UNDER CONSTRUCTION

HISTORY OF TAHMOOR NEPEAN ROVERS SOCCER CLUB

Prepared for it's 25th Anniversary in 1993

 

 

    Sometime prior to 1968 there were two Soccer Clubs in the area playing social matches. Some of the more talented players in the area used to go to Campbelltown for competition matches. One of the Clubs which was at Tahmoor was called Bronzwing Rovers, the other Club from Bargo was known as Bargo Sports Club (known to be playing in 1963).

 

    From discussions between two men (Colin Bolton and Joe Smith) it was felt that both Clubs and local soccer would be better served by an amalgamation of the two Clubs. It is not clear weather it was 1968 that the amalgamation of the two Clubs took place or not however it was in 1968 that Nepean Rovers Soccer Club played its first organised competition matches in Southern Districts Soccer Football Association.

 

    The inaugural President was Colin Bolton and other Committee members were Sid Wyre, Colleen Duncan & others.

 

    The colours and the name of the club were as the result of a social match played against Melita Eagles. At a picnic following the social match at Nepean Dam, Melita Eagles handed over one of their strips to the Club who at that time did not have any. At the same picnic it was suggested that the name of the Club be Nepean (from the dam) Rovers Soccer Club.

 

    The first ground played on was the Tahmoor Sports Ground but not before many hours of backbreaking work had been carried out to prepare a reasonable surface. Madicks were used to break the ground to plant Kikuyu runners, chook manure was spread and other work carried out to finally prepare the ground.

 

    The transportation of players to games was sometimes a case of use what ever was available and in 1970 a cattle truck was used to

transport the under 12's to their matches. The club at sometime purchased a bedford van for the transportation of players.

 

    In approximately 1971 Nepean Rovers left Southern Districts     Association to join the newly formed Highlands Soccer Association.

This move was not done to necessarily shorten the trip but to     strengthen the Highlands Soccer Association in playing strength and numbers.

 

    In approximately 1972 Tahmoor Oval was closed for 2 years of major upgrade and development work, which eventually saw the 5 acres developed into a Sporting complex consisting of 3 soccer fields and 7 netball courts. During this time the Club had to play some where and with the kind assistance of Karl & Nancy Siedel and family the Club moved to the corner of Natti and Byron Roads. Yes it was a cow paddock, which was neatly mown and cared for, for the next 2 years.

    The club continued to prosper during this time even though some of the conditions were a little strained at times. The All Age actually trained with car lights blazing in the dark.

 

    1975 saw the Club return to Tahmoor oval where it has continued to prosper. This year saw the burning of one of the goal posts. On arrival at the ground one Saturday morning it was discovered that one goal post had been pulled down and a small camp fire had been created with the posts, next to the fire was found a billy. The posts were badly burn, but were re-erected so as the games could be played.

    This was the situation for the next couple of weeks until Gary Matthew (playing for the under 16's) let fly with a scorching shot, hitting the cross bar, which snapped in two, missing the goal keeper's head as the goal crumbled to the ground. As a result of this the club then purchased the metal goalposts which are still in use today.

 

 

    In 1979 the Club introduced Kindy soccer for children up to six years of age until the competition started at that age, and prior to Mini soccer even being known.

 

    1981 Saw the club change its name to Tahmoor Nepean Rovers Soccer Club so as to be more identifiable to the area it served (most outsiders thought we came from the Nepean area). This year was the year the club's All Age team exceeded all expectations when after Highlands

   Soccer Association could not field its All Age team in the Southern Branch Titles the Club's All Age (Coached by Bill Martin - Managed by Tom Smith) took up the challenge. They won the Southern Branch Championship which then enabled them to challenge for the Country Championship at Parkes along with an Under 18 side from the Club attempting the same feat. The Under 18's were eliminated from the competition and a couple of players were recruited for the All Age team, and this team then went on to win all four games and take out the Title of Country Champions. With only one Game to be played to win the State title, the teams dreams came true when their opponents forfeited the match (for unknown reasons) which allowed the All Age to be declared State Champions.

 

    In 1982 the Club entered a new era by nominating and being accepted into the NSW Soccer Federation competition. The first year saw the team finish 4th equal in their division and missed out on a semi's berth on goal difference. This performance in the first year in Federation Soccer saw the team promoted in 1983. Still competitive but finding the going tough the team played on for an other season before returning to local Association Soccer.

 

    In 1983 the Club left Highlands Soccer Association to join the newly formed Macarthur District Soccer Football Association. The major attribute that Macarthur Association has given the Club is a

competition with divisions in which the players can be placed     according to their playing ability. Highlands Association usually had only one age division or a combination of age divisions. Whilst the club was strong in the sense of winning competitions in the Highlands Association it was not a really good competition for the development of players. The club has since it joined Macarthur Association developed its players to a better standard of soccer, and has achieved more memorable wins than it had in the past.

 

 

This page was last updated on 11/3/2010