Photo: A couple of badges of Eastern Suburbs SC and Clarence City from the 1970s and 80s. [Courtesy of Steve Omant]
The history of Tasmanian football has always
interested me.
I recall filming a game at the Domain Number 3
ground in about 1972 between Eastern Suburbs and Harimau, the reserve side of
Malaysian Tigers.
The footage is not great as it was filmed with a
Bauer wind-up movie camera using Standard 8mm colour film.
I only filmed a few minutes of the game as a spool
of Standard 8 film had a running length of about 5 minutes.
That footage is now available on Youtube if you’re
prepared to look for it.
To my surprise, I was recently contacted by Stephen
Omant, who, after attending Rose Bay High School, began his senior career with
Eastern Suburbs Soccer Club, which was founded in 1971 and was in existence
until 1980.
The club then became Clarence City in 1981 until
1984.
Photo: Clarence reserves of 1982 at Wentworth Park. Back Row (L-R): Stephen Omant, Nigel Grainger, Colin ?, Mike Szabo, Martin Sloane, Peter ?, Karl Schwesinger. Front Row (L-R): Terry Potter, ?, Derek Wills (Goalkeeper), Peter Krause, Karl Schwesinger's son. [Photo courtesy of Steve Omant]
A breakaway club from Eastern Suburbs in 1978 was
Phoenix, who also lasted until 1984 but are still a lower-league social club
now.
Barnstoneworth broke away from these clubs in 1996. Chris Hindmarch, a founding member, passed
away a week ago aged in his early 70s.
They originated from one of the reserve teams and
still exist today, while in 1997, a new club Clarence United was formed.
Clarence United latest iteration is as Clarence
Zebras, formed in 2019 when Clarence United and Hobart Zebras merged to form a
new NPL Tasmania club.
Photo: Eastern Suburbs senior side in 1974 at South Hobart. Back Row (L-R): Peter Pearce, Mike Barter, Ian Morrisby, Peter Lakin, Klaus Eleveld, Patrick 'Paddy' Gibson, Stephen Omant. Front Row (L-R): Steven Grainger (Goalkeeper), Bob Risk, ?, Syd Cairns, Michael Walker, Michael Page, Jim Atkinson. [Photo courtesy of Steve Omant]
Stephen Omant has provided me some historical photos
of Eastern Suburbs.
There are some names missing in the line-ups and
readers may be able to provide these missing names.
Photo: Eastern Suburbs SC Division 2 Knock-out Cup side at KGV Park. Back Row (L-R): Michael Walker, Peter Nunn, Mathew Eastman, John Geappen, Mike Barter, Michael Murtagh. Front Row: Stephen Omant, John Glancy, Andrew Eastman, Malcolm Allen, Grant Hall. [Photo courtesy of Steve Omant]
Photo: The Eastern Suburbs SC shirt from the early 1970s. [Photo courtesy of Steve Omant]
Photo: The Eastern Suburbs badge showing the club was founded in 1972. [Photo courtesy of Steve Omant]*****
The merger between the non-existent Hobart City (disbanded
in 1991) and Beachside has been approved at the Beachside AGM.
I had posted a detailed article about this merger
late last month, but apparently some people were not happy and I was asked to
take it down, which I did.
I have since heard that the merger has gone ahead
and the new club even has a badge and a playing strip for the 2022 season.
How this merger will work, I have no idea.
I am presuming that some former Hobart City people
will provide money and Beachside will provide the players.
I asked for quotes form some of the leading lights
in the merger proposal, but nothing has been forthcoming.
So, good luck fellas. I hope it all works out. I never was asked to re-publish the story,
but it’s now old news anyway.
*****
Clarence Zebras have signed South Hobart fullback,
Marcus Eugster.
He was unable to command a regular NPL berth at
South Hobart and decided to move across the River Derwent, as did South Hobart
striker, Sam Tooze.
Clarence Zebras commence training on Thursday, 2
Decemeber, under senior coach Franco Previdi.
*****
South Hobart’s senior NPL goalkeeper Nick O’Connell
has moved to Queensland to join A-League club Brisbane Roar’s Academy.
I wouldn’t be surprised if his replacement is young
Queenslander Indigo Sharp.
Sharp came down for trials with South Hobart a year
ago before being sent on loan to Metro for the 2021 season.
He got plenty of experience there in the Southern Championship
and may well be recalled by South Hobart, where Nathan Reid is reported to be
content to play in the Southern Championship because of his study and work
commitments.
*****
Former South Hobart assistant coach, Peter Savill,
has been announced as senior coach at Northern Championship side Northern
Rangers.
Savill, one of the most experienced players and
coaches to have ever graced the game in Tasmania, will be in his second stint
with Northern Rangers.
Savill played for England Schoolboys and was an
apprentice at Leeds United during Brian Clough’s short tenure there in 1974.
Savill came to Tasmania in the late 70s as an import
for Launceston Juventus.
