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ABOUT THE CLUB
HISTORY
The Para
Hills Soccer Club was formed at a meeting on the 24th of March 1964. The
aim of the club being to foster and promote the game of soccer in the
Northern Suburbs. The club set the goal of playing first division soccer
within 10 years.
In 1965 the
club entered a team in the Sunday Industrial League (now the South
Australian Amateur Soccer League). On April 4th 1965 the club played its
first competitive senior game losing 3-1 against MTT with Chris Pawley
scoring the first goal for the club. A new team was born.
The
following year the club entered the South Australian Soccer Federation and
once again the open game resulted in a defeat this time against WRE 2-1
with the first goal in the Federation being scored by Dave Barry.
In 1967 the
club got its first taste of success winning the 3rd Division Championship
and the Rowley Cup, the team was coached through part of the season by
Cliff Votier and then Alan Swadling who was also the captain. The following
few years saw the club consolidating its position and not really pushing
for promotion. This changed in 1975 when the club pushed Croatia to the
wire before finishing runners up.
In 1976,
one year later than the clubs aim, promotion to the first division was
achieved. To coincide with this, the Club left its base at Nelson Road to
move down the Hills to new facilities at The Paddocks. The clubs first division
campaign got off to a flying start with a 4-3 victory against Campbelltown
Budapest on the new pitch thanks to a fine header from Harry McDonald. This
was followed up by a 3-2 home victory against Enfield Victoria two weeks
later. These proved to be the only wins of the season but the club battled
through and managed to avoid relegation.
The next
two seasons the club battled hard making steady improvements. 1980 was a
year all supporters of the club will remember after battling all year with
Croatia the league came down to Para Hills having to beat Croatia in
the final league game of the year to clinch the championship. Unfortunately
we could only manage a draw and finished runners up. The club got some
revenge in the Coca Cola Cup for the top four when we defeated Croatia 3-0
in the final to claim the clubs first major trophy. The backbone of this
team left for one reason or another but in 1983 the club was once again at
the top of the table with its last home game again against Croatia needing
a win to clinch the Championship. However once again the club fell at the
last hurdle with defeat from Croatia ironically handing the title to there
Arch rivals Beograd.
The rest of
the 80s did not bring much joy to the supporters or the club with the club
being relegated from the first division in 1989. The club however bounced
back and was promoted at the first attempt under the coaching of Jack
Braidwood. In 1991 the club finished 3rd in the league and the lost the
Coca Cola Cup final to Salisbury. This was however not the start of a new
era and after finishing bottom in 1993 the club was not included in the
Premier League under the new set up of the Federation.
In 1995
under the leadership of ex Socceroo Charlie Villani the club had the chance
to win promotion after winning the league by 6 points. The club needed to
beat Olympians in the Grand Final of the play offs but once again when
needed, the club failed at the final hurdle.
So under
the new system a club that finished 12 points adrift of the Champions were
promoted. The club had to grin and bear it and in 1998 things went a full
circle when the club under the coaching of Bud Hilton the club finished 6th
but due to rules relating to Adelaide City and West Adelaide were able to
play in the playoffs and making the Grand Final promotion was finally
achieved and justice was done. Unfortunately the return to the top division
was short lived with the club finishing 11th and getting relegated
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