From a Norwich City website!:
Former Norwich City favourite Ian Crook today paid a glowing tribute to ex-Manchester United star Dwight Yorke after he inspired Sydney FC to their Grand Final triumph.
FC, coached by the former Canary midfielder, beat Central Coast Mariners 1-0 in front of 42,000 fans at the Sydney Football Stadium in a game that represented the climax of the new-look Australian A-league season. It means that Crook's team - managed by former German World Cup hero Pierre Littbarski, not only emerge as the first A-League champions, but now qualify for next season's Asian Club Championships - the equivalent of Europe's Champions League.
"Dwight was absolutely magnificent for us in the second half," said Crook, with former Wolves' midfielder Steve Corica scoring the all-important goal in the 61st minute. All of a sudden, it seems, football is big, big news Down Under.
"There were 42,000 fans there - the atmosphere was incredible," said Crook. "And we made the front page, the back page and pages two and three of the sports newspaper out here. And, believe me, that is unheard of."
Australia's first appearance in the World Cup finals since 1974 has merely fuelled the soccer boom as such traditional Aussie favourites as cricket, rugby league and Aussie Rules football find themselves ousted by the world's favourite game.
The fact that the Australian A-League and Sydney FC have the financial pull to attract someone of Yorke's ilk also suggests the game is very much alive and kicking.
FC skipper Yorke, awarded the man of the match award for his one-man second-half show, was delighted at the Sydney club's triumph.
"I realised I had to stamp my authority on the game and take the bull by the horns and luckily enough things worked out well," said the former Aston Villa favourite.
England fans take note - Yorke's next big date will come this summer when he leads Trinidad & Tobago into World Cup battle against Sven-Goran Eriksson's men.
As for FC, their Grand Final triumph is "the start of something huge" according to one of the club's showbiz backers, Hollywood actor Anthony La Paglia.
"I wouldn't have missed this for the world," said Frasier actor La Paglia, part of the glamour set who have led Sydney FC to be dubbed "Bling FC" by the Australian media.
"It's a huge day in Australian football and I think this is the start of something huge."