Lets do it for Johnny

Johnny Warren’s passing away allows the passionate football followers to examine what the name, the icon and the man meant to us. For many he will be a hero, a role model - maybe even the only Australian football star they can remember. This man is Mr. Football, without the commitment and the dedication he had for the world game; we would all be the poorer. Quite simply, this man was worth more then gold.

Whether he was commentating on the sidelines or advising on the latest competition, Mr. Football made sure that soccer was at the forefront of his life. A man such as Warren is irreplaceable and his loss will be profound, but his service is complete, he could offer no more. This is a man people are not afraid to shed tears for, it’s a loss in the family. We loved him and he loved us with the same gusto, even if we had never met him.

The joy he had when we beat England, the agony of World Cup defeats... he wore his passion on his shoulder. If he was a gold mine, a nugget off his shoulder would be worth a mint. His golden voice etched into our minds, his passionate pleas brought fire into our belly. A man we can not be thankful enough for.

While tears and the end of an era begin, what is more important is that a state of “Doing it for Johnny” begins. Let’s hope this loss is not in vein, although a huge hole has been left, let us commit to Australian soccer – as Johnny wanted.

Time is not for division and animosity, it’s a time to help Johnny achieve his goal of a united competition. With many thousands of fans attending the game and Australian football reaching the pinnacle once more.

The Socceroos must show the same desire, passion and honour of playing for that shirt that he made famous for doing so, something of which he so desperately wanted. We need blood, sweat and tears to make sure we do it for Johnny.

We need to stop making excuses and say right now we will be in Germany in 2006, we can not accept or even think of not making Germany. We must unite!

The Johnny Warren we know does not want pity, he wants action.

The crucial aspect of Johnny Warren is that he united all football fans and he was loved throughout, he will be lost to the game, but it is time his legacy is followed.

It is now up to us the Australian public to make Johnny's dream a reality and put Australian Soccer on the map.

Thank you to the great man from the entire soccer community.