Ray Baartz Immortal T-shirt

Raymond Henry "Ray" Baartz was born on 6 March 1947 in Newcastle, New South Wales. Baartz represented Australia 48 times, scoring 18 goals in the green and gold. He spent his early years playing for Adamstown Rosebud Football Club. At 17, he won a scholarship to spend six months with England's Manchester United, where he earned himself a two-year contract. 

In 1966, Baartz returned to Australia and transferred to Sydney Hakoah for a then Australian record of 5,600 pounds. He played 236 matches for Hakoah, scoring 211 goals, and was renowned for his hard shooting with either foot.

In 1974, his international career was infamously cut short after a karate chop to the throat from Uruguay's Luis Garisto in a friendly international fixture at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The blow damaged his carotid artery, ending his dream of playing for Australia at the FIFA World Cup in June.

In 1985, Baartz was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and the Football Hall of Fame (later Football Federation Australia) in 1999. He continued his association with football in coaching and administrative positions in Newcastle, while owning and operating a sporting goods store.

This design pays tribute to one of the most exciting forwards to ever grace a football field in Australia.

• 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)

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

Turn your shirt inside-out, machine wash cold with like colours, do not iron over print

Images sample only