History

FOR GOD AND SPORT - 42 YEARS ON

The Carlingford Presbyterian Soccer Club was formed in the Winter of 1963 to provide a sporting outlet for the local youth from within and outside the then Carlingford Presbyterian Church. The Club formed part of the NSW Churches Football Federation which was raised to provide a healthy Christian framework in which children could enjoy playing soccer. The Club changed names to  Carlingford Uniting Soccer Club in line with the formation of the Uniting Church in Australia in 1977.  

In 1963 there were few sporting clubs or facilities in the local area, and consequently the Soccer Club was not only a very welcome facility but also a very popular venue, becoming the sporting arm of the Church's Pathfinders Youth Group.  The Club provided a sporting outlet for the whole local community for many years, hosting annual picnics, camps and community days. 

In our first season, the Club only had one team (the U/12s) of 17 boys ranging in age from 7 to 12 years.  The team contested 18 games, with 10 wins, 3 draws and 5 losses - a meritorious effort for a new team, particularly one with so many underage players! In the second year, the Club grew to 3 teams (U/10, U/11 and U/14) and has continued to grow over the years and today boasts a healthy 15 teams ranging from Under 6 to All Age. 

In the absence of a local soccer ground, the first team conducted its practice in the car park in front of the old Carlingford Presbyterian Church, using the border hedges to keep the balls off the remarkably quiet Pennant Hills Rd. The rugby field behind the Carlingford Bowling Club was then made available for practice under lights until Parramatta Council was convinced to convert the landfill tip in Homelands Ave into a sporting field in about 1965. Homelands Reserve with its trademark downhill slope has remained the Club’s home ground ever since that time.  It has been gradually enhanced with seating, shade trees, car park and toilet/canteen blocks over the subsequent years. The greatest change however took place in the Summer of 2000 when the ground was levelled, lengthened and re-turfed making it one of the finest grounds in the district.  Grateful thanks are due to Bradshaws Earthmoving and Parramatta Council who collectively achieved this magnificent result.

Good sportsmanship and teamwork have been a hallmark of Carlingford Uniting Soccer Club over the years, and while competition wins have been few, there are thousands of kids who have thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from playing soccer with the Club. The continuing success of the Club has been due to the dedicated leadership, support and involvement of the players parents.  This support ranges from Club Officials, Coaches, Team Managers, Canteen Managers, Groundsmen and of course as the rowdy cheering squads who have always supported and encouraged our Club teams.

We are proud to report that the sportsmanship, comradeship and spirit of fun fostered by the Carlingford Uniting Soccer Club, under the NSW Churches Football Association’s motto of ‘For God and Sport’, remains alive and well to this day.