GENESIS OF LUGARNO FOOTBALL CLUB
The origins of the Lugarno Football Club can be traced back to 1962 when the club’s Fourfathers – Bill McAfee, Ken Derrett, Harry Brown and Cyril Henness, after drawing up a Grand Plan embarked on a mission to infiltrate the game of soccer as it was then known, into Lugarno and neighbouring regions.
Getting the locals to embrace the round ball game was going to be a challenge from the start. This is because the year 1962 was part of a golden era that would see the St George Rugby League Club go on to achieve a world record successive premiership triumphs by the same club in the one sport.
But the challenge from the Rugby League code did not thwart the Grand Plan of the Fourfathers. In 1962 a game of football played with a round ball, using feet instead of hands, was for many locals a new and mysterious experience. The strategy of the Grand Plan was to spread the word, generate curiosity; and most importantly of all, generate enthusiasm amongst the locals.
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Towards the end of 1962 the Fourfathers organised a formal meeting for all interested residents at the Progress Association Hall in Lime Kiln Road, Lugarno to launch the round ball game. The meeting resolved to name the Club, Lugarno-Peakhurst Soccer Club, and elected Bill McAfee as its inaugural President.
A Poem by a Past President – Ron Benjamin
It was in 1962
And known to only few
When four men had a dream
To start a soccer team
They called a local meeting
And ordered extra seating
‘Cause the word had spread around
That numbers would abound
It was voted one and all
In that now demolished hall
Yes, .. the people from the scrub
Had formed a Soccer Club
Whilst many years have gone
The tradition carries on
And the future’s looking bright
For the orange, blue and white
But let us not forget
Harry Brown and Ken Derrett
Cyril Henness and Bill McAfee
The four that made it … Be!
1963-The Inaugural Season
The Club registered 4 teams in 1963 and shared the home grounds between Scarborough Park and Taylors Reserve, Lugarno. No premierships were won in the inaugural season but two were secured the following season in 1964, when the 9B’s pictured below became the Club’s first premiership winning side followed by the 8C’s.
Through the Decades
During 1965 the home grounds were at Riverwood Park and Taylors Reserve. An opportunity came up that year which was immediately seized to re-locate the Club’s full field games to Gannons Park, Peakhurst, on field number 1 for the 1966 season. The Lugarno-Peakhurst Soccer Club thus became the first resident Soccer Club at Gannons Park. The club’s complete relocation to Gannons Park was completed in 1975 when a mini-field was installed allowing the Club to leave historic Taylor Reserve.
In 1973 the Club dropped the Peakhurst name and was renamed the Lugarno Soccer Club.
The Club’s first strip comprised of a turquoise blue jersey, white shorts and blue and white hoop socks. In July 1970, a decision was made to adopt tangerine socks. Tangerine was a standout colour, being readily recognisable by team members when their eyes were on the ball.
In early April 1975 when the St George Soccer Association rejected the Club’s submission to introduce light blue playing shirts, the Club decided to purchase tangerine shirts to match the tangerine shorts for all 22 teams registered to play that season. This marked the birth of the famous tangerine shirts of Lugarno. Some slight modifications were made in 1990 to the playing jersey for season 1991 which saw the re-introduction of elements of blue which helped to put the Club back in contact with its origins.
The current playing jersey is predominantly tangerine in colour with prominent white and royal blue sections at the front, orange back and a combination of white, royal blue and tangerine on the sleeves. The shorts are white and socks tangerine. The alternative playing strip features a predominantly white jersey with elements on black on the sides, white shorts and tangerine socks.
In 2010 it was resolved to change the Club’s name from the Lugarno Soccer Club to the Lugarno Football Club effective from season 2011. Hence the Club acronym LFC was created.
Club Activities
The first Club meeting was held in 1963 and initially conducted fortnightly until the 1977 season when monthly meetings were introduced.
Since 1964 the Club has held picnic and presentation days honouring its players, team officials and Club volunteers.
The Club also emphasised coaching having appointed Bill McAfee as its first Club Coach in 1963. Development of coaching and techniques remain a priority area to this day and the Club continues to work very closely with the St George Football Association coaching staff to strengthen grassroots coaching. It also conducts school football clinics with the Association.
The Club also produces a newsletter which since 1993 has been called “Around the Grounds”. Its origins date back to season 1964.
Gala Days have also been organised throughout the history of the Club with the initial one being held in 1964. In the modern era the Lugarno Football Club annually stages the under 8’s Gala Day which involves dozens of teams drawn from the St George as well as neighbouring Associations. The Club also introduced an inter Club Gala Day featuring Lugarno under 6 teams in 2012.
2000 & Beyond
At the 2012 AGM members approved a completely revamped Club Constitution that helped modernise and improve the Club’s governance structure.
In a historical first for the Club, the Executive Committee resolved to accept jersey sponsorship from Grandviews Bowling Club during season 2013. Another historical first was achieved when the Club secured its first sleeve sponsor in 2014 following Lugarno Deli Café’s decision to financially support and commit to the Club.
The Club also embarked on an ambitious project in early 2014 of upgrading the dressing sheds as well as the canteen area following its successful funding application under the NSW Community Building Partnership program. The Club received support and backing from local member Mark Coure pictured below with members of the Executive Committee.
A club mission statement was adopted in 2014 outlining the objectives and guiding principles of the club. The mission statement states that the Lugarno Football Club’s objective is:
To become the Football Club of choice for members of the local and surrounding communities by providing them with the opportunity to play competitive football and develop their football skills in a friendly, safe and fun filled environment.
Another major initiative was the introduction of training jerseys and bags for all registered players for season 2017.
Season 2018 saw the introduction of short sponsorship and branded club gear.
A further major initiative was the launch of the Player development program ‘Football Focus’ in October 2018 after months of planning and discussion with key stakeholders. The program covers the age groups under 8’s to under 11’s and comprises of dedicated coaches and resources to provide pathways to talented players.
The player development program introduced the NextGen component covering the age groups from under 12’s to under 16’s. Lugarno FC now provides one of the most comprehensive player development program at a grassroots level.
2019 was a memorable year for the club as successful lobbying efforts involving Georges River Council, State and Federal governments resulted in the club securing funding for the resurfacing of all playing fields, construction of a new club amenities block and improvements to ground lighting.
A 10 week skills development program called ‘Pathways’ was launched in August 2019 offering players the opportunity to fine tune their skills during the off-season. This was part of the clubs strategy of offering extended football activities outside the normal football season.
2020 would also see the first interrupted season for Lugarno Football Club and Footballing activities as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The traditional season from April -August would be postponed and conclude with Finals being played through October. This was a challenging time for all concerned as the challenges and issues faced were truly unprecedented. But to the credit of the club’s Executive Committee, team officials and all members involved, the challenges were successfully overcome and the club emerged in a strong position.
In another milestone for the club 2020 saw Katie White become the clubs first female life member for 25 years of playing service.
Today’s Lugarno Football Club
Lugarno Football Club celebrated its 60th year in 2022 which saw the introduction of a new club logo reflecting the modern club.
The Club is well known throughout the Georges River Region and beyond for its distinctive tangerine coloured playing strip. It fields in excess of 50 teams and accommodates nearly 800 players with growth year on year covering the age groups from the under 6’s to the over 45’s. The Club fields teams across both genders.
Lugarno Football Club enjoys a broad geographical reach and appeal with players originating from more than 70 suburbs across the Sydney region.
The Lugarno Football Club is one of the most successful clubs in the Football St George competition having won a total of 127 premierships across all age groups and genders, including the historic Premier League title which was won in 2011. The 14 girls A team achieved another club milestone on Saturday 6 September 2014 by winning the 100th premiership title for Lugarno FC. Another memorable club achievement was winning four out of four grand finals during season 2016 which gave the club an unprecedented 100 per cent grand final success rate. In 2017 the 16B side became the first team to win a premiership at historic Kogarah Jubilee Oval.
The Club has inducted 77 Life members through the decades with initial inductees dating back to 1964 by way of our four fathers.
At all levels of club activity from grass roots to the Executive Committee level, the spirit of volunteerism is alive and evident as the Club is run by a dedicated group of volunteers drawn from both the Lugarno locality as well as neighbouring suburbs.