Mitchelton FC

After 83 years, Mitchelton finally got promoted to the highest competition in Queensland, the Brisbane Premier League for the 2004 season.

The senior men's team win the Capital League 1 title by 11 points to gain promotion to the Brisbane Premier League Some of the pioneering families of the district played soccer but due to World War 1 the club was not officially registered Mitchelton Soccer Club registered/founded The team then known as the Black Diamonds won the YMCA Inter-suburban Cup in 3 consecutive seasons Establishment of a Mitchelton Junior team A meeting called by Fred Gray, his father and George Green was held on a footpath under a convenient street light.

The outcome was a team of youngsters, known as Mitchelton Rovers, who wore white shirts with blue trim, being formed.

The club continued to play on Bell's Paddock (Mitchelton Oval) but by the late 1960s, it was obvious that the ground could not accommodate the club's growth and the field was not suitable for the playing of good football because of its slope from Samford Road towards the train line and the lower end of the rugby league field.

Action had to be taken to identify a suitable new home ground and a Sub Committee was established under Ross Black to oversee the search.

Another member of his committee was Duncan McDonald, a qualified surveyor, whose expertise in laying out the new fields was to prove invaluable.

Other fundraisers to keep the club going were the Miss Junior Soccer competition, Annual Fete, Brook Hotel Raffles and a stall at the RNA Exhibition.

Activities included were Senior and Junior Soccer, netball, rugby league, touch football, and cricket.

Foundation members of the Sports Club were: Terry & May Anderson, Frank & June Barrett, Kevin S Jones, Arthur & Merle Heiner, Glen & Dianne Stevens, Lois Clark, Graham & Gwen Barker, Alberto & Maria Bartilomo, Col & Ros Ivey, Warren & Shirley Beasley, Andy & Ada Thompson, and Edna Jones.

The objects of the organisation were to provide and maintain playing fields and amenities at Teralba Park and promote, foster, support and encourage soccer and other approved sports.

Only a small layer of topsoil remained and this required the Club to undertake further remedial work to bring the ground up to it present high standard.

Teralba Park provides one of the largest areas of playing fields in Brisbane and the Club can look forward to further growth in the future.

Due to problems with the lease and construction of a bank protection wall to stop land erosion, building had to be halted.

Mitchelton was coached by Syd Tucker and the team line-up was as follows: Dave Mewburn, Ian Perry, John Coffey, Michael Hayes, Neil Orford, Ritchie Shortman, Peter McDonald, Greg McDonald, Garth Jones, Phil Cruse, Ross Denny, Barry Anderson, Graham Morey, and Dave Gallagher.

A highlight of the day was the arrival by helicopter of England and Everton striker, Bob Latchford accompanied by Jim Hermiston and Ron Smith.

Mitchelton played the first play-off game at Teralba Park and won 3–0 courtesy of goals from Matt Hendra, Damian Pilat and Peter Josey.

The members of the team which won promotion to the top division for the club after 83 years in lower divisions were: Rob Coulter, Adam Pilat, Dave O'Reilly, Erik Musiol, Peter Bancroft (coach), Matt Hendra, Jason Poggi, Jason Roberts, Peter Josey, Matthew Jones, Keith Shaw, Daniel Timms, Andrew Balzat, Andrew Poyser, Damian Pilat, Andrew Hendra, and Nick McCallum.

An independent panel of representatives from the sports industry assessed nominations in each award category against key criteria to select the finalists.

He said that Mitchelton Sports Club exemplified good management practices by effectively delivering a range of programs and initiatives to improve services to members.

The club was commended for developing a strategic plan to improve its management practices, to be more competitive, and to grow its business which contributed towards its senior soccer being promoted to the Premier League.