Year

Key Points

2009

• The club grows again marginally, and fields 973 players in 67 teams
• The club has another successful season on the pitch, with 6 x championship pennants and 2 x runners-up pennants won, from 37 teams that challenged for honours:
• Champions:
  • Boys U15As in FFV Boys South 15A (coach: David Gates)
  • Boys U14Bs in FFV Boys South 14B (coaches: Crawford Fulton & Alan Boyd)
  • Boys U12As in FFV Boys South 12A (coach: Artur Kirichian)
  • Girls U12As in FFV Girls Metro 12A (coach: Mark Deady)
  • Boys U11A2s in FFV Boys South 11 Kangaroos Red (coach: David Efron)
  • Boys U11B Jets in FFV Boys South 11 Joeys Orange (coach: Craig Dick)
• Runners-up:
  • Girls U16Bs in FFV Girls Metro 16B (coach: Peter Osbourne)
  • Boys U12B Pumas in FFV Boys South 12B (coach: Greg Avdoulos)
• The FFV extends its re-branded "Small-Sided Football" format all the way to Under 10s, and Brighton SC happily adopts the new format, although we continue to keep our sub-juniors involved in weekly fixtures with the other Bayside clubs, rather than the FFV's model which would see "SSF" mostly in-house with occasional Gala Days involving other clubs
• At the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 27 Oct 2009, a new Committee is elected, led by Mike Roberts as incoming President

2008

• The club intentionally shrinks by about 15% and fields 925 players in 64 teams
• Floodlight problems (we suffered in semi-darkness for much of the season and were forced to use a smaller-than-planned area of Dendy Park for training) as well as the ongoing impact of the drought result in two pitches being 'decommissioned' during the season, causing all sorts of fixturing headaches
• Despite this, the club has its most successful season on the pitch, winning 5 x championship pennants and 5 x runners-up pennants, plus various trophies at sub-junior level:
• Champions:
  • Boys U18s in FFV Boys Metro 18 Orange (coach: Oscar Gonzo)
  • Boys U16As in FFV Boys South 16A (coaches: Michael Manson & Tony Calle)
  • Boys U13Cs in FFV Boys South 13C (coaches: Crawford Fulton & Alan Boyd)
  • Boys U11As in FFV Boys South 11 Kangaroos Green (coach: Adam Austin)
  • Girls U11As in FFV Girls Metro 11A (coach: Mark Deady)
• Runners-up:
  • Girls U16As in FFV Girls Metro 16A (coach: Robi Vranic)
  • Boys U15Bs in FFV Boys South 15B (coach: Simon Trumble)
  • Boys U14As in FFV Boys South 14A (coach: David Gates)
  • Boys U12As in FFV Boys South 12A (coach: Zane Bowen)
  • Boys U12Bs in FFV Boys South 12C (coach: Peter Burns)
• Our U9 academy team sweep all before them once again to win their age group at both the East Bentleigh competition and the Castlefield Shield, for the third year running
• The FFV abandons their familiar GoalKick program in favour of the new "Small-Sided Games" format for Under 7s and younger, which proves to be very popular at Brighton SC
• The club continues its change of colours, with more than half of our teams wearing yellow-dark green-yellow instead of all dark green

2007

• The two old floodlight towers come down, and four new ones go up, meaning that Dendy Park is finally lit from both sides, but the impact of the drought and water restrictions is felt as the pitches suffer during the season
• The club embarks on a change of colours, with approximately a quarter of our teams wearing yellow-dark green-yellow instead of all dark green
• Team sponsorship becomes prevalent at the club, with 11 teams wearing sponsorship logos this season
• The club grows to 66 teams and 1123 participants (highest number in club's history, and very likely due to Australia's outstanding performance at the 2006 World Cup)
• The club's Mens' team is accepted into FFV's Provisional League Div 3 South-East competition, in which we compete against our Dendy Park co-tenants, Old Brighton Grammarians SC, for the first time
• Just one championship at the club this season, but it was a convincing one, with the Boys U14B Beasts (coached by Simon Trumble and Andy Ogle) winning the title in FFV Boys South 14B by a margin of 14 points, and going through the season undefeated
• They didn't win the title, but our Boys 12A Jets (coached by Peter Best) finish runners-up in FFV Boys South 12A and in doing so, became the first Brighton team to qualify for U13 Super-league
• Our Women's team, the Kestrels, finish a creditable 5th in their first season in Women's State League Division 1
• Our remarkable U8 representative team sweep all before them once again to win both the East Bentleigh competition and the Castlefield Shield again
• Off the pitch, two part-time staff are required to keep on top of the club's admin needs which include, for the first time, dealing with the FFA's onerous National Registration Requirements paperwork

2006

• The club grows to 57 teams and 1007 participants (highest number in club's history)
• The club enters senior Mens' team in FFV's SE Thirds competition, and are crowned champions with 16 wins from 18 games
• The club's flagship Women's team, the Kestrels, finish a creditable 5th in FFV Women's State League Div 2
• Not one but two U18 boys teams (coaches: Malcolm Abell, Jim Bell) compete in FFV competition, both finish Runners-up (in FFV Boys Metro 18 Orange and FFV Boys Metro 18 Yellow)
• Girls U13 Vampires (Coach: Alan Huse) - Champions FFV Girls Metro 13A
• Boys U11 Jets (Coach: Peter Best) - Champions FFV South 11 Kangaroos Green
• U15A United (Coach: Arthur Argyropoulos) - Runners-up in FFV Girls Metro 15B
• U14B Rebels (Coach: Nicky Smith) - Runners-up in FFV Girls South East 14B
• 'Rising star' award winner: Georgina Huse (U13 Girls) (no Boys award this year)
• Our U7 representative team win both the East Bentleigh competition and the Castlefield Shield
• At the Annual General Meeting on Monday 4 Sept 2006, a new Committee is elected, with Simon Trumble, a coach at the club since 1999, as President

2005

• The club grows to 51 teams and over 900 participants (highest number in club's history)
• The club enters a senior 'Masters' team for the first time, in FFV's 'Over 35s' competition
• U16A squad (coach: Steve Jenkins) becomes the club's 1st Super League team for many years
• Women's Pumas progress to Women's State League Div 3
• Former 2004 Kestrels player Rachel Stariha inducted into US Olympic Team development program
• U13 Vikings (Coach: Stefan Nybonn) - Champions FFV Girls Metro 13A
• U15 United (Coach: Steve Carey) - Champions FFV South 15B
• U13 Lizards (Coach: Simon Trumble) - Champions FFV East 13D
• U11 Victory (Coach: Stuart McCole) - Champions FFV South 11 Joeys Blue Division
• U13 Eagles (Coach: Michael Manson) - Runners-up in FFV South 13B
• 'Rising star' award winners: Garrett Lark (U15 Boys) and Alice Maxwell (U12 Girls)
• At the Annual General Meeting on Friday 9 Sept at Bentleigh RSL, the club votes to change name back to Brighton Soccer Club to reflect re-establishment of teams in Senior competition, 10 years after the demise of its original senior men's team

2004

• Committee's Peter Best drafts new constitution which is adopted - now provides for Senior teams at the club
• Turnover grows to $188,000
• Club fields Senior Women's Team - Brighton Pumas - who finish 3rd in Women's Div 4 Championship
• The club pioneers a new on-line registration system
• 'Rising star' award inaugurated - initial winners: James Milner (U15A Boys) and Danielle Aflalo (U13 Girls)
• Brighton's 'Player Development Program' proves an outstanding success
• Danielle Aflalo & Rachel Stariha represent Victoria at Sydney Friendship Games in U13 girls competition
• Club helps pioneer new U14 Girls 'Bayside Pirates' team - 5th in Gold Coast Champions Cup
• U12 Vikings (Coach: Stefan Nybonn) - Champions VSF Girls East 12A
• U16 Knights (Coach: Oscar Gonzo) - Champions VSF South 16A
• U12 Eagles (Coach: Michael Manson) - Champions VSF South 12C
• U15As (Coach: Steve Jenkins) - Runners-up in VSF South 15A
• At the Annual General Meeting, 2005 Committee is elected, led by incoming president Carey Hazelbank

2003

• Club wins grant for $200k expansion to facilities - pavilion expansion works commence
• 257% growth in Girls, 12 teams entered in girls competitions
• Club grows to 850 registrations - largest Junior Club in Victoria, turnover $126,535
• VSF agrees to start new U10 girls competition under pressure from BJSC - 3 teams entered
• Goalkick expands to over 120 participants
• The club's committee resolves to introduce grading of players in preparation for 2004 season, this is in response to the drain of best junior players away from the club
• The club's Website is launched at end of season
• 3 players - Danielle Aflalo, Stephanie Brewer & Rachel Stariha represent Victoria in U12 VPSSA girls

2002

• Club has 550 players (all juniors)
• Club seeks grant to expand the pavilion, with work due to start early in 2003
• Girls' teams expand, entering three teams in competitions for first time
• U12 Kestrels (coached by Phil Durston) win inaugural VSF U12 Girls' Championship
• At the Annual General Meeting, 2003 Committee is elected, led by president Steve Carey

2001

• The club has 450 players in Juniors, Girls and GoalKick - the biggest Junior Club in the VSF!
• Vince Princi departs Club after more than 20 years' service to form Hampton JSC
• The club expands to include fourth full-size playing field and extra U8/U7 pitches
• U12 Wolves (coached by Steve Jenkins) are runners-up in SE12C, missing Championship on goal difference
• U15 Sharks are runners-up in SE15C
• At the Annual General Meeting, 2002 Committee is elected, led by president Steve Jenkins

2000

• Club has nearly 400 players
• U14 Sharks are runners up and progress to C Grade
• U11 Falcons (coached by Paul Ekert and Simon Trumble) win Championship in SE U11 Group E, gain a spot in 12A for 2001

1999

• Club has 280 players
• Club introduces GoalKick introductory soccer program
• U18 Girls are runners-up

1996

• Brighton Junior Soccer Club is incorporated, adopts new constitution, drafted by Frank Tallarida
• Club forms a loose strategic alignment with Moorabbin SC (but Moorabbin collapses financially two years later)
• Club grows to nearly 150 players
• Enters first women's team in VWSA competition
• President Vince Princi and the Club's most senior and respected coach, Oscar Gonzo, are honoured for 20 years' service to the Club

1995

• Low Point in Club history - Senior Club withdraws from the State League Div 4 at the conclusion of Round 15 after financial collapse, finishes 14th (last) on ladder without a single win
• Brighton Junior Soccer Club continues under separate management (President: Vince Princi)
• Junior Club has 120 players, starts season with $600 in bank

1994

• Seniors finish 13th in State League Div 4
• U15A's win Championship, same team also wins Fiji U16 South Pacific Championships (Fiji) in November
• U16B SE Junior Runners Up

1993

• South American group takes over senior club, Secretary Rudolfo Cortez
• Seniors finish 8th in State League Div 4 after relegation
• Colours now Maroon Shirt & Black Shorts

1992

• Low point for Brighton: Senior Club financially collapses
• Vince Princi continues Brighton Junior Club under separate management

1991

• Seniors finish 13th and are relegated Div 3
• Reserves finish 6th in Res Div 2

1990

• The club finishes Runners-up in Vic League Div 2 but it is pretty much downhill from here for the seniors!

1989

• Secretary is again Nick Economou
• Merger begins to pay dividends as club reaches 4th position on Ladder

1988

• With J Murray is Secretary, the Club merges with Prahran City to compete as Prahran-Brighton in Vic League Div 2 and finishes 11th
• Reserves 6th
• New colours: a "Celtic" strip of Green & White hoops, White shorts and Green socks.

1987

• Seniors finish 13th in Provisional League 1. The club is at a low point. Drastic action is proposed.

1986

• Seniors finish 12th and are again relegated, this time to Provisional League Div 1
• Team entered in 'National Youth League' finishes 7th

1985

• Seniors finish 11th
• Reserves finish 13th
• Former Junior Paul Trimboli wins 'Weinstein Medal' for best junior player of the year with VSF

1984

• Seniors again finish 14th but this time are relegated to Metro League Div 4
• The club helps VSF celebrate 100 years

1983

• Seniors finish 14th but are not relegated from Metro Div 3
• Reserves also last

1982

• Seniors find themselves back in Metro Div 3 and finish 11th

1981

• Seniors 5th in Metro Div 4

1980

• Nick Economou becomes Secretary and continues in that position until 1985
• Cedric Batewell also a great contributor to Club
• Colours: Black & Blue stripes, Black Shorts & Black & Blue socks
• Seniors 4th in Div 4

1979

• Disastrous relegation yet again this time from Metro League 3rd Div as team finishes 12th

1978

• Relegation again as team finishes in 12th position after only 3 wins for the season
• Reserves win Championship
• Victoria coaching legend Bobby McLachlan also coaches at the club around this time

1977

• Senior team finishes 8th in Div 2
• Reserves - Runners up
• U9B & U11B Juniors - Runners Up

1976

• Seniors slip to 10th position
• Reserves - 7th
• U9's - Runners Up

1975

• Seniors promoted to Vic Metro League Div 2 - team is competitive, finishes 4th

1974

• The club celebrates its Golden Jubilee - 50 years of soccer at Brighton!
• Popular Ladies Committee, under leadership of Mrs Eileen Shorrock organises dances and theatre outings
• Under Joe McLean, Reserves remain unbeaten since July 1972
• Junior Chairman Mr Dave Hunt fields four teams: U10s, U11s, U12s and U15s. There is also a senior team at age 16
• Junior Social Committee is excellent fund raiser, enables all teams to be outfitted with strips - some even having a striking tracksuit top
• Top of the Club's grumbles? Lack of referees & coaches
• VSF establishes Junior Leagues Management Committee JLMC and new rules for junior soccer
• 15% increase in junior soccer recorded - but number of teams increases by 25%
• The club's grounds and new facilities are acknowledged as "first class"

1973

• Club's expenditure $2479.76: Juniors represent just $159.54 of this
• Finishes fourth in Thirds Competition
• Wins back-to-back Division Three Reserve League Championships

1972

• Club wins Reserve League Championship
• End of season trips:
  Brighton 5-0 Mt Gambier; Paynesville 6-6 Brighton (!)

1971

• The club is relegated to Third Division after unsuccessful year
• End of season trip: Brighton beats Mt Gambier 1-0

1970

• Perhaps in response to that nickname, the Club changes strip yet again, choosing black shorts
• Brighton Council starts construction of upper pavilion, which becomes Club's home
• The club enters Thirds Competition and finishes fifth
• End of season trip: Brighton beats Mt Gambier 6-2

1969

• The club adopts new colours: White shirts, socks and shorts, and is nicknamed the Lillywhites
• Brighton wins promotion back to Second Division
• End of season trip: 1,000-2,000 witness Brighton beats Mt Gambier 4-3

1968

• After a decade in the Second Division, Brighton is relegated to the Third Division

1965

• The club wins Reserve League Championship for second time

1964

• The club finishes in sixth place in Second Division
• Reserve grade team emerges as a very strong side: wins Reserve League Championship

1959

• Brighton moves again, this time back to the top pitch at Dendy Park
• The club is relegated to Second Division (the "third tier" of Victorian competition)

1958

• Brighton plays in VSF's new Premier League, but is relegated to First Division

1957

• High cost of rental at Elsternwick Park forces Club to move

1956

• Dockerty Cup semi-final: Brighton 1-1 Polonia; wins replay 1-0 - the first game marred by pitch invasion
• Runners-up in Dockerty Cup for fourth time (to Hakoah, who win their 4th in a row)

1955

• Arthur Scott again represents Victoria vs NSW and China

1954

• The club shifts to Elsternwick Park and plays in fully enclosed ground
• Senior team is Runner-up to Hakoah in Dockerty Cup Final
• Over £1,000 raised in one season, by Ladies Committee running Soccer Queen Carnival

1952

• The club wins Dockerty Cup for fifth time, beating Juventus 5-0 in the Final. Team: Scott, Parvin, Drummond, S Thomas, Cullen, Dickason, Wilson, Devlin, Walker, Balabanski, McKenzie
• Midseason, Brighton is in third place in the First Division
• U19s: Brighton tops the ladder
• U17s: Brighton A tops the ladder, Brighton B is eighth
• U15s: Brighton A tops the ladder, Brighton B is 12th
• U14s: Brighton finishes third
• Club financial balance at start of season: £18

1951

• Brighton's Arthur Scott plays representative Soccer for Victoria vs SA

1949

• First internationals join Club
• The club wins the First Division Championship for the first and only time in its history
• The club also wins the Reserves Championship
• The club colours change to black and white hooped jerseys and socks and black 'knickers'
• The club is nicknamed The Spiders
• The club wins the gold braided pennant of the Lightning Carnival in Adelaide
• Alex Barr is elected to the Australian squad
• Estimated Crowd of 1,500-2,000 at a senior game
• £9 entry fees in 2/- pieces collected in a collection box

1948

• Most successful year in the Club's history, with five trophies won:
  First team - finishes third on ladder
  Reserves - wins Reserve Cup and Reserve League Premiership
  U19 team - wins Junior Cup, U19 League Championship
  U17 team - wins Salthouse Cup
  Club Expenditure: £472 17s 1p
• Secretary Don Bingham, Mr Finney and Mr Shingles resign and form a new club, Sandringham City

1947

• Five teams in different leagues: First Division, Reserve Division, U19, U17 and U15
• Don Bingham (Cap't) and stalwart of the club since schoolboy member in 1926, becomes our first Socceroo: Alex Barr and Norm Good also join him
• Reserves win League Premiership
• U19 win Junior Cup
• U19 and Reserves go to Launceston

1946

• Post-War, and many former players rejoin the Club
• The club starts a longstanding interstate friendly against South Australian club Kingston

1944

• Brighton wins Dockerty Cup for a 4th time, and Harry Pritchard scores a hat-trick as the club beats RAAF 3:0 in Final. Team: Gravell, Good, Whittaker, Stewart, Bingham, Young, Pritchard, McMurray, Sharp, Maver, Sierakowski.
• Club balance at start of season: £18

1943

• The club rebuilds: annual registration fee is 3/2 (three shillings and tuppence)
• Hurlingham Park is reclaimed
• The club finishes fourth in First Division
• The club wins the Dockerty Cup won for the 3rd time, beating Moreland-Hakoah 3:2 (after replay; first final drawn 3:3). Team: Gravell, Good, Whittaker, Stewart, McOrist, Bingham, Pritchard, Marone, Sharp, Van De Pelt, Sierakowski.

1940-42

• The club temporarily disbands during war years, but Brighton's players play on, taking opportunity to play the game they love whenever possible - in Palestine, Egypt, Syria, Libya and England
• Sgt Tom King - killed in action
• Cpl Ron Grant - dies POW camp, Burma
• Cpl Duncan McDougall - dies while POW
• A/B. Jim Millar - lost with H.M.A.S. Sydney
• Seaman Ernie Toe - lost with H.M.A.S. Perth

1939

• Club wins the Consolation Cup
• Four players again represent Victoria

1937

• The club wins the Dockerty Cup for the 2nd time, beating Prahran 3:1. Team: Team: Venn, Calderwood, J Fraser, Dracup, S Fraser, Howie, Humphries, Smith, Fitzgerald, P McDougall
• Four players represent Victoria

1936

• 3,000 people attend Brighton v Hakoah at Hurlingham Park

1935

• First hot water showers installed in the pavilion at Hurlingham Park

1933

• The Club wins the Dockerty Cup for the first time, beating St Kilda 4-3 in the Final. Team: Barnes, Evans, Flemming, Cliffe, Ursell, Howie, Grant, Campbell, Wright, Smith, McDougall.

1931

• Wins promotion to First Division only seven years after creation

1928

• The club's Senior team wins promotion to Second Division

1927

• The club's first Reserve team is established

1926

• Mr Kinross, Master at Brighton Technical College, starts soccer in schools and is instrumental in the establishment of the Junior teams at the Club, thus Brighton Junior Soccer Club is born

1925

• Brighton tops the Fourth Division table, wins promotion to Third Division of the Metropolitan League

1924

• A club is born when a special meeting at the Working Man's Club forms Brighton Soccer Football Club
• Grounds are at Hurlingham Park, Brighton
• The Club plays in a maroon jersey, blue collar and white shorts
• One team enters the Fourth Division of the Metropolitan League