Two of New Zealand football’s highest-achieving All Whites were honoured at the 2015 Celebration of Excellence dinner hosted by Friends of Football.
Steve Sumner, captain of the 1982 All Whites, and World Cup veteran Brian Turner received the Friends of Football Medal of Excellence to recognise their achievements and contribution to the sport.
They become the third and fourth recipients of the medal after former national coach John Adshead (2013) and long–serving All White Ivan Vicelich (2014).
The November 6 dinner gave peers the chance to honour the pair with tributes.
Sumner (60) played more than 100 times for his adopted country, scoring 22 times in 58 A–level international fixtures.
This included a record six–goal tally in a World Cup qualifier against Fiji, on the way to the 1982 finals in Spain (where he became the first All White to score at a finals tournament).
Turner (66) took part in five World Cup campaigns as a player and member of the coaching/management team, and went to both the 1982 and 2010 finals tournaments.
He’s a three–time winner of the Player of the Year award.
Photographs from dinner of Turner (left) and Sumner, courtesy of Shane Wenzlick / www.phototek.co.nz
Click here for more recipients of our Medal of Excellence >>>>
1982 All Whites with Turner (3rd left, middle row) and Sumner (3rd left, front).
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