Most successfull clubs @ PL Level

Views: 14028 Posts: 59
THE ROCK
wrote on 09-Jun-15 18:02

GHFA CUP: 2-PEN 1-PHD 1-STA

THE ROCK
wrote on 09-Jun-15 18:06

With all the chat about PHD and KEN, i thought i would go through the league honours and Put together a tally of champions:

PREMIERSHIPS
8-Epping YMCA
5-Epping Eastwood
4-Pennant Hills
3-Kenthurst
3-West Pennant Hills
3-St Andrews Eastwood
3-Normo
2-MBU?
2-RSL?
2-North Epping
2-Gladesville RSL
1-Gladesville Ravens


CHAMPIONS
8-North Epping
7-Epping Eastwood
3-ST Andrews Eastwood
3-Kenthurst
3-Epping YMCA
3-Pennant Hills
2-West Pennant Hills
2-MBU?
2-Normo
1-Gladesville RSL?
1-Gladesville Ravens



Pretty surprising hey!

THE ROCK
wrote on 09-Jun-15 19:00

It would be interesting to know when some of these clubs were first formed. Obviously there are a number that have been there from the beginning, but some of the newies such as KEN and PHD, even HWK how long they have been around. Who is RSL and MBU?

Juice
wrote on 09-Jun-15 19:08

YMCA of the 80s and eew of the 90s easily the best in history, not just within ghfa but state wide and nationally in the case of the y.

History
wrote on 09-Jun-15 20:04

Meadowbank United aka Meadowbank Budgies

47
wrote on 09-Jun-15 20:08

RSL was Ryde RSL, merged with Putney in 1990 according to Putney's website

Yep
wrote on 10-Jun-15 08:03

So essentially what that tally proves is that all PHD has brought to the PL is talk talk talk and no action. Only 1 GHFA cup win since they've been in PL is shocking considering how highly they rate themselves.
And before you go on about how they have only been in PL for a short amount of time, just look at kenthurst's achievements. Just accept that you're not as good as you think you are. No matter how much you were "challenging" history will show you just made up the numbers

Hally
wrote on 10-Jun-15 09:00

NER - Big game specialists Great Championship record over the years

jrh
wrote on 11-Jun-15 16:03

interesting subject..which is the only club that has not been out of Premier League during its existence??

win ratios
wrote on 11-Jun-15 17:04

What are clubs win ratios? Ken are 3/7 (42%) Pen are 3/? EEW are 8/?

Fruit
wrote on 11-Jun-15 17:05

PEN

pen
wrote on 11-Jun-15 18:00

Pen are 3/38

Uh hello
wrote on 11-Jun-15 19:08

It's history, who cares, we play for this championship not last yrs one

Uh hello
wrote on 11-Jun-15 19:08

It's history, who cares, we play for this championship not last yrs one

Uh hello
wrote on 11-Jun-15 19:08

It's history, who cares, we play for this championship not last yrs one

Recollections
wrote on 11-Jun-15 20:05

Epping YMCA were definitely the strongest PL squad in the 1980's. Whilst they did not win many grand finals they won the premiership every year in the 1980's with the exception of a couple won by Ryde RSL, North Epping and Meadowbank United. The YMCA in won two AA CoC in 1982 and 1986. Runners up in 1988. They were also runners up in AA State Cup in 1982 and 1987.

The nucleus of the great YMCA teams comes down to two coaches.Firstly Des Taylor who had two teams from the generation born 1958-1962 and Norm Jones who coached two teams spanning the generation between 1963-1967.These sides won Champions of Champion as juniors at the YMCA. Des Taylor was lucky enough to build his sides around Billy Hulston who was a professional in Scotland.

There are some great photos of these teams on the YMCA website. One is definitely before the 1988 Champions of Champions final.

Ryde RSL were a strong team. Based at Ryde Three they were made up of x-state league players from North Ryde and Ryde District Panthers (aka Marsfield). I saw this team win the Grand Final in 1984 against Y b's in Premier 2's. Ryde RSL were all sky blue with some white trim.

Meadowbank United bordered on urban mythology. Strong sides who played at Meadowbank One. I played against them when they were in AA in the early 1990's. My brother played against them in reserves for the Y. They had skilful and tough squad of older guys from UK and Meadowbank Boys High School. They wore a Leeds United away kit from the 1970's. Hence the Budgies.

North Epping Rangers were strong at this time. Many x YMCA players like Dave Taylor, John Henley, Gregor Fraser,and Andrew Grierson. Gerard McColgan was also part of Premier League folklore as a strong forward who had played for Hakoah and worked as a cellar man at Epping Pub. I think North Epping Rangers were the strongest side in the reserve grade throughout the 1980's.

Interestingly Gerard used to talk about a State Cup Quarter Final at West Epping in 1983 where North Epping played the YMCA and won 3-2. North Epping went out in the Semi-final against Loftus Rovers who won the C0C as well.

Redbacks had a good side in the mid-1980's. Join champions in 1986 holding the YMCA to a nil-nil at LH Waud - the same year the YMCA won a CoC. The year before they were thumped 1-7 by North Epping. This side had a number of x-YMCA players - Peter Roden. They also had a number of good juniors.

WPH were successful briefly between the YMCA and Epping Eastwood in 1992. The 1990's really belong to Epping Eastwood. They dominated in both grades. Challenged in later on by Pennant Hills in 1996 and then Gladesville RSL. Epping Eastwood was also made up of many x-YMCA players, a couple from Eastwood Town federation, Toss from North Epping, and Strata from Beecroft.

They won a AA State Cup out at Miranda against Engadine. A very tight game against a very good side who later beat them in the 1994 CoC final. Epping Eastwood were fast, skilful, tough. They played good football. They had an aura in the district that was worth two or three goals. Losses against side like Kissing Point in the State Cup QF in 1995 support this argument. Kissing Point were good not great.

Gladesville RSL were all about Dave Batten. In my view alongside Toss, Andy Ferris, Billy Hulston, and the Walrus, the best player in the comp. He almost took over Beecroft in 1995. Beecroft dithered and the rest they say is history. Batten persisted with the old Gladesville players for a year or so before he started to blood any number of old NSL and state League mates from Wollongong Wolves, Penrith Uruguay and Blacktown City. A good side but it was a bit like Andrew Symonds playing park cricket.

My connection with GHFA pretty much ends there. Not sure about St Andrews or Pennant Hills of the 2000's. My memories of Kenthurst are all Premier League Two - Lenny, Sarg and Gary....

THE ROCK
wrote on 12-Jun-15 04:01

Fantastic post! great to know the actual beginnings of the premier league!

Juice
wrote on 12-Jun-15 05:08

Super read! Cheers for that. I came into pl on back end of that EEW side of the side of the 90s and you're right, they sure did have an aura.

Old bloke
wrote on 12-Jun-15 09:06

Played in the 1983/4 Ryde RSL teams
Ryde RSL Rams....same kit as Man City.
Disbanded in mid 80's when Ryde RSL failed to continue support the team and we were merged into North Ryde RSL.
Great squad with a few ex State league players and one player from Hadjuct Split. He liked the drink and rarely went to training, but is probably one of the best players ever to play in GHFA...cant remember his name.

As good as the team was, we never made State Final so hats off to YMCA and EEW

Recollections
wrote on 12-Jun-15 12:03

Hey Old Bloke Did you move to North Ryde as well? Federation or PL2. Also, did Browny of North Ryde fame play with Ryde RSL or did he come out of North Ryde Federation? Ryde RSL used to be a great club. Mark Koussas's brother used to play there. They disappeared around the same time as Meadowbank United, early 1990's. In the late 1970's Ryde District, St Andrews, Gladesville Ravens, West Ryde Rovers, and North Ryde all had Federation Teams. I remember watching Eastwood Town at lower Eastwood on Sundays.

OLD BLOKE
wrote on 12-Jun-15 13:03

Don't recall Brownie. I moved on to Thornleigh then North Ryde and Normo. We had a couple of ex Meadowbank (Budgies) players as they disbanded around 82/3 and our coach Mark came from the Budgies. As I recall a few lads moved to the Ryde Federation team when we disbanded. Still bump into a couple of the lads playing 35's, but few of us left running around now. Great days and shin pads were for the delicate lads....

Recollections
wrote on 12-Jun-15 20:03

Reserve grade was pretty good to watch in the 1980's and 1990's.Slower than to today, teams relied more on passing and skill.

I used to love 1.15 at West Epping, North Epping, Carlingford 2, Meadowbank 1, and Cheltenham.

At the YMCA most reserve players would adjourn to the bowling club for beers. In those days the main ground was on the Northern side of the oval.

North Epping definitely won the Premiership in Ressies in 1986, 87 and 88. I remember the YMCA blew it in 86 against WPH 1-2 who were relegated.

I remember the Grand Final that year at LH Waud. Beecroft versus the YMCA. One all and joint champions. Beecroft had a strong reserve grade team in the late 80's and were regular visitors to the Grand Final. They had the tall Martin brothers, Warren Craig, and Dave Bennetts. All great cricketers too.

North Epping were spearheaded by a very angry and determined Gregor Fraser. They had a midfield dominator in Daryl. Neil Baker also played for North Epping at the time. He later was one of the best players in 1st grade for Pennant Hills.

The YMCA reserves definitely won the Premiership and Championship in 1990. I remember Ricky Joynes scored well over 60 goals in reserves in five seasons in the late 1980's. He was really good to watch, full of tricks and goals.

Meadowbank had Walrus aka Paul Daley. He was playing reserves by time I was watching. I assume he was a first grader in the late 1970's. He had amazing ball skills. You could not get the ball off him. Would shoot from anywhere.

Epping Eastwood dominated in the 1990's with a team that would have constituted a strong first grade team anywhere else. Jason Benavente, Wayne Fidling, Scott Grinham, Bruno etc. The first three were YMCA juniors.

kiwi
wrote on 12-Jun-15 20:09

i went to school with 1 of those guys and he was by no means a great player, so if that team dominated and he played for them then the comp would be definitely no stronger than teams in recent years. no disrespect to the guy but he was only ever a club play but a good guy.

Recollections
wrote on 12-Jun-15 22:03

It is after all club football. If you have played at a higher level, and it sounds (and looks) like you have, fair play to you.

Everyone mentioned in my post would have played first grade in a side that won a premiership, grand final, state cup of coc.

In fact all four Epping Eastwood players I referred to represented NSW in 1994.

That is more than me and most people who frequent this blog.

That was the beauty of GHFA in the 1980's and 1990's. It was made up of club footballers, some talented, all hardworking. There were so many characters.

This is why Epping Eastwood, YMCA, North Epping and the Budgies, will be remembered in folklore.

They were made up local players who loved a game with friends and a drink afterwards. They just happened to be very good.

I am sure all the players I mentioned would have made a federation squad somewhere in Sydney. They didn't because they wanted to play with their mates.

Lol
wrote on 13-Jun-15 09:04

Uh hello Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > It's history, who cares, we play for this > championship not last yrs one Well you're not playing very well

Recollection
wrote on 13-Jun-15 09:06

Remember that time pumas won the comp. Said no one ever.

Recollections
wrote on 14-Jun-15 09:05

This is one for Jethro or Hally.

I was talking to my brother who remembers the YMCA playing the Budgies in a Grand Final in the early 1980's.

He reckons it was at LH Waud and the YMCA won. So looking at the records I suspect he could be referring to 1982.

This would also take YMCA's Championship Tally up by one.

My brother remembers the Budgies being skilful but slow. He said most of their players were well over 30 by the mid-1980's.

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Swanee
wrote on 28-May-16 11:03

Interesting reading this thread as I played for Normanhurst in the inaugural year of Premier League to GHFA.

The Normanhurst team was made up of a majority of U/21 players who had won various titles in previous years and were looking for more of a challenge and a challenge they got.

First match was against Meadowbank United at Normanhurst Park and MBU were full of stars with great skills from a much higher level.

All I could remember of that afternoon as a young 17 year old goalkeeper, was pulling off at least 20 saves of shots on goal and picking the ball out of the back of the net 6 times. Paul Daly was unstoppable and the others around him were just as talented, in later years I got to play with Paul at WPH under Wayne Molyneaux and even in his twilight years it was difficult to get the ball off him.

I was never a great player, but turned to officiating and refereed Premier League for over ten years when some of the greats were running around, made for some interesting afternoons and challenged the man management skills

Jethro
wrote on 28-May-16 22:00

Here are a few responses To “Old Bloke” and Recollections Ryde RSL came into PL in 1978 then 1979, 1980, 1981 (Premiers), 1980 then disbanded. Yugal who became Yugal Ryde then Ryde District then fell out of Federation Football and entered GHFA in PL div 2 in 1984 promoted to div 1 in 1985 then disbanded in 1986 and absorbed by Putney. The infamous Jimmy Cooper coached RSL in the early 80’s. He was notorious for starting games with 12 players. That is why referees now do a player count before starting the game. Some players may have gone to North Ryde but some went to Budgies. RSL also had Phil Bakeric playing for them (ex Yugal and NSW) As far as I know, Brownie played most of his football with North Ryde and is still doing so today in 45 div 1 Meadowbank Budgies came into the Premier League in 1978 (the second season). They were a new team made of up former Ravens, Rovers and Eastwood Town federation players. The former clubs had exited the NSW Federation ranks due to escalating affiliation fees. Budgies adopted their name from the budgerigars who adorned the Meadowbank playing fields at the time. They played in all yellow with white and blue trim. Old Bloke, is the Mark you refer to at Ryde RSL Mark Alphabet? If so he’s just about to make a comeback To Swanee, sorry but you are mistaken. The inaugural Premier League season was 1977. Normo’s inaugural season was 1978 which was Budgie’s as well. Budgie’s first Premier League game was in 1978 versus Penno at Meadowbank 1 (now 2). I was playing for Penno that year. Budgies won the Premiership at their first attempt. Budgies had many great players including Paul Daly aka the Walrus but also Rodney Cook, The late great Dave (Wako) Wakeling, Barry Waud (the son of LH Waud), Cam McDonald etc. etc. Kiwi, most of the players Recollections was referring to were ressie players who can’t be compared to first graders of any decade although most were good players in their own right. Recollections, angry and determined is a mild description for Gregor Fraser. Nutter would be more appropriate. The early 80’s grand final between YMCA AND Budgies’s must have been ’82 or ’83 which is missing from my Honours Board. Penno are the only club not to have been relegated from the Premier League. It is hard to make distinctions between clubs of different era’s/decades. I played against Ryde RSL, Budgie’s, North Epping and YMCA in the 70’s and 80’s and have watched Penno, GRL and EEW in the 90’s and in the last fifteen years STA, Normo, Penno and Kenthust. If I had to make a choice I couldn’t go passed EEW in the 90’s or KEN of recent seasons. All great sides.

oldbugger
wrote on 29-May-16 17:09

What a great read by the posters on here!!! I will say that there is alot of history and respect by all associated and playing in those years. Some real tough players and real good sides.I think there is alot to be learned by the new breed and how to show respect and develop good mateship rather than whinge and whine about bad refs,players and sides who will never come close to what was achieved and will be achieved in the years to come.I hope there is a side that can match the likes of the YMCA's, EEW's and Ken in the recent seasons who have got a little way to go the catch the former sides.

The Citizen
wrote on 29-May-16 19:02

EEW lads still kicking butt today in the O45/1

Swanee
wrote on 30-May-16 16:00

Thanks Jethro I am always happy to be corrected, your recollection is correct Normo did come in 1978 and then I think we dropped out into NSW Federation Div 9 for a year or two and got absolutely smashed in different areas of Sydney every Sunday by Paddington SC and Moorebank United, great update and some of the names bring back horrifying memories especially as a first grade keeper !!

Swanee
wrote on 30-May-16 16:00

Thanks Jethro I am always happy to be corrected, your recollection is correct Normo did come in 1978 and then I think we dropped out into NSW Federation Div 9 for a year or two and got absolutely smashed in different areas of Sydney every Sunday by Paddington SC and Moorebank United, great update and some of the names bring back horrifying memories especially as a first grade keeper !!

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Craig Simmons
wrote on 25-Mar-17 01:02

Firstly,some great posts here,brings back a lot of memories.I played in a lot of the sides mentioned here.I played with Ryde rsl in the late 70's early 80's.After being premiers in 1981 and getting beaten in the infamous GF against NER where Gerald McColgan mooned our supporters at LH Ward,a few of the team followed our mad coach Jimmy Cooper over to Ryde Panthers to play Federation.After a couple of years there I headed back to Ryde where we won by memory the 2nd division in 84 then winning 1st division in 85.The following year the club was finished.I then moved to Gladesville RSL for a few frustrating years,before going to play with North Ryde in the state league under the coaching of Bruce James,who enjoyed making you run a couple of marathon's each training session,but that said it was a great team to play with,someone mentioned Brownie in a post.I played with him at North Ryde,and you could not meet a more easy going bloke,but he was lethal on the field and formed a great partnership at the back with Donnie Wilson.After this I went back to Gladesville Rsl for the Dave Batten era.Dave was a fantastic for the Premier league,but I think he thought he would come in and kill it,but he found out that 1st year,that it was a lot harder than he thought.EEW were the guns,with the worst ground to play on.Batts did recruit a few players for his 2nd year,but the side was still a majority of local guys where we went on to be premiers.The following year we went one step better and were champions against the mighty EEW.The following year '99,Batts somehow managed to persuade some EEW boys over the Gladesville.Even though we won the Premiership,it just didn't seem the same,and if you asked the EEW boys I'm sure they would feel the same.The following year we couldn't get the numbers for 2 sides,and the Dave Batten era was over,but they were a great 4 years.Old Bloke,the guy your thinking of that played at Ryde Rsl was John Begovic.Your right,he was probably the most talented player I had played with,but unfortunately he loved a drink.I can still see him dribbling through the whole side and scoring in a game at Meadowbank,only for the goal to be wrongly disallowed for offside,no wonder he drank????????????????

mark alphabet
wrote on 27-Mar-17 22:04

Some great posts and a lot of good memories To old bloke and recollections Ryde RSLwere premiers and champions in 1984 and after being promoted jn 1985 were champions and losing semi finalists in the state cup the same year.The team was made up of mainly ex state league players who played at a high level.Meadowbank and North Epping were very competitive and had some skilful players.The team had 3 or 4 ex croation state league players including John Begovich who definiteley liked a drink.Unfortunateley the club folded and players went to different clubs.In the 90s epping eastwood were very strong and some still play in the over 45s.Eastwood St Andrews had some good sides in early to mid 2000s and Kenthurst more recently.

OLD BLOKE
wrote on 28-Mar-17 19:07

Great to read from fellow team mates from Ryde RSL .... G'day Simmo! Up for another season after relegation from 35/1's with Normo. At my age it's getting tougher, but when its in your blood, you cant give it away. My son plays Prems for Normo and he thinks his old man is slowing down but we played on game of Prems together season before last...he then went for a beer and I went for a radox bath! Happy new season to all!

recollections
wrote on 18-Apr-17 17:04

Craig Simmons, a great post. I think I played against you when I played at Beecroft during the early 1990's. Simmo and Zanolla ran the midfield. The games against pre-Batts Gladesville were more competitive than those later on. Beecroft were perennial strugglers and when the drop came in '96 it did in a big way - think Stoke City 1985. We didn't have the cattle to field a competitive reserve grade side and we should have pulled the pin in late '95 when Dippa, Adrian Marcerola, Fabio Marcerola, Gino Isoardi, Duncan Clark and Mark Upfold pulled the pin. I remember scoring one of the best goals of my life at Cheltenham in a 1-6 loss against GRL. Barney was in goals. We could have lost by more. In my opinion Morrison five was the best ground to play at. Peel was good too. I hate to imagine how good Ryde RSL would have been on a decent ground! I saw Ryde RSL win the Premier League Two Grand Final at LH Waud in 1984 one- nil against the YMCA B -team. My older brother played for the YMCA in the reserves. I played at the YMCA for 15 years prior to moving to the Wombats. That B team merged with the A's in 1986 to form a great YMCA team that won the CoC's at Parklea against Kissing Point. I saw that one too. Kissing Point finished with nine players. The semi against Liverpool Albion at Tempe was a classic 4-2 in extra time with the late Andy Ferris scoring a bicycle kick. There are some photos on FB of this CoC win and the Epping FC website has some photos of an earlier AA CoC win in 1982. Meadowbank United are but a distant memory. I remember them playing at West Epping Oval in their Leeds United away kit in the early '80's. They were a fading side by the mid-1980's with high levels of skill and low levels of mobility. They were tough though and liked a drink. Anyway massive respect to all the old timers who hop on here for a look. Kind regards Theo

Gerrard Mc Colgan
wrote on 14-Sep-17 13:08

U keep saying who cares, all these players are part of a history ! that u dont seem to have ! Will be interesting to see, when ur time is up. What u have achieved ????

Craig Simmons
wrote on 23-Oct-17 22:07

Great post Theo It's a pity we don't have any photos to go with all these posts.Can't believe you only got one past Barney Cheers Simmo

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