The History of Yamba Football Club
The inaugural meeting of the Yamba Soccer Club was held March 13, 1985. Present at this meeting were Gary Anderson, Margaret Anderson, Jean Bultitude, Brian Lowder, Sandra Churchill, Jim McDonald, Rick Sawa, John Verstappen, Vic White and Cathy Lanser. Tony Ridgway from Maclean came along as an advisor. The format of the teams was decided with two U/6-7's, an U/8, an U/9's, an U/10's and an U/12's. At the first A.G.M on March 25, 1985 the following committee was elected.
President - Vic White
Vice President - Roger Cutting
Secretary - Cathy Lanser
Assistant Secretary - Lyn Mortimer
Treasurer - Roger Cutting
Team Members were:-
U/6-7's - Coach: Steven Neill . Manager: Rick Sawa . Sponsor: Rick Sawa/Fishing Haven Caravan Park
Harley Rowlison, David Howell, Luke Baker, Peter Howland, Israel Ey, Ben Lowder, Matthew Neil, Mark Sawa, Brynn Fanning.
U/6-7's - Coach: Lyn White . Manager: Sandra Churchill . Sponsor: David Wiseman
Scott Carlin, Jay Churchill, Megan Elder, Ben Bushell, Adam Cutting, Daniel White, Stephan Killen, Woody Jack.
U/8's - Coach: Jim McDonald . Manager: Michelle Stout . Sponsor: Denis Greig & Co
Scott Pass, Mark Verstappen, Jason Purcell, Luke Shulver, Trent Mortimer, Tom Stout, Bradley Davis, Nathan White, Ryan Neill, Trent McDonald, Paul McDonald, Shonee Jack, Grant Bruinsma.
U/9's - Coach: John Hollington . Manager: Brian Lowder . Sponsor: Tom McDondald
Jeremy Walters, Sacha Batcheldor, Brad Hollington, Christopher Elder, Matthew Black, Brendon Andrews, Dylan Clark, Daniel Roberts, Jason Lowder, Simon Lowder, Clinton Killen, David McDonald.
U/10's - Coach: Mark Pass . Manager: Margaret Anderson . Sponsor: Gary Anderson
Mark Van Der Veer, Guy Sheed, Tane Ingram, Craig Anderson, Adam Gregory, Cameron Hall, Mathew Carlin, Dean Oalbiuk, John Howland, Michael Tolson, Gerard Auston, Peter Dickson.
U/12's - Coach: Yarra Opalniuk . Manager: Cathy Lanser . Sponsor: Bill Coote Yamba Glass
Glen McDowell, Steven Toyer, Mark Bultitude, Lyn Bultitude, Nathan Black, Darren Marsh, Jason Hall, Craig Van Der Veer, Arran Coote, Steven Gimbert, Murray Eather, Jacob Pritchett, Simon Opalniuk, Keith Ford.
Goalkeeper Shirts Sponsor: Nev & Jan Ingram
IN 1985 THESE PLAYERS, ALONG WITH THE COACHES, MANAGERS AND COMMITTEE, WERE THE FOUNDATION MEMBERS OF THE YAMBA SOCCER CLUB.
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SIGNIFICANT DATES IN THE HISTORY OF THE "YAMBA FOOTBALL CLUB"
1985 - 65 registered players - foundation year.
1990 - Player registration tops 100 for the first time - 109 registered players.
1991 - Yamba Soccer Club hosts the U/14 State titles which was contested by five representative country teams and the top three Sydney Metropolitan teams.
1993 - A Yamba senior team was formed and took part in the CRSA night competition. This team had amongst it's members, former Yamba Juniors Wesley Stojko and Craig Anderson and was coached by Terry Wratten. This team were Minor Premiers and Grand Final winners.
1996 - Improvements made to Yamba's home ground. Four new senior goal posts ($4400), Lighting of main field ($2000),Drainage work completed on the rest of the complex.
1998 - Yamba hosts the U/13 State Titles which were held over the June long weekend and was contested by 11 teams.
1998 - Formation of a Senior Team - "Yamba Breakers" sponsored by the Yamba Bowling Club. Foundation members of the Yamba Senior Team were:- Terry Wratten, Wayne Sutton, Terry Gould, Ashley Wall, Barry Plater, Brendan Wall, Mark Purcell, Anton Sluyters, Mick Shlack, Scott Hardman, John Eichorn, Josh Dinham, Toby Wingad, Jamie Hopley, John Solyenka, Phil Caldicott, Max Burrows.
1999 - Yamba Breakers senior team wins it's first CRSA (Clarence River Soccer Association) grand final against Wooli (6-1)
2003 - Yamba Breakers senior team wins CRSA grand final in the All Age (A.A) Division
2005 - Yamba Breakers senior team wins CRSA grand final in the A.A division against Maclean Bobcats (3-2).
2007 - Formation of a second senior team. Yamba F.C fielded senior teams in the 2nd & 3rd division of the North Coast Football (NCF) competition.
2008 - 193 registered players in the Senior and Junior divisions. Both senior teams made it through to the 2008 semi-final series, with both teams falling just one game short of grand final appearances.
2009 - Yamba Soccer Club officially changes it's name to "Yamba Football Club" to reflect the name change of the sport throughout Australia. 2009 also sees the launch of the Yamba F.C internet website "yambafootballclub.com".
Yamba F.C registers a record 215 players for season 2009.
2009 - Yamba F.C 2nd division takes out the minor & major premiership. Yamba 2nd Division won the NCF Grand Final 2-1 against Sawtell at the Coffs Harbour International Stadium. For the first time in the club's history, Yamba F.C earns promotion to Premier League for season 2010.
2009 - For the first time in it's history Yamba FC form a Youth Team. Team competes in the U/20 'Football Far North Coast' Summer Youth League which ran from Oct - Dec 2009. Foundation Players of Yamba Youth Team were: Ramy Loveridge (Capt), Travis McDonagh (v.c), Harry Rosnell, Jack Schulze (gk), Jack Woods, Haydn Rice, Ayden Galvin, Peter South, Evan Rice, Chloe Smith, Jake Douglas, Jordan Bonner, Sam Marrot, Ethan Durrington. Yamba's two over-age players were Jason Bosward & Rod Menzies (gk).
