History
The Para Hills Soccer Club was formed at a meeting on the 24th of March 1964. The aim of the club being to foster and promote the game of soccer in the Northern Suburbs. The club set the goal of playing first division soccer within 10 years.
In 1965 the club entered a team in the Sunday Industrial League (now the South Australian Amateur Soccer League). On April 4th 1965 the club played its first competitive senior game losing 3-1 against MTT with Chris Pawley scoring the first goal for the club. A new team was born.
The following year the club entered the South Australian Soccer Federation and once again the open game resulted in a defeat this time against WRE 2-1 with the first goal in the Federation being scored by Dave Barry. In 1967 the club got its first taste of success winning the 3rd Division Championship and the Rowley Cup, the team was coached through part of the season by Cliff Votier and then Alan Swadling who was also the captain.
The following few years saw the club consolidating its position and not really pushing for promotion. This changed in 1975 when the club pushed Croatia to the wire before finishing runners up.
In 1976, one year later than the clubs aim, promotion to the first division was achieved. To coincide with this, the Club left its base at Nelson Road to move down the Hills to new facilities at The Paddocks. The clubs first division campaign got off to a flying start with a 4-3 victory against Campbelltown Budapest on the new pitch thanks to a fine header from Harry McDonald. This was followed up by a 3-2 home victory against Enfield Victoria two weeks later. These proved to be the only wins of the season but the club battled through and managed to avoid relegation.
The next two seasons the club battled hard making steady improvements. 1980 was a year all supporters of the club will remember after battling all year with Croatia the league came down to Para Hills having to beat Croatia in the final league game of the year to clinch the championship. Unfortunately we could only manage a draw and finished runners up. The club got some revenge in the Coca Cola Cup for the top four when we defeated Croatia 3-0 in the final to claim the clubs first major trophy. The backbone of this team left for one reason or another but in 1983 the club was once again at the top of the table with its last home game again against Croatia needing a win to clinch the Championship. However once again the club fell at the last hurdle with defeat from Croatia ironically handing the title to there Arch rivals Beograd.
The rest of the 80s did not bring much joy to the supporters or the club with the club being relegated from the first division in 1989. The club however bounced back and was promoted at the first attempt under the coaching of Jack Braidwood. In 1991 the club finished 3rd in the league and the lost the Coca Cola Cup final to Salisbury. This was however not the start of a new era and after finishing bottom in 1993 the club was not included in the Premier League under the new set up of the Federation.
In 1995 under the leadership of ex Socceroo Charlie Villani the club had the chance to win promotion after winning the league by 6 points. The club needed to beat Olympians in the Grand Final of the play offs but once again when needed, the club failed at the final hurdle.
So under the new system a club that finished 12 points adrift of the Champions were promoted. The club had to grin and bear it and in 1998 things went a full circle when the club under the coaching of Bud Hilton the club finished 6th but due to rules relating to Adelaide City and West Adelaide were able to play in the playoffs and making the Grand Final promotion was finally achieved and justice was done. Unfortunately the return to the top division was short lived with the club finishing 11th and getting relegated