The Foundation Years
North Epping Rangers Football Club was formed in March 1963 at a meeting held in the vestry of All Saints Church in Malton Rd, North Epping. This meeting was attended by five or six fathers and a handful of boys, under the guidance of the President and Secretary of the Gladesville Hornsby Football Association (GHFA).
Three North Epping teams took the field on the first Saturday in April 1963, dressed in school shorts and T-shirts, proudly displaying the distinctive tangerine and black. The first teams were the under 8’s, under 11’s, and under 13’s. The enthusiasm of players and parental support made it clear that North Epping had the potential for rapid expansion and development of junior football in the district. In fact, the club fielded six teams in the second season, and nine the following year.
The Foundation Committee
President: Doug Lewis
Secretary: Alex Rolston
Treasurer: Cec Doyle
Coaches: John DeGioia and Duncan Macdermid
Netball Joins the Club
The netball section was formed when Daphne Baker realised that, after the success of football in 1963, 1964, and 1965, there was nothing for girls in the area. Daphne approached the Ryde/Eastwood Women’s Basketball Association, which was willing to take teams. An ad in the NEPA (Nth Epping Progress Association) newsletter attracted 23 women and girls to a meeting. Mrs. McGuigan offered to coach the anticipated two or three teams. Within one afternoon, 56 girls arrived at training, and they entered eight teams in the 1966 competition. This number grew over the years; by 1974, there were 35 teams.
The foundation netball committee:
President: Daphne Baker
Secretary: Barbara Farrell
Treasurer: June Purnell
The committee originally approached the football club for permission to play as a combined club, but this was voted against at a football meeting in March 1966. However, the meeting granted permission to use the club’s name and colours of tangerine and black. The football club also helped purchase the first roll of material to make the netball uniforms.
On 11th September 1967, Daphne and her group won a two-year battle when it was agreed that the football and netball groups would amalgamate.
On 9th October 1967, the North Epping Rangers Sports Club came into being.
Growth and Community
In those early years and well into the 1970s, all club uniforms for both football and netball were made by parents from material purchased by the club. There was no car park and no tennis courts; spectators would often drive up and watch the game from their cars, parked around the football field.
In 1971, the club purchased a caravan for use as a canteen for football at North Epping Oval and for netball at Woods Street. That same year, the AGM authorised a fortnightly newsletter to ensure information on all sections of the club was available to members. Thus, “The Score” was started and is still produced on a fortnightly basis today.
Woods Street was originally used for netball, and later, two football fields were added, providing five netball courts and two football fields. In 1977, the club was advised that netball could not be played at Wood Street, so the netball section moved from Ryde/Eastwood Netball Association and joined the Hill District Netball Association.
The club grew extensively, enhancing its facilities and services. In the early seventies, a Youth Group was formed, holding various functions and activities for teenagers in the area. In the late ’60s, a Cricket section was formed and competed in the Hornsby Districts competition until the early 1990s. In 1972, the club formed a Little Athletics section, with competition running from September to February at Pennant Hills Park. A Ladies Auxiliary was formed in 1973, helping with fundraising and conducting social events for the ladies of North Epping.
During these years, the club fielded around 28–30 football and netball teams, representing about 300 families and 550–600 players. Today, 40 years on, we have around 28 football and 25 netball teams.
Facilities and Traditions
For over eight years, the club had been approaching Hornsby Council for the erection of a clubhouse or community centre. Initially, Wood Street was proposed as the site. In 1975, the clubhouse was finally erected at North Epping Oval, as an extension of a basic amenities block that then existed at the oval.
In September 1974, some 500 football and netball players took part in the first Presentation in March. The teams marched to the stirring sounds of the Epping District Scottish Pipe Band. Excitement was high as the teams, each with their individual team banners, gathered at Rowley’s corner shop (Cnr Malton and Norfolk) and prepared to march. The line of marchers eventually stretched three-quarters of a mile (about 1200 metres). The normally quiet streets of North Epping on a Sunday afternoon were alive with bright uniforms and happy faces as local residents lined the route to cheer players. A crowd of 600 or more spectators was at North Epping Oval, where the players were awarded a club pennant. At the completion of the day, the club distributed free hamburgers and drinks to the children.
Prior to this traditional march, which is still going strong today, Family Picnic Days (Presentation Day) were conducted at St Ives Showground. These picnic days, held at the completion of the competition, involved the whole family with various novelty races.
In 1980, negotiations with Hornsby Council were resolved successfully, and tennis courts were started and completed in 1981. The courts were officially opened on 31st March with an exhibition match, concluding with afternoon tea. The erection of the courts substantially enhanced the club’s Tennis Section, which had been operating for many years with competitive tennis teams playing in a local competition. The tennis courts were built where the grass netball courts were previously located.
At the same time, North Epping Oval was greatly improved with the laying of turf on the slopes on the Woodridge side of the oval.
In 2002, the club formed its first all-women’s teams to play in the Gladesville Hornsby North West Sydney Women’s Football competition on Sundays, registering teams in the Under 11’s, Under 16’s, and All Age.
Association Honours
In its 30 years of association with Gladesville Hornsby Football Association, the club has been well represented in its decision-making structures, and our members have been recognized for their contributions to sport in our area. North Epping Rangers officers who have held positions in GHFA include:
- 1969–1970: Geoff Lee was President and made a Life Member in 1972
- 1977–1980: Laurie Lynagh was President and made a Life Member in 1980. Laurie was also Treasurer from 1983–1987
- 1983–1986: Jim Forest was President and made a Life Member in 1986. Jim was also Vice President in 1982
- 1988–1990: Mark Payne was Treasurer and in 1991–92 Secretary
- 1996: Gordon Slimmon was Vice President
- 1999: Steve Colquhoun was awarded the Association Medal
Club Life and Traditions
Ladies Jogging Club
In 1971, Daphne Baker formed a Ladies Jogging Club with about 40 women who used to jog around North Epping Oval in the summer months on Monday nights. Even then, the Council could cause problems, and Daphne was initially refused permission to use the oval.
In the sixties and early seventies, the netball section was always reported in the minutes as Women’s Basketball.
Old Registration Fees
Year 1974
Family Registration – $7.00
Non-Dependant Player – $3.00
Weekly Fees:
up to Under 10’s – 30 cents
11–16’s – 40 cents
17’s and over – 60 cents
Netball – 30c
The 1980 AGM voted to allow girls to play football in all teams.
Presentation Awards
In the 1970s, Mr. Ted Whitfield donated all the Club Pennants that were presented to the players.
Club Trips
In 1973, a relationship was established with a club in Wellington (NSW), under which football and netball teams would visit and play games. Players were billeted out for the tournaments. This was a reciprocal arrangement, with Wellington visiting North Epping every second year.
President Shield
In 1973, the club decided to present a Section’s Shield to the football and netball teams who had scored the most goals within the club. Les and Bob Watton of the BP North Epping donated the original shields. This award is still presented today.
Nothing Changes
In 1990, ID Cards were brought into play by GHFA. It was noted that registration now took longer due to obtaining photos from all players, especially All Age teams.