkage

Body width/length (cm)

Please refer to Size Chart

Measure a shirt you own 1cm below sleeve joint from side seam to side seam (no refund or replacement for incorrect size choice)

Images sample only