A big presence in the south-west of Sydney, the club now known as the Camden Cats in the AFL Sydney competition is this week’s NSW/ACT Club of the Week.
Camden Senior Australian Rules Club was originally formed in 1983 but re-established in 1996, fielding First Division and Reserve Grade sides in the South Coast AFL Competition up until 2007.
The Club was originally known as Camden Power, playing at the Kirkham Park ground. A move to a new ground at Fairfax Reserve Harrington Park in 2003 saw immediate results with the Club winning the Knock Out competition and the First Grade Premiership that year. A further premiership followed in 2005.
The club successfully applied to join the AFL Sydney competition in 2008, fielding sides in Second and Fourth Division. The change in competition necessitated a change in name and playing strip with the club now known as the Camden Cats, with a unique stylised jumper. Each year in the Sydney competition the Club has steadily improved its playing strength and improved on-field results.
Camden also boasts a very successful junior AFL club, playing in the Greater Western Sydney Junior competition.
President James Glynn has been involved with the south-west club since the 1980s.
“The Camden football club has always attracted spirited people; men and women who just love the game at all levels and want to see it grow in Macarthur,” he said.
“That’s what I discovered when I first trundled out to Kirkham Park, Camden to pull on the blue and white.
“Camden back then was a quiet country town, and the club reflected that atmosphere. We played for the joy of having a Sherrin to punt on a Saturday, and we were not overly prone to dream too much about Premierships.
“To be sure, there were some lean years.
“Old hands will tell of the time we drove to Manly in the rain to be pounded by 300 points to 1.
“These were days when had insufficient player strength to fully man two sides. So imagine being belted in reserve grade in the wet, only to run out again and be pounded again in first grade.
“Fast forward to 2013 and the club is very different.
“Camden itself is booming, the Camden junior club is vast, and the Camden Cats are doing everything in their power to harness that regional growth.
“Moreover, the skinny kid in the back pocket in the rain against Manly in the 1980s is now the club President.
“We are planning this year to reunite our 2003 Premiership team and the club is in the hunt to make big statements again in the Sydney competition.
“In 2012 both our sides were finalists (Div 2, Div 5) and we hope to repeat that in 2013.
“This year we have also brought with us for the first time ever Under-18s, in the shape of the Macarthur Giants.
“What I’m proudest of at Camden is the family atmosphere. We are not sure what is in the water but there has been a baby boom in the club over recent years and we make a point to where possible to welcome each new arrival, claiming each under an assumed father-son (daughter) rule.
“We celebrate each win in song, but we also celebrate personal milestones.
“I believe footy is on the cusp of a boom in Macarthur, so keep your eyes focused on the far flung hamlet of Camden.”
Last Modified on 30/05/2013 16:01
