History of the kolts

From an extract of the book by  Eddie Billett The History of GDSFA 2002

‍The Soccer Club was a division of the Kellyville Sports and Recreation Club, which was formed after a series of meetings in 1977.

Councilor Les Shore held a public meeting on the 17th August and following the response of that first meeting where the community supported the idea and need of sporting facilities and a sporting club. A second meeting was held a Kellyville Preschool on the 22nd August where the name Kellyville Sports and Recreation Club was moved and accepted and an interim committee was elected to survey the districts sporting needs and interests.

The inaugural annual general meeting was held at the Memorial Hall corner of Windsor Road and Memorial Road, Kellyville on the 11th October 1977. 43 community attended the meeting and sports minded people including two councilors, Les Shore, later to become first club patron, representing „A‟ riding and present Mayor, John Griffiths, whom later became soccer club president for two years. The first president of the Kellyville Sports and Recreation Club was Geoff Cooper and the Soccer Division Convenor was Les Ferenz. The first meeting of the Soccer Club was held in January 1978 where a committee was formed with Les Ferenz as President, Gay Codd as Secretary and Kevin Apps as Treasurer. Peter Willis was Registrar and still is today!

The club had immediate success in winning the Granville District 1978 Champion club. The award had been given since 1965 and Kellyville was the first club to win this award in its first year of competition. The club had eight teams between under 6 and under 12 years of age, and one old buffers team (not registered with Granville).

The club has gone from strength to strength with players, committees and parents sharing all the highs and lows of team sport.

In the mid 1970‟s Kellyville Park was upgraded from a slopping paddock into a leveled playing area but as the president of the park trust Stan Pritchard said in 1977 “The fields are used by outside sporting bodies only. The front field for competition Cricket and Football practice and the back fields for Hockey”.

In the 1st season in 1978 Kellyville Park was shared with a Hockey Club from outside the district so only one field was used for soccer.

The Soccer Clubs have now used Field One and Two for the last 24 years but this season may well be the last as council has designated new grounds at Marella Reserve, Kellyville with upgraded playing surfaces and new canteen and change rooms.

Training conditions were difficult back in the first season as no flood-lighting was available at the grounds resulting in coaches and parents turning on car headlights to light up the goal area to enable the players to practice. In the second year a single floodlight was supplied and installed by Kevin Apps, this floodlight is still in use and stands at the corner of the canteen.

The name Kolts came as a result of a competition amongst club members and players in 1982, with John Thorn‟s wife, Lee and son Gray, (under 6 player), winning the 50 competition. Rohan Healy (under 8 player) came close but he couldn‟t spell Kolts with a “K”!

Our first club coach was David Candy from 1978 to 1985. He also served as club delegate to Granville Association, Recorder and Grounds Manager over the years. The second club coach was Keith Healy who introduced players and coaches to the most up-to-date methods of play and coaching techniques

.The Kellyville Sports and Recreation Club had six divisions – Soccer, Tennis, Cricket, Athletics, Netball and Pony Riding. Each division did considerably well but the Soccer grew quickly and in the early 1980‟s decided to stand-alone. The club had over fifteen teams and a strong desire to control it‟s own purse stings and destiny.

By 1982 the club boasted almost two teams in all junior grades up to under fourteen‟s and was home to the all age “Unquenchables”. This team of oldies, many of whom had never kicked a soccer ball before, became the backbone of the club. Mostly fathers of young players who also doubled as Committeemen and as Coaches. From this team came Club President Graham Bradley and Pat Byrne, Vice President Jimmy Campbell, long serving Registrar and Referee Peter Willis, Publicity Officer Tony Kitto who gave us many laughs with his weekly results magazine and “Animal Paws (pause)” social comments. John Thorn coached, Andrew Jamieson and Bob Gooch coached and were always vocal as Committeemen and Managers, Peter Ashton as Groundsman and the Hurst boys as Canteen Assistants.

These Kellyville die-hards were blessed with understanding wives who were also bitten by the Soccer bug. Social Committees, Club Secretary, Treasury and Canteen management was their specialty, but all these fine ladies had plenty to say about their husband‟s performances on the Soccer Field and at the Match Post Mortem. (Cask wine was popular in the eighties!).

The Junior teams caught the infectious spirit of the “Unquenchables” and with great enthusiasm played to the best of their ability many winning competitions and the division one teams representing Granville in the Champion of Champions Competitions.

The club‟s policy has always focused on enjoyment from participating in competitive sport rather than winning at any cost and here‟s a story of coach, Gary Werner to show the point. His little under eight side had been badly beaten and on top of that he had a huge problem with most of the team bursting into tears. He told the boys not to worry and that if they ever won a game he would shout them all McDonalds. Needless to say they didn‟t loose another game!

The Kellyville Club has had several ladies all age teams over the years and encourages young girls to play the game.

Our club colours have always been Red and Black but in 1997 white trims were added because the original shirts had white large numbers and white trim on the club badges.

The club has honored many long serving officials with Life Memberships. Tony Kitto, Dianne Atkins, Graham & Rhonda Howard, Geoff & Cheryl Elliot, Ernie Clarke, Jake Sicra, Bob Gooch, Allan Cooper and Peter Willis. The club awards players with trophies annually and with special badges for every five years of service.

Many junior players have represented Granville at Junior League and Youth League levels. The club has produced players such as Pat Strongquist, Rohan Healy, Derrick Taylor, Arron, Carson, Kyle and Hayden Cooper who have played at State League Clubs, mainly at Blacktown City Demons. Chris Bradley has played in German and Canadian professional Leagues. Michael Prentice is presently playing for Newcastle in Australia‟s National League. Greg Byrne has played in the English 3rd division league.

In 1980 the club fielded its first team in all age division one. This team comprised mostly ex-grade players from Ermington United and Gladesville Ravens who had settled with their new families in the Hills area. Nine of these experienced players became Junior Coaches, most coaching their son‟s team. In 1983 they won the inaugural premier league challenge shield. This magnificent shield in its great glass case, dating back to 1901, was presented to our team at our Annual Red and Black night end of season function. Little did we know it would take another eleven years before we would win the shield again! Most of the players coming from Junior ranks and some being the sons of the 83 team members – and win it back they did, under Coaches Pat Byrne and Stuart Gibson, three years in a row from 1994 to 1996.

Peter Dunn launched the club into Federation Division Five football with great success and under his leadership has seen the club win promotion each year and has opened the door for our own junior players to develop their Soccer skills and play at a high level without having to leave the club to achieve their goals.