Karingal United Soccer Club History

Karingal United Soccer Club was formed in 1967 under the auspices of Karingal Sports Association, a now defunct body that looked after sporting requirements of the residents of Karingal. Junior teams were entered for the first time in the 1968 season in what was then known as the Southern Region, embracing teams from the Peninsula and Dandenong and northward to the Brighton area. A large number of these boys had never played soccer before, but by the end of the season Karingal achieved its first success when the Under 12 team won the local W.Rigby Builders' Cup.

The club grew rapidly in those early years and became very successful, both on and off the field, winning many League championships in different age groups as well as Cup competition. By 1970 teams were entered in every age group from Under Seven to Under Seventeen and Karingal United were presented with the Best Club Award by the Southern Regional Committee for the way in which they have done so much to promote the game of soccer amongst the Juniors.

The club started off at the running track rooms, then we acquired an old house it had 10 rooms in it. It was situated at the end ground bottom car park, with John Bexon being the bar manager.

The suggestion of running a Senior team was raised for the first time in 1971 when we had an Under Seventeen side with nowhere to go the following year. It was again raised at the end of 1972 and finally a side was entered in the then District League South in 1974. We did not set the soccer world alight during our years in this competition but we did find ourselves a comfortable, regular position around the middle of the table. Coaches and players were hard to keep in those days and each successive year usually found us with a new coach and almost a new team.

Our fortunes changed in 1977 when we were invited to apply for membership to the Provisional League where we stayed in 2nd Division until 1981. That year we were fortunate to gain the services of Nigel Bevis as coach and our Seniors had their most successful year to date, finishing 3rd. Due to a vacancy we were promoted to 1st Division. 1982 saw us with a much changed team with an accent on youth and we again finished in 3rd position. A reorganisation of the League structure enabled us to apply for and gain promotion to 4th Division of the Metropolitan League in 1983 where we finished in 6th position. Once again at the end of 1983 there was a reorganisation of the Leagues, Karingal applied for and gained promotion to 3rd Division finishing the year in 7th spot. Promoted 5 times in 11 years without finishing 1st or 2nd. A somewhat unusual record.

1984 saw us have an outstanding first half of the season with Nigel Bevis at the helm building up a Reserve and Senior side which have more than held their own in the 3rd Division. The second have of the season though saw us fall away into mediocrity and performances well below par. This was partly due to injuries, suspensions, work commitments etc causing lack of enthusiasm after losses and low depth. Highlights were that we made the last 16 in the Docherty Cup and last 8 in the Metro. Cup. Added to these achievements the youngest Reserve side we have ever fielded finishing 3rd in their League.

1985 saw a change in coach and our most disappointing year to date with us finishing last in the 3rd Division and seeing us relegated back to the 4th Division, the position on the ladder was mainly due to a lack of experience in the Senior team, a lack of numbers in the playing staff and a lack of professionalism.

Some of the second half season fade-aways were due to the fact that the league was not zoned and we mostly played ethnic clubs from the other side of Melbourne. We would play them and beat them first time round. Back then the old National league would finish half way through our season and players could play in the lower leagues for 8-10 weeks on loan but not the higher Victorian league I think. If the ethnic teams were struggling they would sign a couple of these players and shoot up the ladder. Or just buy a whole new team sometimes.

1986 saw the reappointment of Nigel Bevis who immediately signed 8-10 new players to bring some extra experience and to provide competition for places and atmosphere. The year in whole could be summed up as the year of the draws with 12 in the season many of which we should have turned into wins, overall though we can be happy with our performances, if not the results. One of the main objectives of the season was to get the club back to its original stature, and we can feel that this has been achieved.

1987 saw a disappointing year for Karingal narrowly escaping relegation, while off the field a mismanagement of club funds saw the club go into a monetary deficit.

After our great start in 1988 where we held top spot for nine weeks, things only got worse after that with us finishing 2nd last and only winning 5 and drawing 4 games for the year. Once again though injuries, suspensions and unavailability’s took their toll and resulted in a very disjointed situation. The Reserve side made the final 8 in the Harry Armstrong Reserves Cup, and the club was granted a Permit to build a large Covered Spectator area onto the Clubrooms facing the main pitch

1989 would have to be ranked as one of the best for a few seasons, after 14 games we had more points, more wins and more goals than we achieved in the whole 22 games on season '88. Equally as heartening this year was the performance of the Reserves, a good group of young and older players, a good blend and a lot of promise for the future.

1990 saw the appointment of Lou Kastner as Senior Coach although the season wasn't great with only one win in the second half of the season, a 10th spot finish, with the commitment nowhere near good enough, and once again a shocking run of injuries

1991 saw the club finish 4th, the best position it has reached since 1982 (3rd), it saw the youngest ever First team fielded by Karingal United, including six teenagers in the squad, which resulted in a lot of competition for a place in the First Team squad.

Lou Kastner was again coach in 1992 with the boys finishing middle table which was a little disappointing for a team which showed so much promise last season. And an extension to the clubroom finally got underway and was finished before the end of the season.

1993 on the field once again was very disappointing with us finishing 3rd last, at the same time though we started having talks with Frankston United with 3 main aims 1) to unify fragmented soccer interests in the Frankston are; 2) Provide better facilities for members and their families, and 3) Open the opportunity of advancement for the club. A meeting between both clubs was held on the 6th October when a decision to amalgamate was made by majority vote. The combination of both teams would form a new team called Frankston Strikers Soccer Club.

Karingal United First Team Player Of The Year Award. Click Here