Our milestones
Growing our Villa community
1972
We started with just one 1 junior team in 1972.
- Coach: Denny O’Neill. Back L-R Garry Smith, David Watt, David Munro, Peter Johnson.
- Middle L-R Craig Woolley, Paul Lowe, Mark O’Neill, Peter O’Neill, David Wallace.
- Front L-R David Sharpe, Bruce Dundas, Michael Barratt, Dennis Hellyar. Centre Front: Tim Steenson
1983
Then grew to 17 teams consisting of 15 junior male teams (ages 6-16) and 2 senior men’s teams.
Photo:
- 1983 Alstonvilla 1st Division
- Back L-R Peter Cravigan, Mark Ottery, Peter Johnson, Barry Dummermuth, David Arjarla, Steve Harris.
- Front L-R David Sharpe, David Svoboda, Glenn Weir, Garry Rose, Andrew Brown
1994
Then grew to 30 teams consisting of 27 junior male teams and 3 senior men’s teams. Now 365 players strong!
- 1994 1st Division Grand Final and Pointscore Winners
- Back L-R Mark Manning, Simon Keevers, Jim Warren, Michael Barnes, Paul Connellan, Leif Mikkelsen, Adam Walo, Michael Andryc, Vic Golle, Shane Burgess, Graham Bird (coach)
- Front L-R Darren Sirrach, “?”, Owen Earley, Robert Parkin
2003
Then grew to 49 teams consisting of 43 junior male & female and 6 male & female senior teams. Now 608 players strong!
- 2003 Grade 13 Allstars
- Coach David Cowan
- Manager Jenny Noble
2013
Then grew to 54 teams consisting of 47 junior male & female and 7 senior teams. Steady at 600 players strong!
First ever Oceania Cup held. Founded by Matt Wilshire.
- Premier Women at the first year of Oceania Cup
- Coach Rob Sheehan
- Manager Andrew Iliffe
2017
Then grew to 71 teams consisting of 60 junior male & female and 11 senior male & female teams. Now 748 players strong!
- Grade 9 Pumas
- Coach Craig Beare
2024
Then grew to 61 teams consisting of 50 junior male & female and 11 senior male & female teams. A healthy club with 702 players!
Alstonville FC was chosen to assist with the FIFA World Cup game Matilda’s vs Brazil during the opening ceremony and as ball girls.
- Back row L-R: Lara, Tatum, Lily, Emma, Jordan, Zaydie
- Front row L-R: Katie, Emelia, Josie, Sophia
Our History
A brief history of the Alstonville & District Football Club.
Club History
Alstonville Soccer Club was formed in 1987 with the amalgamation of the Alstonville Junior Soccer Club (formed in 1972) and Alstonvilla Senior Soccer Club (formed in 1980).
The Alstonville Junior Soccer Club fielded its first team in 1972, with an Under 8’s team. Their ages ranged from 4 to 8 years of age.
The first Women’s teams were formed in 1979 and continued until 1983. In 1999 women’s teams were re-formed and continue to thrive today. Junior girls’ teams were first formed in 1998.
In 2006 the club’s name was formerly changed to Alstonville & District Football Club.
Playing Fields
Games were first played at Geoff Watt oval. In the early 80’s some training and games took place at Alstonville Primary School, the Showground, the TAFE site at Wollongbar, near the Telstra building and at Crawford Park. Grounds were shared with the Hockey and Rugby League clubs placing pressure on local sporting grounds. Currently the club plays and trains on Geoff Watt oval and Crawford Park.
Uniform Colours
The original playing strip was red and white but later changed to “red with black stripes”. Later it was red with black sleeves and trim when the striped fabric became unavailable. In 1994, the decision was made to change back to the popular red with black stripes for all age divisions and remains as the distinctive Villa strip today.
Annual August Carnival
In 1975, Alstonville Soccer Club organised the district’s first soccer carnival. Two carnivals (odd and even ages) were held each season until 1989 when all ages played on the same day. This event continues, on the first Sunday in August – being a major fundraiser and a great day for families to watch games between approximately 100 MiniRoos soccer teams.
Oceania Cup
The inaugural Oceania Cup Tournament for women and girls was held on the October long weekend in 2013 and continues today despite disruption by Covid. For more information on this tournament, view the Oceania Cup page.
Crawford Park Clubhouse
A single storey amenities block was built in 1975. In 1998 DA consent was granted for a second storey which was completed and opened in 2003. In 2024 a grant allocation has allowed the completion of the refurbishment to the existing clubhouse as well as a lighting upgrade for the existing 3 main fields. A further grant has been obtained to re surface, drain and irrigate the CP1 field.
Club Successes
The club has seen the consolidation of the Men’s and Women’s Premier Leagues. There have been many minor and major premier awards both junior and senior as well as successes in the Champion of Champions competition. The club has been awarded various accreditations and awards over many years.
More history can be found in the Shooting for Goals history books, 2012 and 2022 editions.
Appreciation for
Life members
The following people have been honored with life membership of Villa FC. These members have given over ten years (some over 20) of continuous active service to the club. Thank you to all these Life Members who have helped shape and make the fantastic club that we have today.
- Allan Lowe (deceased)
- John Anderson
- Mike Kelly
- Peter Cravigan
- Bob Terrill
- Russell Priddle
- Jan Priddle
- Graeme Haigh
- Fran Haigh
- John Noble
- Frank Scott
- Michael Gaertner
- Stuart Hanna
- Paul Hunter
- Rob Sheehan
- Paul Jarrett
- Matt Wiltshire
- Peter Weingarth
- Andy Brown
- Matthew Priddle
- Justene Webster