At the beginning of 1973, there were two soccer clubs operating in the Albury-Wodonga area, Albury United and the Wodonga Falcons. Both clubs had senior men’s and under 16 boys’ teams playing in the North Eastern Victoria Soccer League, which was based in the region surrounding the Victorian town of Shepparton.
In late February of 1973 at the AGM of Albury United, Bill Luders, who had only just moved to Albury, was disappointed to discover that there was only one junior soccer team in the whole of Albury. After this meeting, he was approached by Hans Laramee and Mike Smith about starting a local soccer competition. Both men were aware of some discontent among players due to the travel involved in the north eastern league, and there was also great interest in expanding junior soccer in Albury. They decided to organise a steering committee to look at the possibility of forming a soccer competition to be located in Albury-Wodonga.
The committee included:
- Mike Smith as chairman,
- Ian Barker as secretary,
- Jimmy McKinven as treasurer,
- Hans Laramee as senior players’ coordinator,
- Bill Luders as junior players’ coordinator, and;
- Frank Bannister Snr as referees and judiciary coordinator.
The group met at Hans Laramee’s home each Wednesday night for six weeks and eventually a constitution was written. The group was ready to call a public meeting to launch a new soccer association early in June, 1973. The association was later to become known as the Albury-Wodonga Soccer Association (AWSA).
In late May 1973, an advertisement was placed in the Border Morning Mail calling on all children interested in playing soccer to gather at Melrose Park, Lavington.
It was a pleasant surprise for everyone when 36 children presented at Melrose Park. It was decided to develop a zoning system to form teams and distribute the players evenly across Albury. Children residing in Lavington were to be called Melrose Park Rangers with Hans Laramee in charge. The players residing around North Albury were organised by Frank Bartazzo and attached to his Lavington Soccer Club, which was based at Glen Park. Children living south of North Street were to be looked after by Tony Ratcliffe and Bill Luders and were later to become known as Albury Hotspurs.
Ian Barker, a well known Dean Street pharmacist and generous benefactor of many sports in the Albury area, purchased three sets of t-shirts from a local store which were used as playing strips for the new soccer teams. The only colours available in that quantity of t-shirt were purple, green and orange. The purple shirts were given to the Melrose Park Rangers’ players – explaining the origin of that club’s current colours. Green shirts were allocated to the Lavington players and Hotspurs used the orange shirts but changed from orange to their current gold colour later in that year.
With the success of the junior soccer games each Saturday morning at Melrose Park, there was now the move to start a senior competition. The idea was to develop the senior teams on the junior club structure which was now operating at Melrose Park.
A meeting of members of the south team met at Jim McKinven’s house during June 1973. They decided to adopt the name Albury Hotspurs Soccer Club and to wear gold because it was a colour that was visually very strong and was recognised as the colour of success. Ian Barker seconded a number of players from Albury City Hockey Club to help form the first Hotspurs senior men’s soccer team. Other senior teams formed at this time included Melrose Park Rangers (purple), Lavington (red), Twin City Wanderers (sky blue/maroon) and Albury Rovers (red/black).
In early June 1973, a meeting was held at the Boomerang Hotel and the AWSA was formed, with Albury Hotspurs having a significant presence on the new association through Ian Barker (secretary) Jim McKinven (treasurer) and Bill Luders and Tony Ratcliffe as vice-presidents. The AWSA was to affiliate with New South Wales Amateur Soccer Association later in 1973.
The first senior games in the newly formed AWSA were played on Sunday, 1 July 1973. The competition consisted of the five teams previously named, plus a sixth team known as the Presidents Xl, formed by players unattached to an existing club. This eliminated a bye for the competition. Most games were played at Melrose Park, with some games played at Jelbart Park and also at Aloysius Park later in the year.
The foundation year ended with the AWSA having 64 registered senior players and 35 junior players. The association was to grow extensively in the next few years.
The inaugural winners of AWSC competitions held in its first year in 1973 included:
- Minor premiers: Albury Rovers
- Grand final winner: Lavington SC
- Grand final runners up: Melrose Park Rangers
- Runner up: Melrose Park Rangers
Past Committee Members
President – Mark Leman
Secretary – Karen Rannie-Milne
Treasurer – Nigel Semmens
Registrar – Gary Holt
Recorder – Tony Cigana
High Performance – Simon Randall
Resources – Kiera Hayes
Football Operations – Terri-Anne Scott
Administrator- Bree Kusic
President – Greg Scott
Secretary – Karen Rannie-Milne
Treasurer – Nigel Semmens
Registrar – Gary Holt
Recorder – Tony Cigana
High Performance – Belinda Mathews
Resources – Vacant
Football Operations – Nico Mathews
Administrator- Bree Kusic
President – Greg Scott
Secretary – Jacqui Hawkins / Tony Cigana
Treasurer – Darin Fitzsimmons
Registrar – Gary Holt
Recorder – Tony Cigana
High Performance – Belinda Mathews
Resources – Karen Rannie-Milne
Football Operations – Nico Mathews
Administrator- Lachlan Simpkin
President – Mark Leman
Secretary – Belinda Westerlo
Treasurer – Gregg Scott
Registrar – Gary Holt
Recorder – Tony Cigana
High Performance – Belinda Mathews
Resources – Karen Rannie-Milne
Football Operations – Nico Mathews
Administrator – Lucille Brown
President – Mark Leman
Secretary – Gary Holt
Treasurer – Gregg Scott
Registrar – Kara Newman
Recorder – Tony Cigana
Development Officer –
High Performance – Belinda Mathews
Resources – Karen Rannie-Milne
Football Operations – Nico Mathews
President – Mark Leman
Secretary – Gary Holt
Treasurer – Greg Scott
Registrar – Kara Newman
Recorder – Tony Cigana
High Performance – Belinda Mathews
Resources – Karen Rannie-Milne
Business Operations – Chris Stern
Football Operations – Nico Mathews
Development Officer – Sam Gray
President – Mark Leman
Vice President Business Operations – Chris Stern
Secretary – Chris Pidd
Treasurer – Rad Sredojevic
Registrar – Belinda Martin
Recorder – Tony Cigana
Vice President Football Operations – Nico Mathews
Vice President External Operations – Vacant
Vice President Resources – Vacant
Vice President High Performance – Simon Randall
MPIO – Vacant
President – Mark Leman
Vice President Business Operations – Chris Pidd
Secretary – Kiera Hayes
Treasurer – Rad Sredojevic
Registrar – Belinda Martin
Recorder – Tony Cigana
Vice President Football Operations – Nico Mathews
Vice President External Operations – Vacant
Vice President Resources – Vacant
Vice President High Performance – Simon Randall
MPIO -Fiona Smith
President – Jacqui Finlay / Simon Randall
Secretary – Kiera Hayes
Treasurer – Rad Sredojevic
Registrar – Belinda Martin
Recorder – Tony Cigana
Vice President Football Operations – Nico Mathews
Vice President Resources – Ian Belgre
Vice President High Performance – Simon Randall
MPIO – Fiona Smith
President – Jacqui Finlay
Vice President Business Operations – Damian Morrison
Secretary – Kiera Hayes
Treasurer – Rad Sredojevic
Registrar – Chelsea Nhansana
Recorder – Kerryn Anderson
Vice President Football Operations – John Mahoney
Vice President External Operations – Damian Morrison
Vice President Resources – Vacant
Vice President High Performance – Simon Randall
President – Craig McDonald
Vice President Business Operations – Garry Brew
Secretary – Kiera Hayes
Treasurer – Rad Sredojevic
Registrar – Marie Brew
Recorder – Marie Brew
Vice President Football Operations – John Mahoney
Vice President External Operations – Leonie Yates
Vice President Resources – Vacant
Vice President High Performance – Gemma Noordewier
President – Colin Johnson
Secretary – Garry Brew
Registrar – Kiera Hayes
Vice President Resources – Sharyn Ryan
Vice President Business Operations – Craig McDonald
Treasurer – Marie Brew
Recorder – Kiera Hayes
Vice President External Operations – Leonie Yates
President – Colin Johnson
Vice President – Garry Brew
Secretary – Mario Mangion
Treasurer – Marie Brew
Registrar – Alison Koschel
Recorder – Sharyn Ryan
Vice President Football Operations – Rick Koschel
Vice President High Performance – Mark Leman
Member Protection Information Officer – Louise Scheidl
Minute Secretary – Stephen Hayes
Vice President Business Operations – VACANT
Vice President External Operations – VACANT
Vice President Resources – VACANT
Disciplinary Administrator – Tony Barlow
President – Craig McDonald
Vice President – Jason Fitzpatrick
Secretary – Garry Brew
Treasurer – Marie Brew
Registrar – Alison Koschel
Recorder – Mario Mangion
Vice President Football Operations – Rick Koschel
Vice President Business Operations – Robert Brown
Vice President High Performance – Dave Smith
Vice President External Operations – Neal Kelly
Vice President Resources – Vacant
Disciplinary Officer – Tony Barlow
President – Craig McDonald
Vice President – Stephen Hayes
Secretary – Karryn Bradbury
Treasurer – Jacqui Finlay
Vice President Coaches – Wayne Fraser
Vice President Reps – Neal Kelly
Vice President Women – Dave Smith
Vice President Development – Wayne Fraser
Registrar – Garry Brew
Recorder – Marie Brew
Disciplinary Officer – Tony Barlow
President – Craig McDonald
Secretary – Karryn Bradbury
Treasurer – Jacqui Finlay
President – Stephen Hayes
Secretary – Jenny Barlow
Treasurer – Jacqui Finlay
President – Stephen Hayes
Vice President (Senior) – Frank Bonacci
Secretary – Jenny Barlow
Treasurer – Jacqui Finlay
Vice President (Development) – Mark Leman
Vice President (Coaches) – Criag McDonald
Vice President (reps) – Sue Rixon
Vice President (Ladies) – Wil Mollisson
Registrar – Garry Brew
Recorder – Marie Brew
Disciplinary Officer – Toni Barlow
Riverina Development Officer – Tim Wilson
| President | Secretary | Treasurer | ||||||
| 1973 | Mike Smith | Ian Barker | Jim McKinven | |||||
| 1974 | Tony Ratcliffe | Ian Barker | ||||||
| 1975 | Tony Ratcliffe | Ian Barker | Mike Smith | |||||
| 1976 | Tony Ratcliffe | Ian Barker | Mike Smith | |||||
| 1977 | Tony Ratcliffe | Ian Barker | Brian Harbick | |||||
| 1978 | Tony Ratcliffe | Ian Barker | Michael Gibb | |||||
| 1979 | Tony Ratcliffe | Ian Barker | Ron Stolk | |||||
| 1980 | Bill Graham | Ian Barker | Manfred Batasek | |||||
| 1981 | Bill Graham | Ian Barker | Manfred Batasek | |||||
| 1982 | Gene Lydick | Ian Barker | Manfred Batasek | |||||
| 1983 | Gene Lydick | Ian Barker | Fred Morse | |||||
| 1984 | John King | Ian Barker/Jill King | Fred Morse | |||||
| 1985 | John King | Fred Morse | Fred Morse | |||||
| 1986 | John King | Fred Morse | Fred Morse | |||||
| 1987 | John King | Fred Morse | Fred Morse | |||||
| 1988 | John Milton | Fred Morse | Frank Martin | |||||
| 1989 | John Milton | Fred Morse | Fred Morse | |||||
| 1990 | Chris Davis | Fred Morse | Jeanie Bridgman | |||||
| 1991 | Chris Davis | Fred Morse | Jeanie Bridgman | |||||
| 1992 | John Milton | Fred Morse | Jeanie Bridgman | |||||
| 1993 | John Milton | Fred Morse | Jeanie Bridgman | |||||
| 1994 | John Milton | Fred Morse | Jeanie Bridgman | |||||
| 1995 | John Milton | Fred Morse | Jeanie Bridgman | |||||
| 1996 | Mike Randall | John Nemeth | Grahame Gowland | |||||
| 1997 | Mike Randall | John Nemeth | Grahame Gowland | |||||
| 1998 | ||||||||
| 1999 | ||||||||
| 2000 | John Nemeth | Tony Vukasinovic | ||||||
| 2001 | John Nemeth | Tony Vukasinovic | Jacqui Finlay | |||||
| 2002 | John Nemeth | Tony Vukasinovic | Jacqui Finlay | |||||
| 2003 | Steve Hayes | Jenny Barlow | Jacqui Finlay | |||||
| 2004 | Steve Hayes | Jenny Barlow | Rad Sredojevic | |||||
| 2005 | Steve Hayes | Jenny Barlow | Rad Sredojovic | |||||
| 2006 | Steve Hayes | Jenny Barlow | Rad Sredojovic | |||||
AWFA Life Members
Ian Barker (Deceased)
Tony Barlow
Ian Belgre
Frank Bonacci
Marie Brew
June Duell (Deceased)
Wayne Fraser
John King (Deceased)
Rick Martin
John Milton
Vince Pica
Tony Ratcliffe (Deceased)
Brian Schreiber
Harry Wright
Jenny Barlow
Carla Bau
Franco Bertazzo
Garry Brew
Ron Cotterill (Deceased)
Jacqui Finlay
Stephen Hayes
Mark Leman
Cobb Millyn (Deceased)
Fred Morse
David Pye
Sue Rixon
Carlo Villani
Tony Cigana
Fiona Smith
Scott Kidd
Update February 2023
AWFA Hall of Fame
Archie Thompson
Josh Kennedy
Stephen Hayes
Wayne Fraser
Mark Leman
Sal Verde
Ian Belgre
David Pye
Darrel Mills
Harry Wright
Vince Pica
Bill Luders
Hans Laramee
Nick Andronicos
Carlo Villani
Cobb Millyn
Franco Bertazzo
Ivan Janissen
Ian Barker
David Anthony (Tony) Ratcliffe
Jennifer Barlow
Amy Chapman
Sheena Storrie
Sam Sgarioto
Scott Kidd
John De Luca
Tony Barlow
Angela Iannotta
Update February 2023