1967 – 1974 The Beginnings of Soccer!
At the Annual General Meeting in February 1966 it was suggested that a lot of boys in the area were interested in soccer and that maybe this sport could be started within the Youth Club.
Soccer commenced in the Winter season of 1967 with four teams registered, in the 8’s, 9’s, 10’s and 12’s. All teams played in the B division of their respective age group.
The First Secretary of the Soccer Section of the Youth Club was Mr Ken Chapman.
Soccer registration fees were 60 cents per player and match fees were 25 cents per player.
Due to the increase in popularity of soccer, there were not enough players to enter any teams in the Rugby League competition in 1968.
David Bowmer was the first Representative Player in the U/9’s.
In 1969 seven teams registered with three teams qualifying as Premiers, namely, 7C’s, 9C(1)’s and the 11C’s. The Soccer Section also won the St George B.M.C Trophy for Club Championship.
By 1971 there were 14 soccer teams registered and the 9B’s were premiers.
A letter dated May 1971 is received from Hurstville Council advising of the relocation of the cricket nets at Olds Park to make way for a soccer field.
A trophy is also donated to the Soccer Section by John Snowden for competition against another club. Thirroul won the inaugural trophy,
By 1972 the registration fees had risen to $1.00 for membership and 40c per game.
In March 1972 Penshurst West Youth Club together with the P & C Association from Penshurst West School joined together to meet with Council to arrange to have soccer posts erected. Council finally agrees to the posts and a working bee is arranged for 21st May to erect the goal posts. This was to be a training field only and would also be used by Penshurst West School.
St George Association assigned Evatt Park at Lugarno to Penshurst West to maintain and mark. 1973, again saw Evatt Park as the home ground for Penshurst West soccer and a line marker was approved at a cost of $51.
At the 1973 AGM the Mayor of Hurstville announced that the council would spend $8,000 on construction of a full soccer field and this was completed in 1974.
St George Soccer Association ran a “Miss St George Budapest Queen” quest for some years. In 1974 Miss Linda Drost, a Miss Penshurst West entrant, was crowned the winner.