A brief history of the Yarra Valley Soccer Club based on a fledgling draft titled “From Jado Dade Park to Telstra Dome”
Once upon a time – 2002 to be exact a local business woman spied a local tradesman kicking a soccer ball. She mentioned to him that her daughter and some of her friends were interested in playing soccer. The next thing she knew was the tradesman was teaching the daughter and her friends the basic skills of soccer at the local Jado Dade Park.
Their interest continued to such a degree that the female squad and tradesman coach joined the Lilydale Eagles Soccer Club and experienced an interesting season playing in the Victorian Churches Soccer Association 2003 competition. A grand total of 3 goals for the season and bottom spot on the ladder failed to dampen their spirits. They all expressed a desire to continue to play but wanted a local club of their own.
“What? ” said the cynical doubters, “A soccer club along the Warburton corridor they tried those years ago it never really took off. If you want to play soccer in the valley you have to go to Healesville.”
“We shall see about that” said the local business woman. After a while there was enough interest shown by a handful of local residents that led to The Yarra Valley Soccer Club gaining Incorporation status in October 2003. Granted entry to the VCSA season commencing April 2004 the fledgling club now needed a home and more members. A paddock was rented from the Archery Park in Launching Place which was quickly converted to a pitch and the word went out “anyone interested in joking the Yarra Valley Soccer Club should come to a training night in late January 2004.”
On the night in question about five volunteers arrived with a couple of soccer balls not really sure of what to expect. They quickly found out.
Including the fifteen strong girl’s squad, dozens of kids of all ages came from far and wide. One of the volunteers stopped counting at eighty odd. Chaos reigned supreme for about five weeks until age groups could be sorted into squads and coaches could be found to accommodate the obvious demand. On a wing and prayer the Yarra Valley Soccer Club was born and entered a total of seven squads into the 2004 VCSA competition.
The girls squad won the league and cup double that year along with the Senior Men’s squad also claiming a premiership title. By the end of the following 2005 season the club had outgrown the facilities at Launching Place and eventually secured Winter tenancy at the long forgotten Millgrove Recreational Reserve. With increased membership, major sponsorship from the local Bendigo Community Bank Warburton branch the 2006 season saw the club establish it’s identity at Millgrove. The rest, as they say, is history!
