The
vision of establishing a Greek Football Club with its own identity, unite the
youth within the Parramatta and surrounding suburbs, and forge life long
friendships, dates back to the early 1970's. In 1974 it had formed its first
committee, and, having registered the Club under the name Hellas Parramatta, it
entered the Granville & District Soccer Football Association competition in
1975 with five teams (U8’s, U11’s, U13’s, U16’s and an All Age). Our equipment
and uniforms (brown and yellow) was originally donated by the Bankstown Crest
Soccer Club. (Mr George Thomas)
Parramatta City Council through our founding members granted the Club a home ground. This ground was PH Jeffery Res (Barton Park), North Parramatta, an ex garbage tip. With their assistance in providing soil and turf, voluntary members and supporters converted the groundsinto one full size playing field. With the stability of a home ground and office premises at the Parramatta Greek Church, in Hassall St, Parramatta the Club began to grow.
It attracted further members, and over the following years increased the number of registered teams with Granville and Districts Soccer Football Association. We temporarily relocated to Granville Park, Merrylands whilst Council undertook some ground upgraded the facilities at PH Jeffery Res (Barton Park), North Parramatta.
For a number of years the Club sought a more stable/permanent home ground due to its growth and again with Parramatta City Council’s assistance the club was granted Eric Primrose Reserve, Rydalmere by 1980. Once again the ground was one of Council’slocal garbage tips and lacked facilities.
With Council’s approval, our members (led by John Dimos) commenced construction on temporary dressing rooms and storeroom. The club utilised one soccer field, which ran parallel to Parramatta River at the northern end of the ground.
During the early 80’s the Club began to prosper. It changed its strip to blue and white to reflect its Greek heritage, and entered the NSW State League competition in 1982.
In the following years, as government grants became available, Parramatta City Council constructed new facilities at the ground, including:
Further upgrading was performed on the lighting and a second ground was utilised, both fields running in N - S direction. The car parking facility was also extended to accommodate for our growth. Our club had to meet funding some of these projects by also providing members funds.
As the Club continued to thrive it registered teams in NSW State League competition along with NSW State Youth League, and NSW Cadet League teams. This was necessary to accommodate and compliment our playing talent. We have been competing under NSW Soccer Federation since 1982 at senior level.
By mid 1990's,membership / playing numbers exceeded 300, and with multiple championships already won, including the NSW State League Senior, Youth, and Female teams including many at local level within the Granville Association. In 1982, 1989, 1995 and 2011 the club was also the Granville and Districts Soccer Football Association champion club.
Over the Club’s history the name has changed several times, from the original Hellas Parramatta in the 70’s, to Western District Hellas Sporting Club in the early 80’s. In October 1992 it changed to Parramatta City Sporting Club Incorporated, and finally in October 2010 to Parramatta City Football Club Incorporated.
Since it's humble beginnings at PH Jeffery Reserve, North Parramatta, with a total of five teams, today, Parramatta City Football Club has teams playing grassroots football from Under 6 to Over 55's and everything in between, including Premier League.
Players who commenced with the Club as children are now in the Senior teams. Just like their parents who supported them and proudly watched them take the field, they too are doing the same with their children. For they too will forge life long friendships and become the future of this proud Club which will celebrate 50 years in 2024.
Founding Committee
NAME |
POSITION |
Mr John Dimos |
President |
Mr Annivas Giannou |
Vice President |
Mr Jim Nikolitsas |
Secretary |
Mr George Salahoris |
Treasurer |
Mr Alex Zotos |
Public Relations |
Mr Aristidis Bonovas |
Equipment & Uniforms |
Mr Theo Antoniadis |
General Member |
Mr Spiros Belthikiotis |
General Member |
Mr Zois Kiritsis |
General Member |
Mr Jim Kominos |
General Member |
Mr John Papadopoulos |
General Member |
Mr Bill Trahanas |
General Member |
Mr Bill Tsoukalidis |
General Member |
Founding Committee at a social function , " Yugoslav Hall", Granville. Circa 1975
Bill Tsoukalidis, Aristidis Bonovas, Bill Trahanas, Spiros Belthikiotis, Theo Antoniadis, George Papadopoulos, John Koimanis*, Fr Nicholaos Tsouloukidis*, Alex Zotos, John Dimos, Anivas Giannou, Jim Nikolitsas, Zois Kiritsis
* Non comittee member
First all age team 1976
Back row: Con Koimanis,Stefanidis, Jocelyn, Theo Antoniadis, Rocky, George Koimanis, Bill Tsoukalidis
Front row: Michael Koimanis, Jim Dimos, Arthur " Tourkos", Michael Kavouras, Con Bonovas.
U8's at our original home ground, Barton Park. Circa 1977
From October 1992 the club was known as "Parramatta City Sporting Club Inc" and then October 2010 it changed it's name to "Parramatta City Fc Inc" which remains today.
Granville &
Districts Soccer Football Association is recognised as the oldest
football association in the southern hemisphere operating since 1882 when a group of Scottish steelworkers
from the Clyde Steelworks, along with other English and Welsh migrants, formed
the first soccer club in Australia called Granville Soccer Club. This
Club initially played at Brunton's Paddock (currently the site of Granville RSL
Club) and adopted the colours of black and white stripes. The use of the black
and white strip led to the club being affectionately known as the
"Magpies", and the magpie emblem was adopted some years later leading
the club then to be known as Granville Magpies.
In
1902, the Granville Football Association was formed,
incorporating the above club as well as a number of other 'clubs' that were
typically a single team representing a local company, and the Association
adopted the black and white colours and magpie emblem of its founding club,
which continues today.
In
order to operate successfully, GDSFA has developed various goals with the focus
being on continual improvement and growth of players within as well as new
players entering into our Association. Movement
towards such goals has now become a reality with Parramatta FC and Lady Hawks
now falling in under the GDSFA banner.
We now have the ability to offer the youth in our surrounding districts,
both female and male, a pathway for progress to a higher standard of football.
In
addition, GDSFA have instituted various strategic competition changes for the
2012 season.
2012
will see the introduction of a Men’s Super League competition as a transition stage
between the current Senior competition and Premier League. The adoption of this new level within the competition
will allow for the promotion and relegation to and from Premier League and as a
result has the potential to lift the intensity of Premier league
The
ladies competition will undergo a name change.
Previously, AAL Division 1 was the highest graded level within the
ladies competition. From 2012 this level
will now be known as Ladies Premier League. However, unlike the Men’s Premier
league squad format, the Ladies competition will not operate with a Reserve
grade in its first year. A squad based female league will be pursued in the
near future. The Association regards
this simple name changes as a way to lift the profile of ladies football and in
return it hopes to attract players who have recently left the FNSW WPL and WSL
competitions
The
GDSFA Board wishes all clubs, players and supporters the best for the coming
seasons.