HISTORY
Efforts during 1962 by a group of parents headed by Sid Goode and Hughie Ross saw teams under the name of Elizabeth Downs begin playing in the Elizabeth and Districts Junior Soccer Association at the start of the 1963 season. Years later the products of this team, and the many more which followed and participated in the formation and growth of the Elizabeth Downs Junior Soccer Club were entering adulthood with the desire and need to continue playing soccer. With this in mind a group, led by Frank Smith the first chairman, Alan Murhpy and Tony Partridge formed the Elizabeth Downs United Soccer club and entered it in the South Australian Amateur Soccer League. In 1971 the new club, with its 1st and Reserve teams, began playing in Division 3. Its first game against MU Findon (now called Macedonia) was played at Argana Park Elizabeth Downs. The club’s first coach was Harry Perry and amongst the players to take the field on that day were Alan Murphy, David Swann, Tony Partridge, Terry Cook, Robin Bodycombe, Bernie Kenyon, David Vickers, Paul Perryman, John Zybek, Anthony Edwards, John Stanfield, Phil Clifford, Barry Sunderland and Ian Bell who took out the club’s Best and Fairest Award. The 1971 season ended with the 1st team in 3rd position and the Reserves in 2nd position.
The 1972 season again saw the club playing in Division 3 with the 1st team finishing in 5th position and the Reserves again in 2nd place. Alf Day with 14 goals, Alan McManus with 12 goals and Tony Partridge with 8 goals excelled up front, while David Swann (who took out the club’s Best and Fairest Award), Terry Cook and Robin Bodycombe were strong in defense and Alan Murphy and Roger Oliver ran the midfield.
Terry Cook took on the coaching role in 1973 and even with this added workload continued to excel on the field as he took out the club’s Best and Fairest Award. Players added to the squad this season included Doug Carey, with 7 goals the team’s top scorer, the Franken brothers Yogi and Peter, Phil Clifford, Ian Charman and Terry Barber. By the seasons end the 1st team was in 6th position and the Reserves were in 3rd position. The Amateur League formed an U18’s league for the 1973 season into which the Downs entered a team which finished 3rd and also went on to win the inaugural Junior Cup.
Jimmy Hughes was appointed coach in 1974 and even though the club finished 3rd it found itself promoted to Division 2. By this time products from the juniors started to have a greater impact on the 1st team. A young Andy Hutchins debuted with aplomb topping the scoring with 12 goals and Norman Neeson another recently graduated junior also saw 1st team action. Robin Bodycombe and Terry Cook continued with strength, but the in the referee’s eyes the outstanding player for 1974 was John Hughes while the club’s Best and Fairest was Doug Carey. The Reserve team had a somewhat disappointing season finishing in 5th as did the U18’s team.
The 1st team had an excellent season in 1975 when it claimed its first title beating second placed Salisbury Florina by one point. Ex-Australian soccer representative Clem Higgins played for the club, but was outshone by another junior graduate Paul Hudson who had an excellent season polling extremely well with the referees as well as topping the Division 2 top goal scoring table. Doug Carey, also outstanding, Jimmy Hughes, Robin Bodycombe, Andy Hutchins, Bernie Kenyon and Terry Cook were some of the other players to start in the 1st team. Another junior making his debut in 1975 was a young Nick Swann. The Reserves finished the season in 3rd position and the U18’s finished 7th. Meanwhile the playing ranks of the club increased to include a C team, which played in Division 6 finishing 7th.
After four seasons the club was now playing at the highest level in the Amateur League. However the standard of play in Division 1 was high and the 1st team struggled finishing the 1976 season in 9th position. Paul Hudson and Doug Carey had good seasons as did Bernie Kenyon, Kenny Craig and Ziggy Dberaver. The Reserve team finished 4th, the C team again finished 7th while the U18’s finished 3rd.
At the beginning of the 1977 year the Senior and Junior clubs representing Elizabeth Downs amalgamated under the single umbrella of the “Elizabeth Downs Soccer Club Incorporated”. Bouncing back during the 1977 season the 1st team beat Salisbury Inter to the Division 2 title under the coaching of Roy Ainscough and Bernie Kenyon was the club’s Best and Fairest player for the year.
The club learnt from the 1976 season and in 1978 both the 1st and Reserve teams finished in 4th place. The club recruited well with Geoff Armstrong, as the standout winning both the Division 1 and the club’s Best and Fairest Awards, Glen Berresford, Dave McCombie Louie Torres and Andy Anderson increasing the quality of the squad. The rest of the squad was made up of regulars and recently graduated juniors like Andy Hutchins, Nick Swann, Paul Hudson, Bernie Kenyon, Steve Brooks, Kelvin Adderley and Ray Allison. Another C team was added to the club and both the C teams played in Division 8. Both teams were competitive with one team winning the Division and the other coming 2nd. Peter Frenken from one team won the Divisions 8 Best and Fairest while Steve Buckfield from the other team was runner-up.
The 1979 season saw the club pay for its previous season’s success as players were poached and coaches left. Burnie Kenyon stepped into the breach as coach. The loss of players hurt badly and the 1st team finished 9th and were relegated back to Division 2 while the Reserves finished 6th. On the bright side more ex-juniors made their debut in the 1st team with Marty Craig excelling the most, winning the club’s Best and Fairest Award. The C1 team played in Division 7 and continued on from the previous year’s success claiming the title with Neil McGregor scoring 20 goals to finish second in the division. The C2 team playing in Division 8 finished 7th.
Andy Anderson began the 1980 season as 1st team coach but quickly resigned and was replaced by Dave McCombie. On the 1st team front the year was a rebuilding one with many more recently graduated juniors making debuts or consolidating their positions. The most notable being Robbie Chilvers who’s year was marked with the winning of the club’s Best and Fairest Award. Other players to shine where Garry Deighton, Marty Craig, Paul Hudson, Andy Anderson, Tim Adams, Ray Allison, George Reeves, Keith Bodycombe and Paul Irvine. The depth of the club was also beginning to develop as the Reserve team took out the Division 2 Reserve title. The club also boasted two C teams playing in Division 8 and 9 finishing 4th and 3rd respectively and an U18’s which finished 2nd in the Division and runners-up in the Junior Cup.
The Division 2 title returned to the Downs in 1981 under the coaching of Bob Clarke and the Reserves finished 3rd and the only C team, in Division 9, finished 5th. On the playing field Marty Craig and Gary Deighton caught the referee’s eye as together they tied for second in the Division 2 Best and Fairest Award, while Ray Allison won the club’s Best and Fairest. Steve Brooks, Keith Bodycombe, Gary Meekoms, Reiner Hain, Ray Allison, Andy Diggle and Robbie Chilvers all made significant contributions while recently graduated juniors Gary Evans and Steve Main made debuts.
The class of the 1982 Division 1 was too much for the 1st team, results failed to materialize and it ultimately finished bottom. The club’s Best and Fairest Award went to Gary Evans and Keith Bodycombe polled highest for the club in the referee’s vote. The club still found success as the Reserves went all the way in the cup beating Para Hills in the final. The club had two C teams, which finished 6th and 3rd in Division 9 and Division 10 respectively.
Into the 1983 season the club continued to struggle finishing 7th and the goalkeeping of Nick Swann was continually put under pressure but he came through winning the club’s Best and Fairest while Keith Bodycombe, Jeff Johnson, Steve Brooks and Steve Pickford polled well with the referees. Other players who represented the club during the season were Donald Bradbury, Nigel Ronksley, Trevor Blackwood, Gary Evans and Robbie Chilvers while recently graduated junior Neil Edwards made his debut. Meanwhile the Northern Districts Soccer competition was formed in 1983 and the Downs entered a 1st and Reserves team, which effectively was the C1 and C2 teams. The U18’s made a comeback into the club’s ranks finishing 5th.
Jimmy Mitchell and Charlie Tumbridge were appointed joint player/coaches for the 1984 season and on and off the field led the 1st team and Reserves to their respective Division 2 titles. Jimmy Mitchell finished 2nd in the Division 2 Best and Fairest count and with 14 goals topped the 1st team goals scoring. Neil Edwards had an excellent season but was beaten by Reiner Hain to the club’s Best and Fairest Award. Other significant contributors to the success were Keith Bodycombe, George Getgood, Steve Main, Jeff Johnson, Steve Brooks and Ian Fenney. The 1984 season was the last year the Amateur League ran an U18’s and the Downs team, which played in it, finished bottom.
The jump back into Division 1 for the 1985 season again proved difficult with the 1st team narrowly missing out on relegation finishing 8th. The class of Jimmy Mitchell made the difference and it also saw him finish second in the Division 1 Best and Fairest count. Recently graduated junior Alan Mottram made an impressive debut in the 1st team and consistent performances saw him take out the club’s Best and Fairest Award. On top of players from the previous season other players to play in the 1985 1st team were Nick Swann, David Jack, Ken Doubleday, Gary Daglish, Gordon Mitchell and Andrew Cook. The Reserve competition was also strong and the Downs Reserves finished 5th in the league.
The Downs acquired the playing services of Gerwin Gough for the 1986 season and he went on to have a great year winning the Division 1 and club’s Best and Fairest Award. Charlie Tumbridge was now player/coach after the departure of Jimmy Mitchell and under him the 1st team finished 6th in the league while the Reserves finished 3rd. The team core was similar to the previous seasons with the additions of recently graduated juniors Michael Kenyon, Richard Hughes Andy Thompson and Paul Griffen.
Andy Thompson impressed the referees the most from the Downs but the club’s Best and Fairest award for 1987 went to Gary Evans . Both these efforts helped the 1st team to again just managing to avoid relegation. Chris Fry, Nigel Ronskey and Tommy Marshall were added to the squad from the previous year. The club as a whole was showing depth with the Reserves finishing 3rd the C1’s in Division 10 finishing 2nd and an aging C2 in Division 11 finishing 4th. The Northern Districts League had disbanded after the 1986 season after a dispute with the Amateur League.
The club lost a lot of players over the break between seasons, a lot of those through retirements, and the club only fielded three teams. George Steele took over as 1st team coach for 1988 as Charlie Tumbridge had stepped down after 5 years in charge. The large change in personnel made it difficult for the club to be competitive at any level and come the season’s end the 1st team was second bottom and relegated back to Division 2. Gerwin Gough again had a good year playing along side players like Gordon Steele, Don Bradbury, Gary Evans, Paul Irving and Nick Swann and catching everbody’s eye was a young Juy Foreman making his debut. However, Bert Fuda outshone the lot winning the club’s Best and Fairest award. The Reserve team also struggled finishing 8th and the C team playing in Division 10 finished 5th.
The player drain continued in 1989 as the club could only field two teams. Terry Harris took on the difficult job of 1st team but the club slid to second bottom on the table and in the first time since 1974, found itself consigned to playing Division 3 soccer. Juy Forman continued to shine winning the club’s Best and Fairest and Darren Woodhouse performed well up front.
The only way was up for the club as Marty Craig returned back to the club and took over as coach. Players returned back to the club and it fielded a C1 Team in Division 10 for 1990 and the improvement in depth was highlighted by the Reserves finishing 2nd. The 1st team consolidated preventing the club from sliding any further down the divisions. Terry Harris without the pressure of coaching performed well as did Nobby Clarke, Nick Swann and Joe Evans but youth won again when it came time to awarding the club’s Best and Fairest with Juy Foreman winning for the second time. Marty Craig playing in the C team, which finished 5th, slotted 11 goals away for the season seeing him win the Division 10 goal scoring award.
The club began its rise back up the divisions after gaining promotion during the 1991 season finishing second behind Cambeltown. Paul Berresford and Mick Rees were recruited with Paul having an outstanding year winning the club’s Best and Fairest. Mick Rees, Darren Woodhouse and Steve McAvoy were a formidable strike force scoring 30 goals between them. The Reserves also had a good year finishing high in the league and having a run in the cup losing on penalties in the quarter-finals. The C1 team playing in Division 10 excelled winning the title easily while the C2 team in Division 11 finished mid table.
By 1992 Marty Craig had assembled a formidable squad that went on to claim 2nd place in Division 2. Central to the team was the return of Andy Hutchins who after a long absence from the club came back to claim the club’s Best and Fairest Award and Gordon Steele who came runner-up in the Division 2 Best and Fairest count. The 1st team also had success in the Newsfront cup beating Tea Tree Gully in the final after being beaten in the first round of the Challenge Cup. Other players at the club had a strong APAC flavour with names like Clifford Faulkner, Alan Strain, Paul Berresford and Mick Rees. Burt Fuda as well as Down’s products like Don Bradbury, Gary Evans, Nike Swann, Ray Allison, Nobby Clarke and the Dawber brothers Steve and Keith made up the balance of the squad. The year was a big one for the club as both the Reserves and the C2 team playing in Division 11 won their respective leagues. Many of the players who had stood by the club over the previous seasons played in these teams.
Back in Division 1 for 1993 the 1st team again struggled and come season’s end were in last place and relegated. The team, which played this season, was primarily the same as the previous season apart from the return to the club of Alan Mottram and Robbie Chilvers. Burt Fuda led the voting in the club’s Best and Fairest while Alan Strain had polled the highest from the club in the referees eyes. The only shining light for the club was the C1 team, which won its league conceding only 9 goals for the season.
After 4 years in charge Marty Craig stepped down as 1st team coach for the 1994 season to be initially replaced by Ron Hawkshaw who was quickly sacked and replaced by ex-Socceroo Bobby Hogg. With the core from last season plus the addition of Chris Saunders, Kevin Dickman, Dave Radford, Kev Mitchell, Darren Cook and recently returned Juy Foreman, the team finished in 2nd place and regained its place back in Division 1. Burt Fuda again excelled winning the club’s Best and Fairest Award for the third time. The Reserves also had success winning the title over the Noarlunga Lions.
The club, based on past experience, had to recruit to survive in Division 1 and with this aim secured the return back to the club of the Edwards brothers Dave and Neil for the 1995 season. With another addition of Darren Ward the 1st team had enough talent to retain their Division 1 status and to win the Coca Cola Challenge Cup for the first time beating The Cove 2-0 in the final. Juy Foreman excelled on the field winning the club’s Best and Fairest Award for the third time. Meanwhile the C1 team in Division 9 won the title and Kevin Dickman was voted the Division 9 Best and Fairest and Ben Woolvett was the Division 9 runner-up top goals scorer. The C2 team in Division 10 also played well finishing in 2nd place.
The season started with the 1st team being beaten in the Cichanowski Shield but by the end of the 1996 the 1st team had improved on the previous season’s result finishing in 4th position. The team from previous season remained primarily intact but with a new addition John Kaye, who was recruited to the club and had an outstanding year winning the club’s Best and Fairest Award. The C1 team and Kevin Dickman repeated the previous season efforts winning the same awards respectively for Division 9. The C2 team did well finishing 2nd in Division 13. Mick Palmer came runner-up in the Division 13 Best and Fairest and with 15 goals topped the division’s goal scoring Award.
John Kaye took over the 1st team coaching role and gained the services of players of the calibre of Rob Knowles, Rob Winter, Brian Quill, Steve McManus and Richie Howlett. Dick Hughes returned to the club and along with the fore mentioned players from last season and regulars Neil Edwards, Nobby Clarke, Burt Fuda, Alan Mottram, Chris Saunders, Darren Cook and Rob Delfos saw the 1997 Division 1 title come tantalizingly close eventually finishing 2nd behind Elizabeth Vale. Alan Mottram and Rob Knowles had a brilliant years winning the Division 1 and the club’s Best and Fairest and Awards respectively and Rob Winter with 15 goals was the division’s top goal scorer. Taking lead from the 1st team the Division 12 C2 team managed to win the title with Andy Graham and Mick Palmer having good years.
The 1998 season was an ordinary one with all four teams finishing mid-table. Richie Howlett won the club’s Best and Fairest Award and Burt Fuda, Nobby Clarke, Darren Cook and Rob Winter all nudging double figures in the goal-scoring department.
The 1st team coaching position was taken over by Rob Knowles for the 1999 season. Retirements and injuries badly effected the season and the team found itself in last position and relegated by season’s end. Alan Mottram won the club’s Best and Fairest Award for the second time and Darren Cook with 15 goals finished 3rd in the Division 1 goal scoring Award. The Reserves however showed that the club had depth and potential winning the title on goal difference over NAB and making the semi-final of the cup with a group of largely young players.
After five years in Division 1, the longest spell in the club’s history, the task for the 1st team was to rebuild and gain immediate promotion back into the top flight. The team achieved this feat when although it finished 3rd a club from Division 1 pulled out of that Division. Youth played a significant role with players like Mick Fidler, Steve McManus, Luke Singlewood, Brenton Bennier and Graham Walker building a future for the club through regular 1st team experience. New players like Marc Muscroft, Brendan Cooney and Domenic Strangio made strong impressions, particularly Marc who won the club’s Best and Fairest Award. Veteran 1st teamers like Alan Mottram, Juy Foreman, Neil Edwards, Nobby Clarke and Richard Howlett continued to provide the necessary experience with Alan impressing the referees finishing 2nd in the Division 2 Best and Fairest Award. The club for the first time in many years fielded a Women’s team playing in Division 3 of the South Australian Women’s Soccer Association and they finished 6th.
New 1st team coach Alan Mottram goal for 2001 was to keep the club in Division 1 and as guided by history quality players needed at the higher level were recruited. Danny and Ryan Truscott, Luke McCraken and Peter Dawber returned to the club of their junior years. Past 1st team players Brian Quill and Rob Winter also returned. New players like Matt Ryan, Rob Coutts, Jason Cameron, Beau Singlewood, Craig Hain, added depth and pressure on regulars like Steve McManus, Neil Edwards, Richard Hughes, Nobby Clarke and Juy Foreman extracting better performances. The benefits of the added players reaped rewards across the board with the 1st team narrowly escaping relegation and the 3 other senior men’s teams being highly competitive. The surprise of the season was the women’s team who in their second year went on to win the Division 3 SAWSA title.
The Elizabeth Downs Soccer Club prides itself on being a grass roots level organization which provides the opportunity for people of all ages and ability to participate in playing soccer. On a solid base established by the clubs founders since the inaugural seasons, for the Juniors in 1962 in the Elizabeth & Districts Junior Soccer Association and for the Seniors in 1971 in the South Australian Soccer League, the last 20 years has seen the club experience unprecedented growth and success.
The club provides great facilities to members and the community alike. These facilities have evolved through continuous improvements culminating in a total refurbishment of the club rooms in 2015, complete floodlighting of all pitches in 2016, and the addition of a large outside veranda in 2018.
At a junior level, the club has grown from 9 teams in 2000 to presently fielding 20 teams in the Elizabeth and Districts Junior Soccer Association. The clubs aim is to provide a low cost opportunity for players of all ages, from Cadets (U5’s) through to Under 18’s, to participate and learn the game. Growth has also occurred at a Senior Level. A Womens teams was added in 2000, a +35’s team in 2002 and a Saturday team in 2016. In 2019 it is anticipated the club will field 7 Senior teams across all levels, and as per the Juniors, provide a low cost opportunity for players to participate and enjoy the game.
Matching growth the club has seen significant success on the field at a Senior Level. In 2000 the Clubs 1st team won promotion to Division 1 and has since gone on to win 6 Division 1 Championships (2006, 2007, 2012, 2014, 2017 & 2018) with 4 Runners-Up (2004, 2009, 2013 & 2016) and 4 SAASL Cups (2004, 2012, 2014 & 2017) with 2 Runners-Up (2009 & 2018). The Reserve team winning their league 6 times (1999, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2015 & 2017) with 6 Runners-up (2002, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012 & 2016), and SAASL Cup 1 time (2011) with 3 Runners-Up (2002, 2006 & 2014). Other achievements include the Women’s teams wining 1 league, C teams winning 1 league, +35s winning 2 leagues.
Through all this the club has maintained a large supporter base with numbers watching the games on the weekend being amongst the highest for this level, and for that matter high in comparison with any level of soccer in this state outside the A-League.
All the above factors contributing towards the Elizabeth Downs Soccer Club being one of the pre-eminent sporting clubs in the state. A club worthy of its motto: Nulli Secundus