It was in late 1974 that the first approach was made to have a school oriented soccer club. The occasion was the St Patrick's Primary P & F meeting for parents of new school children to commence in 1975.

I raised the question why our boys were made to play rugby league (Girls were not considered at this time) and why there was not a soccer team. I was told that if I wanted Andrew to play soccer I had to start a team outside the school sports or join an existing club.

After that meeting several parents came to me and suggested that we form our own club and call it St Patricks. These included Kathie Collins, Felix Melinz, Joe Ams,

We formed a committee and set about finding out what was required.

At that time, all clubs in the area played in the Nepean District competition, against teams as far apart as Blacktown, and Winmalee.

We attended a meeting of the Nepean Association, and learned that to form a junior team we had to have a senior team, this of course was out of the question at this time, so after further meetings and discussions the teams in the association agreed to an amendment in the by laws to allow our club to be formed, and to take part in the 1975 competition.

We had to make up a constitution and committee, prepare a playing strip, (which we got the week competition started), and find a ground. We shared the Dan Avenue ground with Spartans for a while.

To reduce the costs for parents in the early part of the club, we made the shorts black, so that they could wear their school sports shorts and school socks.

We managed to get one team together, comprising of Michael Collins, Andrew Clarke, Michael Adams, Paul Gatt, Michael Melinz, Chris Ams, Robbie Slater and several others whose names escape me, the manager was Kathy Collins and the Coach Felix Melinz.

It was nothing to have to be at a ground in the Blue Mountains at about 8.30 am to play a game, or to be marking the pitch at 7.30 with frost on the ground, so that when the frost melted so did the markings.

We finished in the lower regions of our division, but agreed to carry on the next year, when we formed two teams. Joe Ams coached and Sylvia Clarke was the manager of the second team.

We could not have done what we did without the help of Blacktown Spartans, and in particular Gordon Spencer and Harry Hoff.

We met with some opposition within the school especially from Br Bernard, Principal Patrician Bros at the time, and the Rugby League faction, although the school did allow us to meet on the premises and to use the school to source players.

However with the help of parents and friends we prospered, and grew into the great club it is today.

The second year of operation, I joined the Nepean Association as Assistant Secretary, a position I held until we helped to form the Blacktown Assn, where I assumed the same position for another couple of years, until Andrew had stopped playing due to his asthma.

We have had several notable successes in this period and have enjoyed an enviable reputation amongst the clubs in the association.

We had several occasions where we short of funds to buy new strips but we survived, with the help of friends and sponsors.

I have appreciated the help of the various committees, sponsors and friends that have supported the club throughout the years and helped to make it one of the premier clubs in the district, and one that has won acceptance not only within the school system but throughout the Blacktown District.

Tony Clarke…..life member