The Jamberoo and soccer community turned out last week to farewell Geoffrey Alan Warren, who died on February 11 after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 75.
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Mr Warren was a member of the famous footballing Warren family, who, along with brothers Ross and Johnny, have left a lasting impression on football in Australia over their lifetime.
Born on March 2, 1939, the family lived in the East Botany and the three boys played football, cricket, roller skated and held bike races around the block and used to run back yard concerts to raise money for the Red Cross.
He attended Botany Public School and Sydney Grammar School and played football for Botany Methodists’ who were members of the Protestant Churches Football Association.
Apart from being a talented soccer players he was also a very talented cricketer and showed great talent as a wicket-keeper and in 1955 was selected to play in the first XI and also for Randwick in their Green Shield team.
His climb in football came when he was invited to train at Canterbury Marrickville FC and was played reserve and first grade. He was a key member of the great Canterbury first grade premiership-winning side of 1960, scoring a goal in the grand final.
Frank Parsons, a former international footballer, administrator and football writer once described Geoff as a ‘future international player’ and compared his ability and playing style to the great English footballer, Sir Stanley Matthews.
Unfortunately his football potential was not realised due to a crippling knee injury sustained playing for Auburn, although he retained a key interest in supporting and giving back to the game throughout his life.
He travelled the world and attended the 1974 World Cup with a group of close friends to watch his younger brother John and the Socceroos make their first world cup appearance in West Germany.
Mr Warren also attended the 1982 World Cup in Spain. While he was there he rang his parents, telling his father there was a ticket in the mail for him and to pack his bags and head over to Spain to join the party - exemplifying his generous and caring nature.
He cared for his parents in their later years, making sure they had the best care possible.
His working career included stints in the insurance industry, business administration at Davis Gelatine, owning the Mascot/Sydney Airport milk run and working for seven years with the family at the Grand Hotel in Kiama.
At the time of his death he owned the Jamberoo Town Square Shop precinct adjacent to the Jamberoo Pub and was a director of the Johnny Warren Football Foundation (JWFF).
His last three years were hard, he put up a great fight, with countless chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments.