Laurie Schwab

Laurie Schwab was born in 1947 in Berlin, emigrating to Australia with his family in 1954. 

He grew up in St Albans, Victoria, and at 19 started working as a cadet journalist with the Mail in Footscray.

He then became a sub-editor and football journalist for The Age newspaper, travelling to cover the Socceroos at their first FIFA World Cup appearance in 1974. 

In 1976 he founded the much-loved Soccer Action, a weekly soccer newspaper which, at its peak, sold in excess of an unprecedented 17,000 copies nationally.

Schwab was noted for his accuracy and was highly respected by Soccer Australia and National Soccer League club officials and players.

Schwab also commentated on the game for ABC Radio (Melbourne) until he died suddenly in 1997, aged 50.