Former Socceroos captain Craig Foster has headlined four inductees into Football Australia's (FA) Hall of Fame.
Foster, female refereeing trailblazer Jenny Bray, prominent football administrator Ian Holmes and football pioneer the late Alex Pongrass AM were inducted ahead of the Matildas' game against Brazil at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.
FA chairman Anter Isaac labelled the inductees "remarkable figures whose legacies on Australian football will endure for generations."
"Each of these honourees has left a lasting mark on the sport," Isaac said in a statement.
"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."
Foster, capped 29 times, was the Socceroos' 40th captain but is just as well known for his work off the field as a broadcaster and human rights activist.
He was later the CEO and chair of the players' union (Professional Footballers Australia) and is a fierce advocate for players' rights but also human rights.
In 2019 he was crucial to saving footballer and refugee Hakeem al-Araibi from a Thai prison, where he faced extradition to and likely persecution in Bahrain.
Bray, who started her refereeing career in 1984, was appointed as Australia's first female FIFA referee in 1995.
She later took on a development officer role with the Asian Football Confederation.
Holmes has spent 50 years in football administration, notably as general manager at Soccer Australia (1999-2002) and Football NSW (2007-2011).
Pongrass, who died in 2000, was a pioneering figure.
He turned St. George Budapest Football Club into a powerhouse, as their president for more than 40 years, and was pivotal to the establishment of the National Soccer League in 1977.
All four were nominated via a public process, with the nominees then considered by a panel of Australian football historians.
The historians provided their recommendations to the FA board, with the directors ratifying each person’s elevation.
