Origins of our Club
August – October 1992
Our Club’s origins extend right back to August 1992. With the junior soccer season coming to a close, many parents from Ballajura who had been bringing their children to various soccer clubs around the city were asking the question, “why do we not have a junior soccer club in Ballajura?” It was around that time that our Foundation Committee Members John and Breda McNamara first met Trish Pringle who was then employed at the Ballajura Tavern (now the Alexander Bar & Bistro). They had some initial discussions about the possibility of establishing a junior soccer club in Ballajura and were introduced by Trish to John Davidson who had previously spoken with her about the very same thing.
At the time, some of the patrons who frequented the Tavern were involved in a social league team known as the Ballajura Tavern Soccer Club. Brian Healy and Guy Stuart were involved in that club and had been using Green Park across from the Ballajura Tavern (now Alexander Heights Park) as their home ground.
Following some initial correspondence with the then Junior Soccer Association, this group were invited to a JSA Committee meeting to put forward their case for admittance and to receive all the relevant information and directions to achieve that goal. They then had just three (3) weeks to present an initial plan which had to include amongst other things: nomination of a home ground; an approximate number of teams; team colours; a Club Constitution; bank details; and a list of Club Officers.
Positive meetings had also been had with the Ballajura Tavern Soccer Club members with Brian Healy as President of their Social Club agreeing to support an application to the City of Wanneroo for use of Green Park as the Club’s first home ground. The use of the Social Club’s equipment, such as the goal nets and line marking equipment was a very welcome gesture and with no objections to the use of this ground, the City of Wanneroo eventually agreed to the booking request that had been made and Ballajura Junior Soccer Club now had a home ground.
Well worth noting in amongst all this activity is the fact that, at the time, some folk at the City of Wanneroo were requesting that the name of the club be changed to reflect the Wanneroo locality – something which was refused by the Foundation Committee Members.
The first official Committee meeting for our Club was held at John and Trish Pringles’ home on the 2nd September 1992 to get the ball rolling. Subsequent meetings were then held at the homes of various Foundation Committee Members during which agreement was reached on the Club Constitution, club colours and the adoption of the Isle of Man Manx logo as our own logo, with the inclusion of three soccer balls instead of the spurs that normally appear on the Isle of Man Manx logo. This historic decision in respect of the Club’s logo was taken on the 13th October 1992 and recognises those settlers who came from the Isle of Man and founded the Townland of Ballajura (named after the Manx village of Ballajora). These activities lead to the Club’s first public general meeting at Ballajura Primary School on the 21st October 1992.
The foundations for our Club had been laid and it was now time to see if the Ballajura Community really did want a junior soccer club!
February – April 1993
The Club’s first registration days were held on the 14th February 1993 and the 21st February 1993 with the Ballajura community giving the Club a resounding ‘thumbs up’ with registrations completed for 142 boys and girls.
Many generous businesses within the local community came to the fore with sponsorships being provided for all of the 13 teams entered into the junior soccer competition in that first competitive year for the Club. Whilst all of our initial sponsors played a very important role in the development of the Club, special recognition is made of the personal input provided from Angus McDonald (RIP), father of Sheena Newton and the owner of Storack, who sponsored our U9s Team 2. As well as sponsoring this team, Angus also made the metal goals that were used for many years at Green Park, and his interest and enthusiasm helped immensely with keeping the Foundation Committee focused on the main task of building our Club.
On the 27th March 1993 the Committee marked out all the pitches at Green Park with the help of Brian Healy from the Ballajura Tavern Soccer Club. Then on 4th April 1993 history was made when our Club’s first games were played with our young boys and girls turning out for the first time in our traditional red and yellow Ballajura colours.
As an interesting side note, it is worth highlighting that back in the early 90s there were no canteen facilities at Green Park. So it was that on 29th March 1993 the Committee purchased an old Mr Whippy van for $500 to serve as our Club canteen on game days. John Pringle, with a little help from others involved with the Club, painted the van in the Club’s colours with the main body in red and the roof in yellow. The van served our Club wonderfully for two seasons with help from the young family members of our Foundation Committee folk. It enabled hot food and beverages to be made available to our inaugural members and supporters on those cold Sunday mornings, helping to bring invaluable income for our fledgling Club before it had to be moved on.
July 1993 onwards
The considerable efforts of our Foundation Committee enabled our Club to kick-off nicely and some immediate success was had on the field with Ian Ellis’ U11s team winning the league that year. Just as significant however was the all-round success achieved with our junior players able to represent their new Club whilst enjoying the sport that we all love and building comradery with their fellow teammates.
July 1993 then saw the Club take a major role together with the local footy, cricket and little athletics clubs in the development of Kingfisher Park and the Pavilion where our Club is now headquartered. Kingfisher Park then became our new home ground at which time our Club was renamed as Ballajura Soccer Club.
The formation of the Clubs’ senior teams in 1996 was another major milestone in the Clubs’ history, with Gordon Bleakley’s foresight and hard work proving invaluable in this latter regard.
The extraordinary efforts of the Foundation Committee Members listed below in achieving what may have been to some an impossible dream cannot be understated, as without their significant contributions and vision our Club would not exist.
- Office Bearers – John Davidson (President), John McNamara (Vice President), Trish Pringle (Secretary), Maureen Fulcher (Treasurer), Toni Kerford (Registrar)
- Committee Members – Steve Newton, Sheena Newton, John Pringle, Breda McNamara, Steve Davis, Jackie Dennis, Sue Batchelor
The Club also acknowledges the significant efforts of every subsequent Committee that has faced similar challenges as our Foundation Committee, as well as the host of new challenges that have come our way since. Our Club has grown in strength only because of those willing to take on those challenges, and we are sincerely thankful for all who give of their time for the benefit of our members, players and supporters.
“The end has finally arrived in what has been the most hectic year in my life. If somebody was able to warn me about how much effort was involved in the setting up of a club, I may have just opted to chicken out. I am quite glad though, that I didn’t and decided to see through something I thought to be an extremely worthwhile cause. I have been pleased to witness and be part of an extremely successful inaugural year for our Club.
Trish Pringle (RIP) providing a fitting reflection on the inaugural year of our Club in her Secretary’s Report for our first AGM held on 19th September 1993.”
Trish Pringle (RIP) providing a fitting reflection on the inaugural year of our Club in her Secretary’s Report for our first AGM held on 19th September 1993.”