The St George football community is mourning the loss of Nick Sokoloff.
Sokoloff died after a battle with illness late last year. The goalkeeper is still the only Russian to ever play for Australia.
Sokoloff was also born in Shanghai, making him the only Socceroo to be born in China.
Sokoloff had a huge connection to Carss Park FC and the St George area.
Before St George Stadium, St George Budapest trained at Charles Pirie Field. It was at St George Budapest that Sokoloff played alongside Australian football legend Johnny Warren.
The pair won the Ampol Cup with the club in 1967.
Sokoloff was also the goalkeeper coach and mentor to two future Socceroos – Jim Fraser and Mark Schwarzer – with both glovemen going on to represent Australia at World Cups in 1974 and 2006.
Sokoloff also trained a number of young goalkeepers down at Carss Park as a favour to the club’s late president, Darryl Hancock.
