Late 50's
Early 60's |
- The home ground of Sylvania Heights Soccer Club was Canberra Oval.
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| 1962 |
- Sylvania had outgrown the field and moved to Box Road
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| 1963 |
- Arthur Bannister and Tony Knight led a break away group to form a new soccer club back at Canberra Oval. The Sylvania Heights' committee called the break away group a pack of bunnies which inspired Arthur and Tony to affectionately name the club the "Gwawley Bay Bunnies".
- Although only 3 teams were needed to form a club, the Gwawley Bay Bunnies kicked off with five very competitive teams.
- Joan Knight (Tony's wife), made all the uniforms while Tony and Arthur provided the funds to purchase all the equipment and nets needed to operate the club. The canteen and ground control was located in an open fronted tin shed near the roo ball field, next to the big gum tree
- Every week the canteen manager brought the drinks, chips and confectionery from home and set up a table in the shed to serve from. At the end of the day they were all packed away and taken home until the next home game.
- Bay Bunnies won the "Once A Year Marchpast".
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| 1964/5 |
- Over the next year or two, as the club began to grow, players were charged six pence per game to play. This money was put towards paying for lighting of the field so teams could train at night.
- Players and their parents were very enthusiastic about their new club and were keen to assist in raising funds for the club. Every Mother's Day a tent was set up next to the tin shed and from the tent fresh home cooked cakes, bunny badges and other items were sold to raise money
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| 1970 |
- Gwawley Bay fielded our first women's team wearing purple hotpants, white skivvies and ribbons around their socks. 1970 was also the year the Gwawley Bay Bunnies changed their uniform from brown to purple.
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| 1971 |
- The Gwawley Bay Bunnies again won the Marchpast in 1971 winning six gold medals and one silver.
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| 1972-85 |
- The seventies and eighties only saw the spirit of the club soar as our junior teams won Champion of Champions in consecutive years and our all age team won the Champion of Champions, NSW State Amateur Cup and the Frank Tyrell Trophy. It was also the time our number one son, Graham Arnold, left our club to pursue a successful career overseas, becoming captain of the Socceroos and representing Australia in four world cups.
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| 1986-2000 |
- The next fifteen years saw the Gwawley Bay Bunnies win competitions in almost all grades, as the club continued to be competitive and the players and members continued to show their loyalty.
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| 2000 |
- The Gwawley Bay Bunnies give up their title and become known as Gladiator. Again the uniform changed into what it is today.
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| 2006-2007 Summer |
- Summer Soccer was run for the first time. A total of 46 teams in 5 grades (including 2 womens grades) played 18 rounds on Tuesday nights under lights in what turned out to be a great comp.
- Funds from the Summer Soccer competition were used to upgrade the ground lighting.
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If you have any additional information, photos, facts, or stories about the soccer club at Gwawley Bay, please send an email to the webmaster or President.
