FIRST NATIONS PLAYER FOR THE SOCCEROOS

Kasey Wehrman was the first Aboriginal player from Queensland to play for the national side. Born in Cloncurry, Wehrman came through the junior ranks in Mount Isa. Then, as a young teenager he moved to Brisbane with his family.

His senior career started with the Brisbane Strikers in 1995. By 1996-7 he had picked up a NSL Championship with the Brisbane Strikers and was named the Under 21 Player of the Year. He spent both 1995 and 1996 with the Queensland Academy of Sport.

In 1999, Wehrman began playing for the Socceroos, making his debut in an Oceania Nations Cup match against Fiji where the Socceroos won 3-1. He played for the Socceroos a total of 12 times. Wehrman also represented Australia as part of the under 23 Olyroos where he played in the 2000 Olympic Games scoring a goal against Nigeria. In 2001 Wehrman signed for Moss FK in Norway, he spent nine years in Norway playing for various clubs.

The above information is drawn from John Maynard’s groundbreaking book, ‘The Aboriginal Soccer Tribe: a history of Aboriginal involvement with the world game.’ See pages 90-91 for further information on Wehrman’s career.