BFNC History

The Bonbeach Football Club was established in 1961 by Foundation members Max Campbell and Lindsay MacKinnon. These two gentlemen sought local council assistance and found Councillor Harry Willmott more than willing to back the concept and with a bit of pull in the community, agreed to take the role of President These gentlemen entered a Bonbeach U/17 and Senior team in the Nepean football League for season 1962. They had little funds to work with, but with Harry's influence managed to secure shared tenancy with St.Chad's Baseball Club's newly opened Army Nissan Hut Clubrooms. They then sought use of Carrum's old Blue and Gold hooped jumpers to use in its first season and also appointed Charlie Beck to coach the U/17's and former Inverloch player , Max King to Capt/Coach the Seniors. Max King's appointment was a most significant one to our club and also the League's as his influence would later be recognised to being a League President, Interleague Coach and a League Life Member. Max capt/coached the first five years, winning two B&F's, but his dedication and disciplines would effect everyone that passed through the club as it became evident that most decisions were his doing. Most notably when funds allowed, the selection of our red,white and black guernseys in 1963.

While Max did the majority of recruiting players, the committee recruited more helpers, most notably, Harry Curr, who relieved Max Campbell as secretary and held down that position and other executive roles for twenty years. Funds were achieved mainly through the work of Eileen Stewart selling hot dogs out of a caravan, later with the assistance of Mary Salter, and eventually forming a Ladies Committee to form and control the greatly appreciated canteen operations in years to follow.

Many of the early senior players had already finished their careers, but would play on to see the club stabilise and enter a Reserve team in the NFL inaugeral season of 1965, which was coached by Sam Newman, whom would win the League B&F award but unfortunately lost the Grand final by 3 points. Premiership success came first to our 4th's 18 in 1967 and again in 1969 as U/17's. By the end of the 60's, through the guidance of Wally McGolrick as President we were out of the Army Hut and into our own "tin shed" rooms. Wally and his committee also organised our first social rooms at the back of the tin shed and was instumental in seeing BFC to its now familiar club rooms in 1976/77 and led us to our most successful era. The club further strengthened when Don Ferguson and Brian Ades joined the committee relieving some terrific workers before them, safe in the knowledge that the club was in capable hands for some years ahead.

BFC played in 6 Grand finals from 1977 to 1984, winning 3 Senior Premierships in 1979 coached by Gary Mackay, 1982 coached by Greg Couglan and in 1984 coached by John Airdre, but our first senior success was our Reserve team in 1977 coached by John Romeo. There were many great players that had come through the club by this stage, in particular dual NFL B&F winner Tony Wearne, triple Premiership player Peter Salter, club favourite Shane O'Donnell and the aging evergreens Don Taylor and Peter Luff who both have been with the club since it's enception, to name just a few.

By 1985 Bonbeach was promoted to the MPNFL but 3 seasons later returned to Division 2 of the now combined Leagues and started to rebuild again. In the early 90's we saw finals action again under Chris Bull's coaching but by 1996 the club was stuggling for survival. A move to the new Northern division proved to be an unpopular one as we struggled to attract players. This and some financial problems and even a threat to lose the small suburb's identity in a name change by the council seemed to further strengthen the tight community club. A Peter Hogan led committee saw the club back on the Peninsula platform and with the continual support from the Capp family & Al De Young saw the financial position turn for the better. Many past players added further support with Paul Radcliffe coaching the Seniors through the difficult times and "Swanny" Russell relieving "Hoges" as President A new era was soon upon us as a John Romeo led a support group called "Shark Attack" see us into a new guernsey and a new club emblem, SHARKS.

The club recruited George Gorozidis, and in four seasons amassed over 600 goals, beating John Coleman's record held since 1946 with 180 goals in season 2002. This sparked terrific interest with the kids flocking to whichever end "Gora" was kicking to and helped strengthen our association with Chelsea YCW Junior Football Club. Jason Cahpple returned to coach the seniors to 2 Grand finals with Steven Capp coaching the Reserves to a Premiership in 2004 and then again in 2007 in our current Peninsula division. The team is in it's fourth season in this division under the leadership of Damian Carroll and 1st Lady Jacky McLean.

One of the most exciting aspects at the Bonbeach Football Club is the continual regenerating of familiar family names from earlier eras further bonding us as a proud "Family Club"

Recent history to be added soon.

Go Sharks