Simon Hill questions naming of Johnny Warren on Sydney Football Stadium stand

Kieran Francis

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Simon Hill questions naming of Johnny Warren on Sydney Football Stadium stand image

Respected football commentator and personality Simon Hill has questioned the naming of Johnny Warren on one of the grandstands at the newly-rebuilt Sydney Football Stadium.

Football legend Warren was announced to feature as the name of the stand where Sydney FC supporter group The Cove occupy during games, with the other stands named about rugby league icon Ron Coote, Wallabies great Nicholas Shehadie and the Garrison stand, named after British Army soldiers playing cricket in the precinct in the 1850's.

While Hill wasn't disputing Warren's standing in football in Australia, he pointed out the former Socceroo was already immortalised in the Moore Park precinct and his death came before the Sky Blues existed.

"Controversial opinion time," Hill said via his Twitter account.

"Not being disrespectful to Johnny, who’s a football icon, and already has a statue outside the SFS - but he passed before Sydney FC came to life.

"Wouldn’t the Alex Brosque Stand be more fitting & identifiable for the club that plays there?"

Controversy has risen since the naming of the stands, with the Sydney Roosters disappointed that Immortal Arthur Beetson and Brad Fittler weren't a part of the redesigned venue.

The Sydney Football Stadium, previously known as Allianz Stadium has been going through an $828 million redevelopment since demolition began in March 2019.

The new 45,000-capacity venue is expected to open in mid-2022, with the Sydney Roosters, NSW Waratahs and Sydney FC to be its major tenants.

Its first match will likely be the NRL blockbuster between the Roosters and South Sydney in Round 25 on September 2.

It will also be used as a venue for the 2023 Women's World Cup and a regional venue for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.