THE AMALGAMATION

Frankston Strikers Soccer Club was formed officially in December 1993 with the amalgamation of 25 year old Karingal United Soccer Club and 6 year old Frankston United Soccer Club and Frankston United Junior Soccer Club.

Talks between some committee members from all clubs began many months before that and the main aims were to:
a) Unify fragmented soccer interests in Frankston area
b) Provide better facilities for members and their families
c) Open the opportunity of advancement for the club

Meetings were held on 6th October 1993 when the decision to amalgamate was made by majority vote by all three clubs. The final Annual General Meetings were held a short time later in support of the amalgamation.

On Friday 26th November 1993 the inaugural General Meeting of the new club was held in the McClelland Drive Clubrooms. A steering committee was formed comprising members from all clubs and this was to be the basis of the new committee to guide the club through it’s the first year. Frankston Soccer Club officially commenced operation on 1st December 1993. View newspaper article

First business of the steering committee was to create a new image for the club resulting in the name change to Frankston Strikers Soccer Club and new club colours of green and gold.

The enthusiasm generated by the merger was evident by the support being received from the Victorian Soccer Federation, the Frankston City and local Council and Government representatives, with the City Council showing their support and confidence in the new club with an extensive renovation and upgrade of the ground.

In 1995 the Frankston City completed a $120,000 restructure of the playing surface at Centenary Park which is a dedicated soccer complex of similar design to Lakeside Stadium, home of South Melbourne Soccer Club. The playing surface has been designated an "A" status by the Council and receives top priority maintenance throughout the year. The Club developed member and spectator facilities to ensure that the complex will meet all criteria for promotion through the Leagues. The complex is one of the finest sporting spectator facilities on the peninsula. View Ground Picture 1, View Ground Picture 2

The Club took the first step in reaching their aims by earning promotion from Division 4 in 1994 to State League Division 3 in 1995 where they finished the season very strongly in 3rd position. The Club won the 1996 Division 3 Premiership and finished third in Division 2 in 1997, fifth in Division 2 in 1998 and fourth in Division 2 in 1999, first in Division 2 in 2000, 11th in Division 1 in 2001 and relegated, 8th Division 2 South-East in 2002, 4th Division 2 South-East 2003, 11th Division 2 South-East 2004 and relegated, 10th Division 3 South East 2005 and 11th Division 3 South East 2006

The local community have shown their support through good attendances at home games at Centenary Park . The Club is always aiming to build it’s supporter base from amongst the local community.

Additionally, major long term commitments have been developed with several large sponsors which will guarantee the sound financial structure of the Club for the future.

The Strikers breathed a huge sigh of relief at the completion of 2006 George Hughes had been appointed coach at the latter end of the season and with a few new players had ensured that we would play in division 3 S.E. for 2007.
At the clubs AGM George announced that he had had discussions with Peninsula Junior Soccer Club re amalgamation which would guarantee a strong junior section and the possibility that some of these players would eventually play senior soccer.
This move has eventuated with great success.
The climate really hit home over the next few months no rain and all watering of grounds such as ours prohibited, the result was that the grass died and we were informed by the local council that for 2007 we would be re located to Ballam Park.
This ground had been the home of the Karingal club many years ago and was taken over by MPCA club Long Island and a great deal of work done on it so it was that we played all our matches at this venue.
Many new players had been signed and together with George and Doug Chisholms coaching we found ourselves at the end of the season at Nunnawading playing to be league champions.
Perhaps it was meant to be that on his retirement game Steve Keenan scored the winning goal.
Great celebrations went on for weeks afterwards season 2008 would see us in division 2 S.E. and due to the council having put in summer grass which is drought resistant we would return to our home ground at McClelland Drive.
Season 2008 had promised to see the continued good fortune of the club, all the club coaches both firsts and reserves had been reappointed, pre season began in December at the Monash hockey centre and all the sqaud of 2007 started training, however after the Xmas break and the start of training in January the players had changed dramatically, perhaps to much celebrating had caused players to retire or jump ship for more money at another club. George and Dougie began the process of signing replacements. Sad to say the new players could not come to terms with the higher football level. It was to be some time before we picked up points. The season did not get any better, supporters were great but rued the loss of so many players from the title winning side. The higher the league the harder it is, money being a prime factor for whom a player signs for, and so we could not attract better players able to deal with the higher class of football. The end of the season found us second bottom of the league and we would return to the third division in 2009.

2009, started in satisfaction as nearly all the players who had been in the relegation team once again put on a Strikers shirt. Added to this two players arrived on working visas from the England. Negus Henry and Steve Baxter, what a difference a top striker makes Negus became a top goal scorer whilst Steve was a good midfielder. The seventeen goals that Negus scored ensured a good season, after being relegated it is sometimes hard to get motivation going but in our fourth place finish the coaches had done just that. The club hoped now for some stability in the club the hope we could build on the season it proved wishfull thinking and as fast as one season was finishing another just around the corner the club lost both senior coaches plus a lot of players who went with them.

Billy Armour who had been signed by the club at the latter part of 2009 was appointed player coach for the coming season. It was to prove a difficult year for both coach and team. The loss of so many players in the close season, a year full of injuries saw us struggling from match to match. Billy proved a strong leader both on and off the pitch, it was to take its toll however for once it was clear the club would stay in division three Billy resigned, the club had gone through many such seasons such as this but the main thing was that we would not go down to the Provisional league.

So 2011 saw Billy Wright an ex New Zealand International appointed as coach,Billy had previously coached Nunawading also in our league and so he already new a lot about our cluib. Billy was to bring a few players with him but because of distance some left after a few weeks of first team training. Once again the usual turnover in players occurred pre season, so more players needed to be signed, and overall through the season we struggled, we had no depth and our wonderful supporter base put up with the best we could offer, they really are great supporters. Once again we finished near the bottom of the league but again we would continue to play the higher grade of football.

Jamie Skelly who had played in our title winning team of a few years ago was appointed coach for 2012. A young coach who had learned his trade as Langwarrins under 21 side coach his credentials were excellent, not only that he brought with him many good players from that club, this time they would stay for the season. It should be mentioned here that reserve stalwart coach Dave Reid was still looking after the young hopefulls in the reserve side. On reflection the season did not go to the plan that Jamie had hoped for, consistency in matches did not occur and the team at times never lived up to itself, mixed results went with us throughout the year, injuries robbed us of vital players in the wrong games. Nevertheless we reached a creditable position in the top half of the league at seasons end, our youngsters also finished near the top. Overall we hope a season we can build on in 2013.

2013
Hurricane winds were to sweep through the club pre-season Jamie Skelly assured of his position by the previous committee was ousted by the new incoming committee who thought a change in direction was the way to go.
Dave Reid was appointed coach with the view of putting out a team most of whom had learnt their soccer coming through from the junior ranks.
Jamie’s departure also saw the exodus of most of our best players in revolt at the decision to sack him. It was to turn out to be a long season, our usual highly thought of soccer on the field disappeared to alarming levels and our crowds did the same. The players on the field did their best but at the end of the season found themselves in a playoff with Sandringham to determine if we were to be relegated.
In a nail biting game we survived and everyone looked forward to a more successful season in 2014

2014
Having been reappointed for 2014 Dave Reid managed to secure some new players for the club in the opening game of the season at Seaford expectations were high and despite a loss many thought that the club could do well. It is amazing to say that when the last game of the season was reached very few of the players from this first game remained. Every game proved to be a battle with perhaps minutes to go we were in a winning positions, only to give away a goal or goals losing us vital points. For virtually all of the season we sat in the bottom two in the league. At the halfway mark of the season Dave Reid tended his resignation and Billy Rae was appointed the new coach, his approach to the players was give me ninety minute of soccer or you can leave the club. We saw an intensity of the players attitude on the park we began to pick up points. However we had perhaps left the change in coaches too late, and at the end of the season we found ourselves second bottom on the ladder and every likely hood that we would be playing in State League Three in 2015.

At the conclusion of 2014 we were looking at playing in state league three in 2015, it was with a great sigh of relief on hearing that Eastern Lions were going to join the new Victorian soccer competition the Federation had canvassed other clubs into joining the league that was now to enter it's second season, amazingly Nunawading who finished below ourselves also decided to join, the Lions move meant a vacancy would occur that we could fill and stay in the same league.
The clubs new committee also decided on appointing a new coach Craig Lewis who gained a lot of respect as a player at Strikers some years ago, accepted the challenge. Little did he know what would face him at those early training sessions very few players from either the firsts or the reserve squads from 2014 came back and in some desperation began to seek new players from contacts that he had. Players came from many areas and yes by the first game we had two teams. To summarise the season Craig established some stability in the club, again it would not be a really good season however the first eleven finished mid table which with everything that had occurred throughout the season was an excellent result. Sad to say our usually good reserve side struggled all season on some occasions not even able to field a full side. Billy Buchanan who had returned from Scotland during the year took over the coaching role when Jimmy Stewart decided to relinquish the job, both these guys were dedicated people but we simply did not have the players and we were cellar dwellers all season. The seeds however have been sown for next season and provided we can retain the majority of the players season 2016 could be a lot brighter.

The reappointment of Craig Lewis as coach, Billy Buchanan as his assistant together with two very experienced ex-players Mark Duff and Graham Watson looking after a very young reserve side the coaching side of the club looked in very good hands. Added to this was that the majority of last year’s squad were back. In the early season cup games some promising performances were put in and when the league games came around we found ourselves leading the league after the opening rounds something we had not seen for many many years. Sadly, it was all about to fall apart, games began to be lost by giving away some silly penalties and going down perhaps by just the one goal. Slipping down the ladder we found ourselves below half way on the table fortunately Sandringham and Noble Park were both having dreadful seasons and in fact they were to be relegated. We had started the preseason with over forty players however throughout the year the club were forced to axe a number of players for their non-club attitude these were older players but it gave the opportunity for some of the younger players to step up. We finished the season below halfway and on reflection perhaps our true position for the season. Off the park president Mark or Chopper Brandon has worked hard with a very small committee behind him to get us new floodlights, two new pitches behind the grandstand and grants for extending the club rooms giving us extra changing rooms and other changes which can only improve the club. We must mention the introduction of a girls’ team in the via and in their first season gained promotion our metro team also had a good year and will be looking at promotion next year. Our best called veterans team eclipsed all again and won the league and cup double, they now have won the cup for the last four occasions and five league wins in a row good soccer players who continue to do what they do best. Clayton Lee once again has been the rock at the club and once more shown himself to be a great clubman.

2017 will go down as perhaps the most disastrous season in the clubs existence, much was made pre season (something that will haunt us) that the squad of players assembled would be pushing the club for promotion. However at the end of the day we find ourselves relegated for only the second time in the clubs history.
Where did it all go wrong initial coach Craig Lewis had thought he had found not only the right players but a good balance in the squad, for the first time the club signed three overseas Visa players.
Of the three Danny and Raph who took on the captains role saw out the season with us but Leandro chose to leave us early in the season for more money from another club.
So to the downs, players injuries, player defections, poor player form, player discipline resulting in them missing games, even discipline off the pitch costing the club money and finally the change in our coach.
The ups, our president Trevor together with Ryan, Bianca and the rest of the committee did a great job off the park working tirelessly, our facilities are to be admired and second to none.
The question now on everyone's mind is how will the club react to demotion and life in State League 3
We will face some substandard grounds and the main problem of attracting players who will play at this lower level.
Can we keep our small band of loyal supporters and rebound back into the division where we belong.
All this will be answered in a crystal ball but I am not going to look.
Our club does not just revolve around our first eleven how did the rest fair over the season.
Graham Watson took on the coaching role of our reserve team, never an easy task as the game squad is never the same from week to week, this year we had a mixture of experienced and younger players hoping to make their mark at the club. Pleasing to say that several of the players did get a chance for first team soccer and hopefully we can benefit from this next year. Results were very mixed some poor team performances and then games when our true form was displayed as we always say wait till next year.
Dave McKinney is to be congratulated on all our youngsters showing in Metro 4 Division some really good performances from the team and without wishing to single out any one player mention must go to Josh Vega who scored well over forty goals in his season no doubt he will give credit to the rest of the team, a very good year overall.
Some say that mention of girls must come before boys but girls we have not forgotten you. Marty Moore once again coached the team for another season, lots of new faces this year many girls who were playing junior soccer last year came into the team squad. Playing against some very senior players we found the going difficult but never gave up even with goals going in at the wrong end, well done coach and all you girls hope to see you all back next year. Do we save the best till last perhaps not this year but our Sunday Celebrities team never ever let the club down. The Bayside team have been a benchmark for all the teams who compete in the over 35's competition their records will never be beaten, this year time caught up with many players retirements, injuries and suspensions all took its toll. Never the less although we did not do the double we certainly gave a good account of ourselves. Other clubs are now managing to field players although over 35 are a lot younger then our stalwarts, but boys thank you for flying that flag again so high for the club.

2018 Report Just how many people visit our club website managed by Laurence Hall one never knows however to point out the enormous amount of time he puts in keeping a continual record of everything relating to club personal on and off the field.
I say this because the club has used between seventy and eighty players either in our reserve side on in our first eleven side this season, four first team coaches only Graham (Winker) Watson remained steadfast in coaching our reserve squad.
To begin at the beginning once again fate was kind to us our relegation to the third division never eventuated club amalgamations clubs going out of existence insured we would again play in the second division. Needless to say this is not the first time that the gods have smiled kindly on us.
Trevor Johnston once again took on the Presidents job and together with the committee Andy O'Dell was appointed the new club coach, he had had a great career coaching Altona City and everything in the club looked rosy. We again gained Visa players mainly from the UK plus Andy brought some good players with him, Danny Brooks remained from the intake of last years Visa crop.
Brandon Park at home was our first fixture but due to our ground being unplayable due to the grass dieing off over the summer months and the council having to re turf the majority of the ground we played our first few fixtures away, but after doing all the pre season training going through several FFV cup rounds the new coach quit to return to his previous club for more money, not only he went but players went with him.
This was to be the start of many comings and goings which were to dog us for months ahead leading to the afore mentioned turnover in coaches and players. Some players stuck by the club throughout the season despite everything and I would personally thank Danny, Ossie Marsden, Ryan Thompson, Nathan Smith and Tommy Hawkins, the first four all Visa players and all must have wondered what an earth they had let themselves in for so faraway from their homeland.
Trevor was working hard to keep everything going off the pitch and must have been wondering at times where to turn next. I will not dwell to much on everything that the team did on the pitch only to say it is sad to report that many old time supporters deserted the terraces not wishing to watch what was being dished up. Salvation in the name of Jamie Skelly sacked by Cranbourne Comets he was approached to coach at Strikers he brought with him two assistants Ben Caffrey and Joe Donaghy jnr, but more importantly good seasoned players. His first game in charge saw us lose narrowly however for the rest of the season we matched any team in the league climbing out of the relegation zone and finishing in a very comfortable position. I wish I could report a happy ending to the year however Jamie was approached to take on an assistants role at nearby Langwarrin an offer he could not turn down that club being a much higher league than ourselves. Our committee have already appointed a well credentialed coach in Danny Verdun who brings with him his assistant Neil Standish, having coached an opposition team to us last season rumour is around that several of these players could come with him all we have to is to hold on to the players who saw out the season with us,that will be in the lap of the gods next years club report may well hold all the answers.
This report has centred on our first team however we did have other senior teams in action. Unfortunately a tale of woe continued in the club our reserve side finished at the bottom of their league some positives can be taken from this however as a number of players from our junior section were given an opportunity to play at the higher level and we do have some youngsters who could make the grade.
Marty Moore assisted by his manager Steve Darville faced the same situation finishing at the bottom, some quality players from last season were unavailable this year and it became a struggle for the other girls against some very stiff opposition.
I leave the worst news till last our men's Metro team were withdrawn from their competition near the end of the season causing a few arguments however it was thought it had to be done.
For the first time that I can remember we now have no representation in the Bayside competition our esteemed over 35s side had to withdraw from their league due to lack of players, but what a team they had been for the club over many many years a big thankyou to you all.
Peninsula Strikers Season 2019
This was to be our season, the appointment of the well qualified coach Danny Verdun, the signing of a number of players from his previous club Knox and some players of great ability from other clubs whilst we retained many of the previous seasons best players, it all seemed good news. Danny Verdun declared this was the strongest squad he had ever assembled and with the backing of the hard working committee everybody could not wait for the season to start. The early rounds of the FFV cup was the first hurdle to overcome, we drew an away fixture and we came away defeated, so we were to concentrate on the league fixtures. Wins, losses, draws followed us through the season, the home game against Heatherton was to be the highlight of the all our matches, a team we seldom had beaten we literally played them off the pitch. Supporters going away from the ground might well have thought this was going set us on a run which would see us gain promotion. Results after proved that it was again as in previous seasons to prove them wrong, games were lost which we should have won and some very indifferent performances were put in. On occasions with the seemingly evenness of most of the teams in the league we found ourselves near the top and then close to the bottom. At seasons end we retained our place in State League 2, looking back on the season spectators would have usually gone away happy with the brand of soccer played by the team but it was never enough. Season 2020 will soon come around and once again club supporters will be asking those same questions who will be the clubs coach and what players will be retained by the club.
Our young reserves squad could hold some future for the club as they had a very successful season finishing runners up in the Reserve League.

2020, the year that never was as far as soccer in Victoria was concerned. Early season training went well Paul Williams promoted from his position coaching last year’s reserve team in to the head coach of our first eleven put together a good squad. Some players from the 2019 side decided to further their soccer careers at other clubs, but the others remained loyal to the club. The FFV cup got under way but that was when this terrible virus reared its ugly head. The Victorian government brought in restrictions and this meant the start of the league season would be put back. An easing of the situation caused the FFV to put out dates of a possible start to the 2020 season however despite this hope that we would see soccer at McClelland Drive the virus decided to return at an even worse level than before. So that was it the season was cancelled, we can only hope that come December when training should start for the 2021 season the situation can be resolved and normal life will return. Possibly one of the easiest yearly report that we have ever written but one that I never would have wanted to write in these circumstances.

Once again COVID and new straims of it were a cause for the curtailing of yet another season of soccer. The season had started on time and the majority of the previous seasons players and the coaching staff had once again signed on for another year at Strikers. Throughout the matches played the teams results were similar to previous seasons proving to be up and down. Occasional games caused the supporters to become optimistic but in other matches we failed to match our opponents and a realisation that we were once again going to hang in to gain points. It was so difficult it must be said for the players as on occasions games were cancelled for perhaps two weeks then matches were back on the menu. However the final nail in the coffin had to happen with the games, the VSF had no choice but to cancel the season due to COVID. We must however mention our Reserve side, a team made up of youngsters many having come through our junior section and their form in the games played was tremendous, these boys certainly put their hand up to become future Strikers first team players. The VSF were to make no changes to the teams in the league all clubs even those at the bottom would hold their position for season 2022. The good news for the club was that major works on the ground would be conducted in the off season, hopefully next year we have a full season.

The beginning of season 2022 in State League 2 had many of the clubs long time supporters very sceptical of what lay ahead. Once again the clubs player personnel showed what we have been getting used to for many years now the loss of practically the whole of last seasons first team squad. The appointment of a young coaching squad and the signings of many young players proved to be just the tonic that the club needed. Nobody could have forecasted that after nearly a third of the fixtures had been completed we would see both our reserves and first team sitting on top of their respective leagues. The average age of both teams was just over twenty and with each game they played the football they played was a joy to watch. It was a shame that many of the clubs supporters were not able to see the games as our home ground at McClelland Drive was being redeveloped and the club was forced to play home matches at our junior ground at Ballam Park and perhaps more importantly with an evening kick off and games played under floodlights, for many people the cold evenings was not conducive to standing and watching games. As the season went on the league became very competitive and our lead began to fall away. Injuries to players and perhaps giving goals away in the final minutes of games cost us vital points. However we were still with a chance to finish in second position in the final games of the season alas it was not to be but the seeds have been sown for next year. The coaching staff have all agreed to return and two experienced coaches have also been added to the panel. The main thing is to see our entire squad return and perhaps the addition of a few more players. In all we shall look back on one of the best seasons the club has had for many years.

The season of 2023 will go down as one of the most successful seasons that the club has had for quite sometime. Pre season fitness training was once again carried out by Kosta Drak and perhaps this was just one reason for both the first and second teams success. In all the games both teams fitness enabled us to compete in matches right to the end of games. During the off season the club made some important signings, all the players being experienced and they would blend in well with the younger players who had done so well the previous season. It did come as a shock when Donn Delaney was forced for family reasons to resign as head coach, Scott Morrison took over the reigns and he has certainly been responsible for the first elevens high position at seasons end. Jake Priest our reserve coach was together with a young reserve side the highlight of the season, in the final game of the season when just one point would guarantee us winning the league it all came true, for the first time in thirty years a reserve side had won a Club championship pennant. Back to our first eleven who apart from a few games were highly competitive in all matches, we finished equal third with only goal difference stopping us finishing on a higher position on the league table. I should point out that we were now back at our McClelland Drive complex, having spent the previous season at our junior ground Ballam Park and playing all games under lights we were now back home, the local council having spent much on improving the pitch and surrounds we can consider that our ground could be the best on the Peninsula and certainly would compete with some of the wealthier clubs in the higher leagues. Many people are already thinking about next season, can we finally secure promotion into State League 1. Overall the standard of soccer in our league this past season had risen considerably and we proved equal to it so the seeds have been sown for next year, and so we say go Strikers.

I believe many people will look back on season 2024 as one of the most memorable in the history of the club, only two really bad results kept us from promotion to State League 1. Perhaps it was not just in matches that not only our first team players but also our young reserve team players stood out as a group of loyal clubmen, all seemed to have an harmonious spirit amongst each other. Perhaps under Scott Morrison our great young coach he had created this feeling in the club. Backing him up Adrian and his wonderful committee injected this spirit amongst everybody. Both teams on the field produced a brand of soccer that supporters of the club relished each game. Singling players out from each of our teams would possibly be the wrong thing to do for every player had a game or games that everybody will not forget. One must say that our club both on and off the field has reached a level that can only mean that we have one of the greatest clubs in Victoria for the game of soccer. Next season could see us reach the level we are good enough to play in.