Celebrating 60 Years

Established 1966 as Pendle Hill Junior Soccer Club

2026 is our 60th year made possible with the continued dedication of many volunteers and families who have made “PENDO” part of their lives.

Pendle Hill FC started in 1966 when a group of parents sought to form a new junior club. With guidance from Granville & Districts Soccer Football Association (GDSFA), Bob and Shirley Doherty contacted Mr and Mrs Kerry Packer—then President and Secretary of GDSFA—to explore how it could be done.

The first priority was securing a playing field. Fortunately, newly laid-out grounds on Binalong Road, behind Toongabbie Public School, became available. At a meeting held in the Doherty’s home, attended by Mrs and Mr Packer, Shirley and Henry Waters, Kit and Les Fields, Hazel and Bruce Sternbeck, Roma and Bob Carrett, and Pat and Ron Lawson, the group resolved to apply for the lease of the fields. The application was approved by Blacktown City Council and the club’s first ground—Binalong Park No. 1—was secured in 1966.

To recruit players an advertisment was placed in the local press and on “sign-on day” at the Doherty garage served as registration point. By day’s end there were eight teams, enough to kick off the club. With strong parent support the first committee was elected and thus the club was born. Pendle Hill’s first ever committee:

• President: Bob Doherty

• Vice-President: Henry Waters

• Secretary: Shirley Doherty

• Treasurer: Les Fields

Fund-raising began, sponsors were sought, and though an approach to Esso for official sponsorship was declined, the company sent several hundred “tiger tails” which became the club’s newsletter title. The original playing strip was chosen as a black shirt with a gold sash, black shorts, gold socks featuring two black bands, and a tiger’s-head emblem. While the uniform has evolved over the years, the club’s black & gold colours remain constant. In 1966 membership fees were just $2.50.

In 1972 a Cubs team was formed by Dick Kocass and some of those early Cubs players are still involved—either playing or with their children playing. By 1976 the club had expanded to 25 teams and secured access to a second field (Binalong No. 2) to meet demand. From the late 1970s onwards the club has averaged about 33 registered teams each season.

Initially the club operated with one pitch and the canteen was basically a tent—until a fire destroyed it. After a dismantled shed and a building constructed by several fathers, the council erected a proper facility. A fire in 1996 damaged much club memorabilia at their 30-year celebrations, but the club persevered and now operates from four fields, all with underground irrigation, and a modern canteen. In 2016 lighting upgrades enabled night matches on Field No. 1.

Coaching has been a key part of the club’s history, starting with Bob Carrett, Brian Ollier and Hans Grazelska. Many subsequent coaches brought overseas competitive experience. Among them: Emil Kosaras and Richard Baker (both former Federation club players who became Pendle Hill coaches), Bob Hall (Australia representative) as the first head coach, followed by Dick Kocass, Ian Bullock, Dave Luck, John Simmons, Richard Baker and Fred Seger.

In the early years the club also ran a “marching girls” team (composed of sisters of players) which wore the club’s colours and won many awards. Parents got involved too: Dads had “old buffers” teams, and Mums had “puffers” teams, leading to some very entertaining parent vs parent matches. Presentation nights evolved over time—from family picnics at Prospect Dam to school-hall evenings to separate junior and senior presentation events at the oval. The club’s major sponsor, Toongabbie Bowling Club, hosts many of the social gatherings including Trivia and Karaoke nights. One enduring tradition is the annual Coaches & Managers vs Over-45s match for the “Wako Cup”, named after a former teammate.

In 2009 the club changed to Pendle Hill Football Club and remains one of the largest clubs in the Granville Association.