Greystanes FC

Setting Up

The first meeting was in one of their lounge rooms and there the executive committee was formed with Les Owen as President, Ken Burchell, Secretary, John Overton, Treasurer and Ray Turvey, Vice president. Each man was well suited to his role. Endless hours of interviews, contacts and enquires followed. A three-year plan was set-up and they agreed to each "kick-in" a quarter of the money required to start the club. (See our Past Executive Committee Members & Life Members.)

They immediately began working on getting a home ground organised, a constitution drawn up and the club's Standing Rules written. They managed to get Council to grant them use of Orange Street Park (as it was known then). The park was at this time just a "dirt mound" with a set of goal posts on it. The remainder was a wilderness of blackberry bushes and the northern end contained the remains of a chicken farm. The scrub was so dense that it was well into the first season before the children discovered an old truck hidden in it.

A bank account was opened and registration fees set - $1.00 per player and match fee 20c. The first registration day bought in enough money that their "kick-in" wasn't needed. Kind suppliers allowed the club to order shirts and other equipment on credit. The GDSFA President and Secretary were most helpful in enabling twelve teams to be fielded in Greystanes Soccer Club's first season (1971).

That first season equipment included a tent (182cm x 121cm) that doubled as a registration kiosk and canteen. The season was successful enough that the Club was able to pay all their bills, half the cost of a new canteen (now used as a storeroom), outfit their three winning teams in club jackets and present trophies, including a Foundation Year Trophy to every registered player. The season ended with enough money in bank to allow the new season to start without needing credit.

By the end of the three years, the lower ground (Field 2) had been cleared and was usable. Daniel Street Park was being cleared and the Club applied for use of that ground. The Club had twenty one registered teams at this stage. An amenities building (aka "the shack") was delivered but it was old and needed extensive repairs. A voluntary effort by club members painted and made repairs but Council brick-faced the building to placate the new Ballina Street residents. A fence erected around the amenities building and the first pair of lights was added for night training.

The remains of the old chicken farm were cleared and the Bathurst Street shops and parking area were now in use. The top field (Field 1) was levelled and a new canteen was added to the northern end of the amenities building. More lighting was added at both Bathurst Street Park and Daniel Street Park. With the Club growing to fifty six teams (1980), Alpha Road Park was now being used for training and matches.

• In 1977, the Club fielded a team, coached by Jimmy Russell, in the Federation League for the first time.

By the mid 1980’s the club had 29 registered teams in the Granville Competition. With success achieved both on and off the field, further expansion to the Ground’s development was needed.  The ‘old shack’ was becoming outdated and the need for a new amenities building would service the needs of our continually growing Club.

With a major push from President Peter Horvarth (1986) and the strong financial state the club, a grant was obtained from the Department of Sport and Recreation.  Successful lobbying of Holroyd Council saw the new Amenities block built in-between the two fields (replacing the old hill).  With senior teams playing in the Federation League, in 1986, the Club was deserving of modern amenities of a good standard. This was a reflection of where the Club was heading. 

• In 1980, women’s teams were introduced with the Club fielding three junior teams in the Southern Districts Association.  They played in the Liverpool competition with mixed success.  Some of these girls went on to play for NSW.  Unfortunately, by 1986, numbers had dropped and we were unable to field junior girls’ teams until 1991.
• In 1985, Barry Davis was appointed Club Coach.  This role involved training, developing and supporting all the Club’s coaches and players, as required. 
• In 1986, the Club’s under 13 division 1 team, coached by Paul Sparkes, won their Champion of Champion’s competition against Revesby Lions, 9 - 1.  They followed this by winning this prestigious competition in 1987 also (under 14).

The turn of the ‘nineties’ saw the club enter a new successful period.

• In 1990, the club applied for re-entry into the Federation League. After a successful year in the Premier League, the Club was admitted into the Federation Division 6. No one expected that the team would do so well as to win the League in it’s first season (1991), however, they did just that and were promoted into Division 5 for the next season (1992).  From there, the squad was very successful, winning the Grand Final in First Grade in the Division 5 competition (1992), Division 4 (1993) and Division 3 (1995).  To add to this year’s victory, the First Grade team were also Minor Premiers.  The Reserve Grade has also fared well over those years, winning their Grand Final in 1993 (making it a double) and went down in their Grand Final in 1994.
• In 1991, the under 15 Ladies team, coached by John Frogbrook, went through to win their Champion of Champion’s competition.
• 18^th August, 1991, Alderman R. N. Downing officially opened the new amenities block which included two big dressing rooms, a large canteen, toilets and storage rooms. 

Having senior teams play in the NSW Federation League in the top divisions shows the Club has been very successful.  This is especially the case when you see that most of the players in the Federation squad have come up through the junior ranks of the Club.  This success has come from the hard work of many dedicated people, from the committee right down to the players and with the continued efforts of all involved with the Club, the future looks very prosperous for the coming years.

G'day,

I received flowers to-day from the club and wish to express my thanks for the kind gesture.

It was a great pleasure to be involved in the formation of the club and I found it a challenge in the work done by the original committee in the obtaining of a home ground and the recruitment of teams in the first year.

I hope you 40th anniversary dinner is a success and only wish I could have been there with you.