Frankston City SC History

In writing this history of Frankston City we have attempted to explore all avenues to put the story together.
Unfortunately for some years of the club we were forced to gloss over as we could not obtain the relevant information to do it justice, however I believe we have hopefully got the framework of the clubs history from the 1950s to the 1980s.
Should any person have any facts, pictures or any other information that they know of we will gladly include them in this story.
I hope players or people who were associated with the club find some interesting reading and remember their teammates in some of the team photos that feature.
So enjoy.

The life and times of what was the Mornington Peninsulas top soccer club in the fifties, sixties, seventies and early eighties.

The 50's

The original name of the club was Hearts of Oak Soccer Club, later the club was to adopt the name of Frankston Town.

Emigrating from England in the early part of 1950 the Piggott family arrived in Australia settling in the Frankston area. Albert and his wife brought two sons in tow with them to their new homeland, namely Owen and Terry. Once settled Owen developed a friendship with Nic Dix and his family, all were keen on the round ball sport.

At this stage we believe that the boys met up with A. "Nippy" Prior (nobody knew Nippy other than by that name and in the course of gathering this history of the club nobody has been able to tell us exactly what the A. was.) and though in writing this history the belief that Nippy had actually started the club may not be entirely true as the information that we have obtained certainly suggests that Nippy did play a part however Owen and Nic seemed to be the two people heavily involved in the start of the club.

Nippy had close associations with the Navy Base and the serving officers at HMAS CERBERUS and in those early days a number of players for the club came from the base. Nippy was also an active member of a British Migrant Club in Frankston which was called The Hearts of Oak and this we must assume is where the name of this new soccer club came from.

Nippy was not constantly involved with this new enterprise and the running of the club was done by Owen and Nic and a small committee. Nic never a soccer player played his part in helping running the club and cheering the team on each week. Owen however was a gifted player and even managed to coerce his dad Albert to take on the coaching duties.

The club had minimal equipment so anywhere they could find hand me downs from other clubs they set to repairing what they had been given. Old goal nets were repaired to a passable standards and corner flags were hand made in red and black a rarity as not to many clubs used corner flags in those days.

Owen’s later wife to be Lyn supported her husband with some club duties until too many injuries forced his retirement from the game. We must assume now that Nippy Prior had taken over the running of the club with a new committee by now and this was to lead to many years’ service on behalf of the club.

Interesting also is the choice of the club colours and this perhaps goes back to the fact that the St Kilda Football Club had Frankston as a zoned area in which to recruit players from The now Frankston Dolphins Football Club thus adopted the same colour and as if it was the correct thing to do the soccer club followed suit. The clubs strips were sometimes squared or striped shirts, black shorts with a red stripe and red and black socks.

The club also approached an estate agent for sponsorship, he thought they were talking about a new footy club not soccer and handed over a cheque for seventy five pounds.

Here is a list of some of the players who played in the 1951 season Colin Davenport, Percy Ims, Peter Morgan, G.Keen, Tom Kerr, Jack Herdman
Peter Stennitt, Les Wilkes, Geoff Morgan, Harry Hughes, Brian Lockwood and Allen Thoday.

A good English practice was observed with the ladies auxiliary providing oranges brought around on a silver tray at half time.

In order to raise extra money the club organised a “clean paper Drive” which provided shops with much needed wrapping paper.

One game against Heidelberg, the Heidelberg captain had all his clothes and belongings stolen by a passer by, the police where informed and the things stolen will be very hot for the person(s) concerned should they be caught. (nothing has really changed in Frankston lol)

The club also held dances at the C.W.A Hall in Frankston and a fancy dress ball as well.

The club started its Dockerty Cup 1st Round campaign with a win against Australia Paper Mills Maryvale 3-2
(P.Ims, C.Davernport and P.Morgan scorers)
but lost the 2nd round 8-2 against Park Rangers

For the Divisional Cup we won the first round on forfeit against Slavia, won our second against Geelong United but lost the Quarter Finals to International Harvester (no scores exist for these games)

One interesting article found in the Soccer News of the time was that Percy Ims received 10 shillings from a supporter for scoring the first and last goals of the game. A lot of money in those days.

The team manager also handed out a newsletter to all players called "Frankston Weekly Soccer News"
(we are lucky enough to have copies of some of these)

A fourth position finish on the ladder was a great start for the club in the competition

Things only got better in 1952 under club captain Owen Piggott, thanks mainly to Percy Ims and J.Ellams scoring the majority of the team's goals.
Other players in the team included Peter Morgan, G.Morgan, A.Ellams, L.Wilkes, H.Schippers, P.Van Zwol and Terry Piggott also performed well, with the team finishing a very respectable 3rd on the ladder.

Frankston managed to get enough players to fill a Reserves team and they played in the newly formed Peninsula Division competition and finished mid table (team: Mornington/Rosebud/Army Apprentices A and B where also in the league)

Nippy Prior even refereed one game against Ringwood both captains at the end of the game thanked him for his efforts.

Ladies side trying to introduce with a number having a kick

Ladies Auxiliary on cold days provide tea for the players at half time in the pouring rain and at the end of the game.

Dockerty Cup saw a local derby up against Flinders Navy Depot but they were too good for us winning 4-1.

1953 was the best we have played in the Dockerty Cup, with us having a bye in the first round then beating Mornington in the second round 9-1, but unfortunately up against a Division 1 club Hakoah lost 11-1.

A bottom end of the table finish with 6 wins, 6 draws and 6 losses

1954 saw us progress to the second round of the Dockerty Cup with a 2-1 win over Williamstown and then a 2-1 loss against Dandenong in extra time.

Juniors wise we fielded an Under 20’s team but most of the boys were 2 or 3 years under age and mid-season we lost a few good players to Frankston High (Owen Piggott, Terry Piggott, John Wren, David Charmers and Nuttall)

A VSF official came and watched one of our games and said the ground was one of the best in the association, clubrooms a credit and the Ladies Auxiliary cups of tea at half time was a nice touch.

1955 was another disappointing year for the club, one that we manage to survive in the league due to goal difference to Flinders Naval Depot, they scored more goals than us but we conceded a lot less than them throughout the season.

Another first round exit of the Dockerty Cup to Bayswater 6-2

How different was local soccer in those days, one point in 1956 that was brought out was that prior to the start of matches it was commonplace to have both teams line up in the centre line, shake hands with an opponent and then get on with the game.
During this part of the fifties the Hungarian Revolution occurred and many people from that country escaped to Australia, the newcomers who arrived in Victoria formed new soccer clubs and it was common practice to observe the ritual of the pre-game centre line meeting however perhaps from a custom in their old country they would also give an opposition player a small bouquet of flowers.
Hayduk was one of these clubs and a shief of gladioli neatly tied with red, white and blue ribbon was given to the then captain Owen Piggott before a home game.

Round 1 of the Dockerty saw us up against Brunswick, in a very one sided game we lost 11-0
(this is possibly the worst result in the clubs history)

1957 was a hard year for Frankston due to a team plagued by injuries all year, despite this managed to keep themselves mid table

Another Round 1 exit in the Dockerty Cup with us losing 3-1 Yarra Park.

1958 was a disappointing year for the club, with the club only winning 1 game all year defeating Sth Yarra 7-4 and ultimately finishing the year in bottom spot and seeing us return to Division 2.

In the Dockerty Cup we came up against Lions and lost 3-0

Despite returning to Division 2 in 1959 the club rebuilt itself and had a great year being in the top 3 for the majority of the season
A good draw in second last round against top team Sandringham City kept us in the hunt, so it came down to last game of season and a walkover sealed our fate with Austria-Melbourne getting a walkover so jumping us on the ladder. Even if we had of won the last game against Rosebud, we still would finished in third on goal difference. It wasn’t to be with us losing 3-2 and us finishing third

Dockerty cup lost 4-3 Austria-Melbourne

Overall in the fifties the club never really attained any great heights, affiliated to the Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association in 1951 and promoted to Division 3 in 1953, and remained there until 1958 when there was a reorganisation of leagues and Frankston Town as it was now called were played in Division One South of the Metropolitan League.
It was to be a few years of topsy turvy promotions and relegations with the club being relegated to 2nd Division South in 1959

1951

1957

1959

?, ?, Owen Piggott, John Wren, Con Zylstra, David Chalmers, Les Wilkes, ?, Albert Piggott (Coach)
Bert Richardson, Roy Lymer, Lewis Richards, Bobby Betts, ?, ?

An aerial shot of Samuel Sherlock Reserve from the 1950’s showing the first home of the soccer club. You can even see one of the goal goal post

Year	President	Vice President	Secretary	Treasurer	Coach
1951	Gordon Austin	Allen Thoday	Percy Ims	B.Slater	Albert Piggott
1952	Gordon Austin		Percy Ims	A.Slater	Albert Piggott
1953					Albert Piggott
1954	?.Gaskell		A.Prior		Albert Piggott
1955			A.Prior		Albert Piggott
1956			A.Prior		Albert Piggott
1957			A.Prior		Albert Piggott
1958	N.Dix		W.Prior	H.Albers	Albert Piggott
1959	L.Wilkes		G.A.Cox	J.Milner	Albert Piggott

Hearts of Oak/Frankston Town Shirt Colours/Ground

Year	Shirt/Shorts/Sock Colours	Ground
1951	Red and Black Squared Shirts, White Shorts	Samuel Sherlock Reserve
1952	Red and Black Quartered Shirts, White Shorts, Black and Red Socks	Samuel Sherlock Reserve
1953	Red and Black Shirts, Black Shorts with Red Stripe, Red and Black Socks	Samuel Sherlock Reserve
1954	Red and Black Shirts, Black Shorts with Red Stripe, Red and Black Socks	Samuel Sherlock Reserve
1955	Red and Black Shirts, Black Shorts with Red Stripe, Red and Black Socks	Samuel Sherlock Reserve
1956	Red Shirt with Black Sleeves and Collar, Black Shorts, Red and Black Socks	Samuel Sherlock Reserve
1957	Red Shirt with Black Sleeves and Collar, Black Shorts, Red and Black Socks	Samuel Sherlock Reserve
1958	Red Shirt with Black Sleeves and Collar, Black Shorts, Red and Black Socks	Samuel Sherlock Reserve
1959	Red Shirt with Black Sleeves and Collar, Black Shorts, Red and Black Socks	Samuel Sherlock Reserve

The 60's

The 1960 Dockerty Cup was one of the best for the club with a 1st round win 4-2 against ICI Deer Park, a round 2 win against Heidelberg 3-2.
Round 3 became a bit of a challenge against Rosebud with a 3-3 draw, 1st replay game was also a draw 4-4 and the 2nd replay we had a great 3-2 win. Round 4 we came up against a Division 1 North team Sunshine City who were just too good for us on the day in a hard fought game we lost 3-2.

In the league we finished in second spot to Ferntree Gully who didn't lose a game all season. They beat us 5-0 and 9-0 in the league games. We also lost 2 points and fined £2 for a game against North Richmond where we played L.A.Lindsay who was still registered with Lions, this was an oversight as the clubs secretary had been ill for several weeks.

After promotion last season in 1961 Frankston found the going tough finishing 2nd last, but we can take some consolation that they were the first to take a point off Preston who were eventual winner of the league

Dockerty Cup
Round 1 v Prahran City 2-0 win
Round 2 v Lions 4-2 loss

A highlight of the season was the Under 14's team finishing runners up in their league.

A change in the 1962 format for the Dockerty Cup meant that we did not participate in it, instead we played in the Federation Cup.
First Round we had a bye, Second Round was against Heidelberg which we drew 3-3 but we had more corners 3-0 so came away with the win. Third round after a long road trip we lost 5-0 to Ballarat

A much better season for the team but a couple of bad losses towards the end of the season to teams we should have beaten cost us dearly and 3rd was the best we could do.

1963
Federation Cup
Round 1 won 2-0 Prahran City
Round 2 won 4-1 Hercules
Round 3 lost 3-2 Bell Park

Disappointing middle table finish

A highlight for the club was Under 14 junior Michael Mail chosen to represent Victoria in Tasmania

Soccer had by this time began to grow and once again the Soccer Federation saw the need to reorganise the leagues.
We now had four divisions in North and South and Frankston were promoted into division three, the year was 1964.
The club had grown considerably now, the arrival of migrants had escalated and many new faces started appearing in the now gold and black colours of the club.
Frankston the area itself seemed to attract many people from Britain and Holland and thus it was that the soccer club itself became both a mixture on the field as well as off the park on the clubs committee.
Pioneers of the round ball game owe much to these and I name but a few the Gussenhoven and Van Engels families from the Dutch contingent and the Stanley, Smith, Jones, Cook and Bardsley from the British side.
The club worked in great harmony, the home games were played out of Sherlock Park (which eventually turned into the home of Peninsula Junior Soccer Club for many years and now the home of the PARC swimming centre) no real amenities, a wooden shed to change in, no showers or anything that goes with today’s game.
The club had a successful year in 1965 which saw them promoted to division two, the club was on the move.

The Reserve XI also won the Provisional Reserves Championship as well.

1965 1st Team Trophy Winners
Martin Leenstra (3rd), Tony Valk, Des Hudson (1sts), Tommy Newbiggin, Roy Lymer (2nd), Trevor Parry
Peter De Jonge, Hans Gussenhoven, Peter Peters

1965 Reserve Team Trophy Winners
Michael Mail, Bert Richardson (1st), Billy Papasakis, ???, Paul Smith,
Denis Westwood, Nicky Webster (2nd), Michael Prime, ??

1965 Under 16's Best and Fairest Winners
1st Rod Sales, 2nd Geoff Bardsley and 3rd Peter Smith

1965 Newspaper Articles Round by Round

1965 Newspaper Articles

Congratulations also to Michael Mail, Geoff Bardsley and Peter Smith who were all selected for Victorian Under 18 Squad.

1966 was a special year for the Frankston township as it was pronounced a City, in line with this the soccer club became Frankston City a name it was to hold for the rest of its existence.

Ron Smith who was a club committee man worked as a real estate agent, always on the alert for property therefore, it came to his attention that a large slice of land was available in the Baxter on Golf Links Rd that could possibly be a new home for the club. The club bought the land but could not keep up the repayments and sold it at a profit one or two years later.
(This will not be the only time in the clubs history a piece of land in Baxter will be mentioned as its new home)

New players began to arrive at the club to strengthen the playing staff. Kurt Schroeder had returned to Victoria from South Australia he was aligned to
an old club called George Cross but they agreed to let him go, Kurt had worn the green and gold of Australia and was a brilliant sweeper, through a club player a Tony Hall and a Johnny Morrison were signed from Essendon Lions,
Tony perhaps became the first player who had transfer fee on his head to sign for the club but Frankston agreed to pay one hundred dollars for the player.
The standard of soccer rose as a result of these and other signings and the club comfortably held their place in the league.

Presentation night saw Kurt Schroeder win the 1sts Best and Fairest Award followed by Tony Hall and Johnny Morrison
and in the Reserves Geoff Bardsley won the Best and Fairest.

Geoff Bardsley with his 1966 Most Improved Trophy (left) and Eddie Bardsley (Right)

1966 Geoff Bardsley Most Improved Trophy

1967 was another year that has to go down in the clubs history a name change to Frankston City Soccer Club, colours are new with the teams playing in the City colours of Royal Blue and Gold, and at long last a new venue, good club rooms with all facilities,
room for more than one pitch once the ground was fully developed, where was it The North Seaford Reserve the current home of
Seaford Soccer Club.

The team was now getting good crowds at their matches, the clubs reserve side playing prior to the first team game attracted good crowds too such was the clubs strength in players.

Migrants continued to arrive in Australia and somewhat fortunately some settled in Frankston and signed for the club Alan Parrott later to play National League and his friend Keith Lawson were two, Graham Baulk and Brian Finch signed from George Cross, Tony Hall previously mentioned encouraged three players he knew, the Bevis brothers, Mick and Nigel who had played in England with Tony and were now in Australia and Mick Benton who had become a good friend.

It was Mick Benton who possibly saved the lives of a coach load of club members, through a connection a game against Burns Austral an Australian Croatian Canberra based club was arranged.
On a Friday night a coach with two teams, wives and committee members left Frankston, the coach itself got as far as Richmond where it duly broke down, everybody off and an hour later a new coach new driver arrived and it was off again. Mick Benton was sitting near the driver and at the half way mark Mick noticed the driver was falling asleep at the wheel, the coach was beginning to go off the road until Mick took control took the wheel and avoided a terrible accident and the coach arrived safely in Canberra.
The journey did have a happy ending both teams won and on the Saturday evening our opponents put on a fabulous night of food drink and dancing, it could have all been so different for everybody.
Results were 1sts won 4 - 1, reserves won 4 - 3

The team became a side that all opponents had a lot of respect for, the coach of the side was an ex player
Tommy Newbiggin, a popular person amongst the players, he had played for Kilmarnock in Scotland and was an ideal coach for this talented team.
The club now wearing an all blue outfit, the strip itself bought by raising money with bingo sessions was getting good crowds at their matches, the clubs reserve side playing prior to the first team game attracted good crowds too such was the clubs strength in players.

1967 also saw the introduction of a club Year Book, a first in Victorian Soccer as no other Club has yet to produce one.

Presentation night for 1967 saw Tony Hall win the Best and Fairest Award for the 1sts followed by Kurt Schroder and Tommy Newbiggin
Reserves Award Winners where Geoff Bardsley who won the Best and Fairest followed by Tony Cotterell and Roy Lymer.
Mick Benton was awarded the Most Improved Player of the season.

(Tony Hall, Mick Benton, Tommy Newbiggen, Eddie Bardsley, Roy Lymer)

1968 saw us drop games we should have won and as a result a top 5 finish is all we could manage.

Presentation Night Best and Fairest
1sts
Nigel Bevis (1st), Michael Maile (2nd) Brian Finch (3rd)
Res
Bobby Libberter (1st), Michael Bevis (2nd), Roy Lymer (3rd)

1969 was much of the same with another top 5 finish and a first round loss to Brighton 2-0 in the Federation Cup ended our season

1965
3rd Division Champions

Ken Newbiggin (Trainer), R.Molondex, Jimmy Linsday, Peter Peters, Hans Gussenhoven, Peter De Jonge, Lou Gussenhoven (Manager),
Martin Leenstra, Bert Richardson, Tommy Newbiggin, Trevor Parry
Roy Lymer, Des Hudson, Tony Valk

1967

Nigel Bevis, Tony Hall, Frank Thompson, Geoff Bardsley, Ronnie Cummings, Mick Bevis, George Quenell
Gerry Pask, Micky Maile, Graham Baulk, Brian Finch, Tommy Flynn

1967

Kurt Schroeder, Geoff Bardsley, Ron Cummins, Mick Bevis, Tommy Flynn, Frank Thompson
Tony Hall, Graham Baulk, Michael Male, Brian Finch, Gerry Pask
Absent: George Eadie, Nigel Bevis

1967

Tony Valk, Tony Hall, Trevor Parry, Billy Papasakis, Jimmy Lindsay, Gerry Pask
Hank Broewer, Johnny Morrison, Martin Leenstra, Tommy Newbiggin, Kurt Schroeder

Tony Hall and Johnny Morrison in club colour at North Seaford Reserve

1969

Back Row: Peter Peters (Coach), Hans Gussenhoven, Ronnie Cummins, Alan Parrott,
Nigel Bevis, Norm Stanley, George Eddie, Kurt Schroder, Norm Jones, Mike Bevis, Harold Cook,
David Morgan, John Walton (crutches), Eddie Bardsley
Front Row: Graham Baulk, Brian Finch, Billy Papasakis, Keith Lawson, Billy Lewis,
Gerry Pask, Geoff Bardsley, A. "Nippy" Prior (President)
Missing: Mick Benton, Tony Hall, Tommy Newbiggin

Another aerial shot of Samuel Sherlock Reserve from 1964 showing the first home of the soccer club. Looks like the goal mouths are a little muddy.

Frankston Town/Frankston City Divisional History 1960-1969

1970 was the year when what the club had been promising for some year’s eventuated promotion to division one after the club finished Runners Up in the league to Yallourn.
It came in the last game of the season against Brighton. The team had to win the game 3-0 and they did this after some heart stopping minutes before the end of the game, the first goal came from a Tony Hall free kick which he floated into the goal area, it was Keith Lawson who rose above the Brighton defenders to head the ball into the net. 1 - 0 at half time. Dave Morgan clinched it in the dying seconds, off his knee and the post to the jubilation of all at the Seaford ground. This, two minutes after Alan Parrott had scored what seemed to be a great third goal only to have it disallowed to the utter dismay of all.
Tommy Newbiggin stuck to his guns throughout the year and maintained the footballing style which saw the side through in the end. The main strength of the side however, was the defence, with only 20 goals against, 7 of which were from the penalty spot, and 3 from free kicks. A notable achievement indeed and fitting perhaps that 4 defenders took the trophies at the end of the season. Bill Papasakis and Nigel Bevis tying for 2nd place,
whilst captain Kurt Schroeder repeated his 1969 effort to win the Best and Fairest for the 2nd year in succession. Bill Houston in his first year won the supporters version of Best Player and took third place on presentation night.

1970 Federation Cup Results
1st Round - Bye
2nd Round 13/6/1970 - St Albans 4 - Frankston 4
2nd Round Replay 4/7/1970 Frankston City 0 - St Albans 0
2nd Round Replay 19/9/1970 Frankston City 4 - St Albans 3
Quarter Finals 3/10/1970 Western Suburbs ICI 0 - Frankston City 2
Semi Finals 10/10/1970 Frankston City 2 - Mooroolbark 1
Grand Final 17/10/1970 Yallourn 1 - Frankston City 0

1970 Presentation Night

(1st) Billy Houston, (2nd) Anna & Keith Lawson, (3rd) Barbara & Alan Parrott

By now the North Seaford Reserve was fully completed and the smaller pitch to the left of the club rooms which had been the match ground was vacated and a pitch furthest away from the club rooms became the main ground. The council put some barrier fencing on areas of the ground which enabled the club to charge an entrance fee to watch the two games, the first gate takings was against Athena.
An inner rail and eventually a grand stand were planned but these were temporarily setback for bigger and better plans at the proposed
G.R.A. Stadium at Baxter Park.

The Reserves squad winning the League, finishing 2 points clear of Waverley City.
The squad for the last home game of the season was Don Albers (Goalkeeper), Jimmy Skelly, Bob Libberter (half backs right),
Terry Scourfield (half back right), Roy Lymer (centre), Alan Jones (right wing), George Quennel (inside right),
Fred Morris (centre), Bobby Adams (inside left), Lou Farcas (left wing), Trevor Parry (centre forward).

Mick Bevis winning the Reserve team Best and Fairest as well as Player Clubman trophy.

1971 was to prove a difficult season, the realisation that if you want to survive in a higher level of soccer better
players would be needed. David High joined the club from South Melbourne Hellas where he was captain of the side, he also represented Victoria.
First game of the season was at home with the Mayor of Frankston, Councillor Geoff Mitchell in attendance, there was also a Grand March past of Junior players all in their own Club colours.
Tommy Newbiggin was retained as coach however asking players to come to the club and play for nothing is another story and David Johnstone was the only player who came early in the season.
It was weeks before we were to win a game despite all the efforts on the ground, in fact it was perhaps one of the worst decisions made by the committee to sack Tommy after the first win and appoint an ex Aston Villa player Jimmy Adams as a replacement, with David High replacing him as well.

1971 1st XI Best and Fairest went to David Johnstone

1971 was also to see the end of the Frankston Junior teams and see them given over to Seaford, to form Frankton-Seaford,
unfortunately about one-third of Frankston's boys took the opportunity to transfer to clubs closer to home (Peninsula, Karingal, Overport and Pines),
but this was no loss to Soccer and still left the Frankston-Seaford club with about 170 youngsters

1972
Federation Cup
Round 1 Waverley 0 - Frankston City 3
Round 2 Essendon 1 - Frankston City 2
Quarter Finals Frankston City 5 - Ferntree Gully 1
Semi Finals Prahran S 3 - Frankston City 1

Presentation night saw Tommy Davies win the First XI Best and Fairest followed by David Johnstone

1973
Presentation night saw Alan Parrott win the First XI Best and Fairest followed Graham Clamp & William Lewis
Reserves Best and Fairest Award Les Smith followed by Richard Parry and M.O'Grady
with Brian Skelly winning the 3rds Best and Fairest Award

1974
Federation Cup
Round 1 Saturday 7/9/1974 Frankston City - Bye
Round 2 Saturday 14/9/1974 Frankston City 2 - Chelsea 1
Round 3 Saturday 21/9/1974 Frankston City 6 - Eltham 1
Quarter Finals Saturday 28/9/1974 Frankston City 2 - Brighton 1
Semi Finals Saturday 5/10/1974 Frankston City 1 - Park Rangers 0
Grand Final Saturday 12/11/1974 Albion Rovers 2 - Frankston City 1

Richard Parry receiving his Runners Up Medal in the Federation Cup Final at Middle Park

David High
Division One League Best and Fairest Runners up (23 points)

1975
David High
Division One League Best and Fairest Winner

Before we venture into these latter years we must delve into the final years at the North Seaford Reserve. The club had established itself in the area, they had built up crowds sometimes to eight hundred at a game, but and there is always a but, the venue needed to be improved. The club committee decided to put to the council their ideas, the possibilities of a stand on the far side of the pitch various other projects were suggested, however once the local house owners heard all the whispers it all got knocked on the head. During the summer months Seaford Little Athletics ran at the reserve, when preseason for soccer started the two seasons overlapped and the soccer was the one to suffer. A meeting with the council was arranged to discuss just what the club could do. The answer from the councillors was to perhaps relocate the club to another ground, in the weeks that followed City were offered various grounds however none suited the clubs ultimate needs. Derick Bunyan one of the councillors then came up with a new strategy, the ex-tip site on McClelland Drive was going to be turned into a sporting ground it could well be what the club needed. On inspection the committee agreed, it was away from housing and could be developed as they had hoped to do at North Seaford. The council would put an enclosed soccer pitch in for the club, however the club would have to fund the club rooms, and this was to be ahead of them.

Back to the soccer field at North Seaford in those years through the early seventies many of the players who had been a part of the club for many years either retired or left the club. One lost count of the number of coaches that came and went some not even lasting the season, although there was never any danger of going down as on most occasions the team finished in the upper half of the league.

1977 started by the club taking out an overdraft this to be used to strengthen the side with some top players, and top players would cost the club money. McClelland Drive was now well under way and to build the club rooms it was necessary to take out another overdraft.
1977 finished in the best possible way the club finished in fourth position in Metropolitan League One, the club was told by the Soccer Federation that the new Phillips league would mean four clubs from the State League would be joining the new competition and that the top four in the Metro league would be advanced to the State League.

Frankston City found itself thrust into the State League possibly before it was ready, but nevertheless performed very creditably in finishing fifth, missing out on a final four position only on goal difference.

A low light in the home and away season was Andy Savage breaking his leg in a game against Ringwood City, the club raised well over $2000 to support him over the rest of the season.

The big news to come out at the start of the 1978 season was that the first games would be played at North Seaford then transfer to the Centenary Park complex.

During the 1978 season the club spent thousands of dollars on more players, sponsors were found to help defray the costs and crowds were good which also help cover the cost. On June 18th the official opening of the new ground took place, it would have been nice to say that the team started with a win but no.

Frankston City, along with Altona City and Essendon, found itself thrust into the State League possibly before it was ready, but nevertheless performed very creditably in finishing fifth, missing out on a final four position only on goal average.

Indeed it was the early pace setters with an opening spell off three wins, three draws and only one loss, and in that span of three games conceded only three goals.
Whilst the strength of the side was in its tail, resolute defence with Sandy Irvine, Bobby Adams, Eric Gillespie and Norm Campbell was outstanding,
the club also acquired shrewdly, notably, Keith Webster from Fitzroy, Andy Savage from Hellas and late in the season, Tulloch from Scottish Junior Soccer.
The unfortunate loss of Andy Savage with his broken leg after only ten games robbed the attack of a lot of sting, and probably cost a final four berth.

David High was voted the Metropolitan League's best player as well as winning Frankston City's Best and Fairest for the second time.

The 1979 season arrived under newly appointed Brian Edgeley, as did more class players but of course at a cost to the club, over these seasons the well -known names of the Bannen brothers, Kevin Swinscoe, Young, and a host of other what we might call travellers on the soccer scene in Victoria played for the club. The writer would like to dedicate a special mention to Bobby Adams here, starting at the club in the late sixties and whilst all the dominoes were falling around him he continued to wear the club shirt to the bitter end.

In 1979 guest player would arrive in the name of England’s international player Martin Peters and play a number of games for the club, and also Tony Young, who in 1974-75 had won a Second Division championship medal with Manchester United, this due to Del Lines a clubman who had the right contacts in England he was later to bring other guest players to the club, Spurs player Martin Chivers being one.

If you could call the 1979 the golden year of the club in many respects one could be right, finishing second on the State League table to Essendon Croatia and in the State Cup Final having a grip on the cup only to give away a goal right on time and then go on to lose in extra time and yes it was to Essendon Croatia.

Dockerty Cup 1979
Round 1 Sunday 18/3/1979 Frankston City 5 - Park Rangers 1
Round 2 Sunday 25/3/1979 Frankston City 4 - Sunshine City 3 (aet)
Quarter Final Saturday 31/3/1979 Frankston City 3 - Croydon City 2
Semi Final Wednesday 26/9/1979 Frankston City 3 - Prahran Slavia 0
Grand Final Sunday 30/9/1979 Essendon Croatia 2 Frankston City 1 (aet)

1970 Division Two Reserves Champions

Mick Bevis, Hans Gussenhoven, Ron Cummings, Geoff Cook, Kim Hunter, Geoff Bardsley, Richard Parry, Ray Munday, John Ward
Brian Burgess, Charles Sweeney, Mick Mullen, John Crabb, Les Smith, Jim Skelly, Keith Lawson,
Graham Watson, Sam Murray

1971 1sts and Reserves

Eddie Bardsley, Jimmy Adams, Kurt Schroder, David Johnston, Richard Parry, Bobby Adams, Mick Bevis, Mick Benton, Albert Matthews,
Billy Papasakis, Keith Lawson, Trevor Parry, Sam Murray, Graham Baulk, Bernie Monty, Kim Hunter, Peter Goss, Norm Jones, Fred Berkinshaw.
Roy Lymer, Brian Burgess, Robbie Libberter, Jim Skelly, Geoff Bardsley, Charles Sweeney, John Monty, Alan Jones, A. ‘Nippy’ Prior,
Nigel Bevis, Billy Todd, Brian Finch, Mark Rees, Horace Baulk

1972

Brian Burgess, Trevor Parry, Robin Knott, David Johnston, Sam Murray, David High, Peter Avent, Bobby Adams,
Mick Benton, Tommy Boyd.
Alan Parrott, Jimmy McMinimee, William Lewis, Billy Papasakis, Tommy Davis

1973 Firsts

Jimmy Millar, Bobby Adams, Les Smith, Billy Papasakis, Sam Murray, Peter Avent.
Trevor Parry, Alan Parrott, Lou Farkas, Keith Lawson, Jimmy McMinimee, Graham Clamp.

1973 Reserves

?, Des Carruthers, ?, Jimmy Skelly, ?, Nicky Burgess, Mark Rees, Will Chadwick, Mick Ball, Neil Skeldon, Robbie De Jonge, Mick Bevis
B.Lyon, Les Rendall, Jose Kasdaladis, Billy Jara, Ross Murray, Bobby Cranch, ?, ?.Sword, ?

1974 Firsts

Mick Bevis, David Johnston, Bobby Adams, Ryko Belijha, Norrie Campbell, Richard Parry, Mark Rees, Robin Knott,
Tommy Boyd, Brian Burgess.
Peter Avent, Billy Jara, David High, Billy Papasakis, Graham Clamp, Sam Murray.

1975

Tommy Boyd, Robin Knott, Bobby Adams, Ryko Belijha, Norrie Campbell, Nicky Burgess, Richard Parry,
Nicky Starcheski, Billy Papasakis, Eric Gillespie, Mick Bevis.
Trevor Parry, Peter Avent, Willie Chadwick, Graham Clamp, David Johnston, Les Smith, Tommy Davis

1975

William Murray, Tommy Boyd, Bobby Adams, Norrie Campbell, Billy Chadwick, Bill Murray, Ray Francis,
Terry Hawke, Ernie Merrick, John Pryde, David High, A.‘Nippy’ Prior, Brian Summerfield.
David Johnston, Alf Neri, Billy Buchanan, Billy Lewis, Sam Murray, Ian Shanks.

1977

Tom Boyd (masseur), Sandy Irvine, Billy Spears, John Bray, Norrie Campbell, Bobby Adams, Eric Gillespie, Nick Burgess, Joe McLean (coach)
Dave Corrie, Jeff Daniels, Billy Buchanan, Frank Peterson, Keith Webster, John Taylor.

1978

John Bray, Bobby Adams, Sandy Irvine, Dave Corrie, Frank Peterson, Eric Gillespie,
Norrie Campbell, Billy Spears.
Front. Gordon Cameron, Hank Westerveld, Billy Buchanan, Andy Savage, Keith Webster,
Gus Eadie, Mark Dall.

1979 Dockerty Cup

1979 Dockerty Cup Final

Bobby Adams 1979 Dockerty Cup Final

Tommy Young Dockerty Cup 1979

v Essendon Croatia 1979

v Essendon Croatia 1979

Billy Whiteside, Bruce Young and Bobby Adams 1979

But they say all that glitters is not gold and perhaps it would come as no surprise that the forthcoming season would see the club start with virtually a new squad of players, for at the end of the previous season the first team players approached the Victorian Soccer Federation claiming the club had not honoured their contracts and that the club had no money to do so. The outcome for the Federation to do was easy all these players would be granted free transfers to any club they decided to go to. It was an utter disaster for the club, had they wished to sell some players and pay off others became a no option and in all the loss to the club was believed to be in excess of forty thousand dollars.

The players now leaving the club included, Noel Mitten who joined Croatia, Vince Bannon to Hellas, while several players left for chances overseas namely Tony Young to England, Kevin Swinscoe (trials with Watford), Willie Coulson to Hong Kong, David Gilbert as part of an Ian Grey memorial scholarship that he had won a chance to play at Norwich City. Alan Parrott long time servant of the club decided to hang up his boots, and Keith Webster who the club claimed had retired was corrected by the player himself, he was never retiring and would be on the move.

Nigel Bevis another loyal player and clubman took over as coach and was given the job of trying to rebuild the team, he was pleased to get the support from Bobby Adams who as a youngster had joined the club in the late sixties and was now into his eleventh season at the club.

Although mainly playing as a centre back Bobby held the all-time record at the club for the most goals scored in a season 27 in all.

It perhaps is interesting to note here that despite all the monetary problems that the club had two committee members Les Smith and Del Lines still felt that Nigel would still be able to build a strong team working on a limited budget.

A new administration at the club wanted to build up a new social club within the clubs structure, this attempt was to insure some sought of future for the club. Within three months $25000 had been cleared of the debt but according to figures $100000 was still owed. This new group was led by Bob Brown (Chairman), Mike Hartney (Secretary) and Geoff Morgan (Treasurer), Geoff had been involved in the club since its early beginnings. The group would have a say in how much money could be put in to obtaining new players.

Our story does get a little cloudy here as a report stated that both Les Smith and Del Lines were not happy with this outcome and resigned however another source found stated that they were still involved at the club. It seems Les helped out his wife Doreen who was Social manager.

The 1980 season saw fluctuating fortunes for the club, Nigel had managed to put together a reasonable squad all of course on a reduced budget.

Our mention previously of Del Lines still at the club was virtually confirmed when after gaining some sponsors he was able to bring Martin Chivers of England and Tottenham Hotspur over from England for a number of guest appearances. The story goes that the Soccer Federation would give Frankston home games during this team to encourage supporters to fill the ground watching this notable player, and crowds did come.

Perhaps it was inevitable that all would not run smoothly for this troubled club, the pitch surface had deteriorated in what was a wet winter and heavy rain forced the cancellation of one game. Martin Chivers, the gentleman he was received $1000 a game for his appearances however for this game he returned $500 back to the club.

Frankston Mayor with Martin Chivers

The season ended with the club in a comfortable position on the State League table. However the season ended on a bad situation for the club once again a case of déjà vu, that word money once again, despite an improvement in the clubs finances the player contracts could not be honoured and like the previous year the Soccer Federation were once again advised by the playing group, perhaps no need to continue however and the writer does not know how the club continued with the debts over its head but it did.

Dockerty Cup
Round 1 lost to Doveton 3 - 1
Ampol Cup (Group A)
Game 1 lost to Heidelberg United 1 - 0
Game 2 lost to Green Gully 2 - 0
Game 3 lost to Alto City 2 - 1

Alec Blacklaw (left) v Johnnie Yzendoorn (right) from Heidelberg United in the Ampol Cup
Wearing a changestrip (white with a light blue block and black band)

The 1981 once again saw fluctuating results however there was to be a jewel in the crown in the name of Charlie Egan a player from Scotland who took Centenary Park by storm, a reasonable squad of players had been formed under the guidance this season of Johnny Pryde. The team itself dropped down the ladder however nothing could be taken away from the Charlie Egan show, his achievements on the field were recognised with the Rothmans Player of the Year Award, also the State League Top Goal scorer (22) and finally the Bill Fleming prestigious award. Frankston City could not hold on to a player of this calibre and it came as no surprise when he did not take the field in season 1982.

Dockerty Cup
Round 1 defeated Keysborough 1 - 0
Round 2 defeated Morwell Falcons 2 - 1
Quarter Finals lost to Green Gully 5 - 0

Ampol Cup (Group A)
Game 1 defeated George Cross 1 - 0
Game 2 lost to Essendon Croatia 4 - 1
Game 3 defeated Altona City 2 - 0
Game 4 lost to Ringwood City 2 - 1
Game 5 defeated St Kilda Hakoah 1 - 0
(Essendon Croatia and St Kilda Hakoah qualified for the semi-finals)

Harry Chalkitis was to be the coach in 1982 and he was forced to rely heavily on a younger brigade of players due once again to the financial side.

Winning results did not come easy for the new coach particularly with all the restraints put on him.

The team slipped now the ladder and one day Harry was suddenly sacked, not a situation anybody would want to be put in and in fact over the clubs history as has been pointed out coaches sometimes lasted a season or got their marching orders mid-way through the season. At one stage the sacking could have been taken a lot further by the Chalkitis family however this did not occur.

Another well-known coach Tommy Robertson was given the joy of getting the results needed to push the club up the table and for a while there were better results however at the end of the season three clubs Frankston, Northcote and Doveton were all in the mix to fall out of the State League.

Croydon City inflicted perhaps the second highest defeat in the clubs history when at Croydon they recorded a 9 - 0 victory over the Seasiders, this perhaps was to be the final sign for when the final games had been played Frankston City were condemned to relegation.

Dockerty Cup
Round 1 defeated Springvale City 2 - 1
Round 2 drew with Werribee 0 - 0 (aet) won 5 - 4 on penalties
Quarter Finals lost to Melbourne Croatia 2 - 0

Buffalo Cup
Round 1 drew with Maribyrnong Polonia 0 - 0
Round 2 defeated Albion Rovers 3 - 2
Round 3 drew with Sunshine City 0 - 0
Round 4 defeated George Cross 1 - 0
Round 5 lost to Hellas-Hakoah 4 - 0
Round 6 defeated Ringwood City 2 - 1
Round 7 drew with Northcote City 1 - 1
(Finished 3rd behind Sunshine City and Hellas Hakoah)

FRANKSTON CITY FADES AWAY.
This was the headline in the old soccer paper Soccer Action dated Wednesday the 23rd of March 1983. The article relating to this was written by the doyen of soccer reporting Craig MacKenzie who is still very active with a weekly soccer report writing for the Mornington Peninsula News Group.
The news for many of the clubs supporters would come as a complete shock, for others more closely associated with the club this would came as no surprise, but for all these people it would mean that they would no longer be able to watch their team play anymore.

In exploring the history of Frankston City we have gathered material from many sources, Craig's articles have been very helpful in this respect and much of his writings have helped us build a picture of the club . It took us through the middle seventies to the eighties and we have used this in the action taken by the club in withdrawing from the Victorian Soccer Federation. This was to take place prior to the new season, the opening game in the Metropolitan League Division One was scheduled for Saturday March 19th, a home game against Werribee City. However the club contacted the Federation to inform them that they were unable to field two sides and were withdrawing the club from future competition. The dream was over and it would take decades to rebuild the game of soccer at a high level once again in this area.

1983 saw the end of Frankston City, luckily for the club a small band of players stayed on and formed the Carrum Cowboys who went on to have much success in the Bayside League winning Division 1 in 1984.

Such was the growth of the junior soccer on the Peninsula, Skye worked out an agreement between the Carrum Cowboys committee members to train and play junior games at their headquarters.

Alan Parrot another previous player from the heyday at Frankston City began having some conversations with John Smith with an idea that perhaps Skye could form a new club that would play in the VSF and play at McClelland Drive.

The idea of this was to give a future for juniors graduating from junior to senior status.

Over weeks and after many meetings were held an agreement was reached and the following season (1986) would see the name of Skye play in one of the lower leagues in the second tier of competition the Provisional League (Division 4), at the McClelland Drive complex.

1980

Joe Maclean (Ass. Coach), Sean Parton, David Webb, Bob Adams, Bill Whiteside,
Martin Chivers, Danny McCluskey, Nigel Bevis (Coach), Jim Barber (Physio)
Kevin Wall, Billy Buchanan, Dave Cooper, Nick Lowe, Bruce Young, Chris Valli
Inset Willie Coulson

1981

Joe McLean (Coach), David Gilbert, Eric Gillespie, Norrie Campbell, Danny McCluskey,
Bobbie Adams, Rab Stewart, David Webb, John Pryde (Director of Coaching)
Charlie Egan, Frank Thomson, Kevin Burroughs, Billy Buchanan, Dave Cooper, Eddie Ormand

1982 Trip Away

1982 Presentation Night

Frankston City Divisional History 1980-1986

Year	President	Vice President	Secretary	Treasurer	Coach
1980	Hans Gussenhoven	Bob Brown	Mike Hartney/Les Smith		Nigel Bevis
1981	Hans Gussenhoven		Les Smith		John Pryde
1982	John Barclay	Les Smith	Les Smith	Les Smith	Harry Chalkitis(1-17)/Tommy Robertson(18-26)
1983	John Smith			Kevin Wallis
1984	John Smith			Kevin Wallis
1985	John Smith			Kevin Wallis
1986	John Smith			Kevin Wallis
A."Nippy" Prior became an Honorary President A.McIntosh & Norm Stanley became an Honorary Vice President Norm Stanley became an Honorary Secretary Jim Dale became an Honourary Treasurer
Life Members A.P."Nippy" Prior (1963) Lou Gussenhoven (1965) Hans Gussenhoven (1969) Norm Stanley (1972) Jim Dale (1973) Eddie Bardsley (1974) (Life Members Pin Front / Pin Back) John Barclay (1979) Norman Jones (1980)

Frankston City/Bayside League Shirt Colours/Ground

Year	Shirt/Shorts/Sock Colours	Ground
1980	Gold and Royal Blue Shirts, Royal Blue Shorts, Blue and Gold Socks	Centenary Park
1981	White Shirts, Blue Shorts, White Socks	Centenary Park
1982	Yellow and Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts and Blue and Yellow Socks	Centenary Park
1983		Centenary Park
1984		Centenary Park
1985		Centenary Park
1986		Centenary Park

Reserve Team Results & Tables

50's			60's			70's			80's
	Results	Table		Results	Table		Results	Table		Results	Table
			1960	Results	Table	1970	Results	Table	1980	Results	Table
1951	Results	Table	1961	Results	Table	1971	Results	Table	1981	Results	Table
1952	Results	Part Table	1962	Results	Table	1972	Results	Table	1982	Results	Table
1953	Results	Part Table	1963	Results	Table	1973	Results	Table
1954	Results	Table	1964	Results	Table	1974	Results	Table
1955	Results	Table	1965	Results	Table	1975	Results	Table
1956	Results	Table	1966	Results	Table	1976	Results	Table
1957	Results	Table	1967	Results	Table	1977	Results	Table
1958	Results	Table	1968	Results	Part Table	1978	Results	Table
1959	Results	Table	1969	Results	Table	1979	Results	Table

3rds Team

Year	Division	Ladder
1970	Thirds Division	Ladder
1971	Thirds Division A	Ladder
1972	Thirds Division A	Ladder
1973	Thirds Division B	Ladder
1974	Thirds South Division	Ladder
1975	Thirds South Division	Ladder
1976	Thirds South Division	Ladder
1977	Thirds South Division	Ladder
1978	Bayside League (under Mt Eliza SC)	Ladder
1979
1980	Amateur League Central	Ladder

Club Honours

*1sts*
1960	Runners Up	Metropolitan League Division Two South
1965	League Champions	Metropolitan League Division Three
1970	Runners Up	Metropolitan League Division Two
1979	Runners Up	State League Division One
*Reserves*
1965	League Champions	Metropolitan League Division Three
1968	Runners Up	Metropolitan League Division Two
1970	League Champions	Metropolitan League Division Two
1978	Runners Up	State League Division One
1979	League Champions	State League Division One
Thirds
1974	League Champions	Thirds South Division
1978	Runners Up	Bayside 1st Division (Mt Eliza)

State League Appearances 1977 - 1982

State League Goals 1977 - 1982

Club Championship Posters

Club Logos

Newspaper Articles

1951	1952	1953	1954	1955
1956	1957	1958	1959	1960
1961	1962	1963	1964	1965
1966	1967	1968	1969	1970
1971	1972	1973	1974	1975
1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
1981	1982	1983

The Peninsula Post

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

1956

Peninsula Clubs News Articles

Programs and Year Books

1951	1952	1953	1954	1955
1956	1957	1958	1959	1960
1961	1962	1963	1964	1965
1966	1967	1968	1969	1970
1971	1972	1973	1974	1975
1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
1981	1982

Juniors

1951	1952	1953	1954	1955
1956	1957	1958	1959	1960
1961	1962	1963	1964	1965
1966	1967	1968	1969	1970
1971	1972	1973	1974	1975
1976	1977	1978	1979	1980
1981	1982

The Epilogue

It would be remiss of the writer not to recognise the influence FRANKSTON had in soccer, the move to North Seaford gave the chance for many girls and boys to play soccer, the Seaford Junior Soccer Club was formed and this was the forerunner to when the Bayside Soccer League was formed in 1978 when Seaford entered two senior sides into the competition, not under the actual Seaford name but today they do go under that name.
When the Bayside started Skye Rovers entered a side made up of players from the sixties at Frankston, the club now plays as Peninsula Strikers.
The Overport Junior Soccer Club was started later to incorporate into the Baxter Soccer Club, interestingly a Con Zylstra who played as a goalkeeper with Frankston Town helped form Baxter, his name is commemorated at the new club rooms with a plaque. Con himself with a few helpers built the first club house.
With the breakup of Frankston clubs such as Karingal United, Mornington and Rosebud strengthened their line ups with City players. Nigel and
Mick Bevis actually coaching KARINGAL some years later.
However the most important factor to be able to write is that in the late 1960's some ex committee members and players started up a senior section at the Langwarrin Soccer Club, the club was blessed with a junior section started years before now they had a senior team.
They were to start off in the then District League Eastern, some of these people were Snowy Van Den Engel, Martin Leenstra and Tony Valk.
Many of those people are no longer with us today and they would be overwhelmed with how the club has grown to be the powerhouse club on the Peninsula.
Yes Frankston City as we knew it has gone but its legacy will live on forever.

Seaford

Overport

Frankston City Anecdotes

Going through life some memories stand in your mind forever, many people have been associated be it as committee member, player, coach or in some other capacity at Frankston City this is but one person's recollections of his time at the club, but if anybody out there can add their own remembrances the author will only be too pleased to include them in the history of the club.

My first season playing for the club was at Sherlock Park, the only means of changing unless you did this in your own car was by way of a small wooden shed, a section in the interior had a partition reserved for the referee, this added by club members. Soccer in those days was not well regarded and perhaps it came as no surprise when the players turned up for a game one Saturday to find the shed completely demolished. Not to be outdone a quick dash home by a player produced a large camping tent, the day was saved. My second season was to be played at the North Seaford Reserve, great changing accommodation for players.

Having spent the first season playing on a pitch to the left of the club rooms the next season saw the team playing on the pitch towards the back of a housing community much further away from the clubrooms. The local council had prepared the ground but decided to top dress the pitch during the week prior to the first game, players duly turned up for training on the Thursday to discover the top dressing of the ground consisted of many small stones all over the ground, a hazard for any player, as I said previously soccer was not popular and obviously the workers had been none too careful in what they top dressed the ground with. Training for an hour consisted of players lining up across the pitch walking up and down until the pitch was cleared of most of the stones. How differently the local council works with clubs nowadays.

One away fixture for a City player became memorable for him, his description of his own game is unprintable however he declared he was retiring no questions asked, and to prove his point the River Yarra saw his soccer boots dropped into the muddy waters never to be used again.

After some away fixtures a celebration beverage was held at the old Hampton Hotel on Beach Road. On this particular occasion one player and his wife were left well behind in the rush to the hotel. Eventually arriving at the venue a car was coming out as one they recognised as belonging to another player, surely he was not leaving already. The arrivals caught but a short glimpse of the driver however once inside there was the team mate, it did not take a minute to convey the bad news, rushing outside all was confirmed it was his car. The outcome was all good the car turned up the next day in nearby Sandringham, no petrol but no damage, just a joy rider we must assume.

Perhaps one of the most popular players to have worn a Frankston shirt was Tommy Flynn a nugget wiry small framed full back who gave 110% during a game. Though he never gave any during the games Tommy had a good right hook, and on one occasion was featured on a boxing programme on a TV channel. Not afraid to give anything a go he signed up for a fight, his opponent turned up giving his credential name as The Wild Bull Of The Pampas, Tommy stuck with him into the final round taking a lot of punishment until a right punch ended his boxing aspirations, better to stick to soccer eh Tommy.

A popular player in the seventies for Frankston was Brian Summerfield, playing in a reserve game against Doveton Brian's ankle was broken in a bad tackle sidelining him for many games. One year later almost to the day again Brian lined up against Doveton once again, and once more a bad tackle saw him carried off the pitch. Bobby Adams passed on the word to Brian from the coach just run up and down it is not too serious. In fact how wrong the coach was he had broken a bone in his leg, once again curtailing his season.

During the late seventies Del Lines managed to persuade Tommy Docherty, who was at top player at Arsenal, this was just one of the clubs he had played for in his career. A Scottish international and later when his playing career was over was to take on a managerial career, Manchester United coming under his control at one time. He was on a trip to Australia giving guest talks, this is how he was invited to Frankston City. The evening did not start on time due to the fact that his hired car driver could not find the ground, once there however he gave a very entertaining talk.

When Martin Chivers was shown around the home dressing room he was heard to say “ The Boot Room at Tottenham is bigger than this"

In the late sixties early seventies a player turned up at training one night ,David Morgan was his name and it soon became obvious that he had talent.
On the weekend that followed David played in the third eleven side against the ladder leaders ,how can you explain and a 13 2 victory.
The answer David Morgan who scored eleven goals, first team soccer the next week. It was only later and in a private conversation with Michael Bevis
that he disclosed he was a Welsh youth international, certainly a great signing for the club however David only played two seasons for the club before
returning to his native land.

Victorian Representative Team. Mid 70’s
Tasmania.
Ian Humble, Duncan Cummings, Bobby Adams, Don Brownlie, Tommy Fox.
Billy Buchanan, Paul Corke, Bobby Maclachlan, Peter Laumets, Bruce Roberts, Alan Lenders

Key Chain

We would like to thank the following for their help in compiling this history:
Tony Hall
John Punshon
www.ozfootball.net
Mark Boric
www.melbournesoccer.blogspot.com
Football in Australia
www.socceraust.co.uk
Bobby Adams
Lyn Piggott and her family
Roy Lymer
Tommy Doolan
Michael Meade
Peter Smith
Billy Buchanan
Craig MacKenzie
Nigel Bevis
Mick Bevis
Brian Summerfield
Keith Lawson
Trevor Parry
Jenni Bowles
Richard Burgess
Seaford United Soccer Club Website
Frankston City Library
If you have any to add please contact Laurence Hall @ peninsulastrikershistory@gmail.com