Football fans at Dubbo are remembering Diego Maradona as one of the greatest players of the game ever after he died of a heart attack at the age of 60.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Avid follower of the sport Steffen Frandsen recalled the impact of the Argentine who was a global star and delivered the country World Cup victory in 1986.
Maradona was "arguably the greatest ever player of all time", and twice broke the world record in highest transfer for a footballer, first to Barcelona, and then to Napoli, Mr Frandsen said.
Napoli won the Serie A twice when Maradona was playing there, having never won it before, and not since, said Mr Frandsen, RSL 78s president.
"Worth mentioning is that at the time European clubs could only have three foreign players," he said.
"Maradona wasn't surrounded by stars like some clubs today, but his presence and ability to play football lifted teammates around him."
As a child, Chris Ambler was a season ticket holder of Leeds United and has been involved in junior soccer administration in Dubbo for 15 years. He said being an English football supporter, he had mixed emotions about Maradona.
"He was undoubtedly a genius on the field, [but] for all the success in his career, he will never be forgotten for the 'Hand of God' goal that knocked England out of the World Cup," Mr Ambler said.
He was referring to the 1986 World Cup quarter final when Maradona pushed the ball into the net with his hand, earning him infamy.
Mr Ambler said four minutes later the attacking midfielder had scored "what went down as the goal of the century".
"One piece of cheating to one piece of brilliance," he said.
Dubbo and District Football Association secretary-manager Jim Auld said the death of the sportsman was a sad loss.
"Maradona was a completely gifted freak of a player," he said.
"He could do things with a ball few others could.
"His ability to move the ball around players was extraordinary.
"He was one of the most flamboyant players of his era.
"It's very sad to hear anyone of such a young age to me, passing so early in life and he will be missed by the game."