Balgownie Junior Football Club

Formed in the early 1950’s Balgownie Junior Football Club has a proud tradition and association with our local community and in the last few seasons has had over 600 registered players.

History shows the Juniors Club was formed from a Balgownie Public School team playing in a school district competition in the late 1940’s and into the early 1950’s.

Balgownie Rangers Football Club

Our senior club, Balgownie Rangers Football Club, is the oldest running registered soccer club in Australia. The club was formed in 1883 and played against other social clubs and also between Balgownie teams. In 1890, Balgownie Rangers Football Club was officially registered to play in the newly formed NSW Football Association.

There has recently been some conjecture regarding our claim as the oldest continuously running soccer club in Australia. Just to clarify things, Balgownie was the 5th club to form in Australia. Granville, Arcadians, Kings College and one other club formed a few years before 1883. Since then all of these clubs have ceased to exist with Granville being the last to fold in the early 1980’s, making Balgownie Rangers Soccer Club the oldest registered running soccer club in Australia.

The club is full of tradition and has produced many famous soccer players over the years. These include James ‘Judy’ Masters (who is listed in the Soccer Australia Hall of Fame), Tom Thompson, Dave Ward and Frank Smith in the early 1900’s, George Barlow in the 1950’s and more recently Matt Horsley, who went on to captain the Wollongong Wolves, win 4 National Soccer League titles and also represent Australia. Matt retired from professional football after finishing as captain of Perth Glory during December 2005.

Judy Masters

James William “Judy” Masters (21 May 1892 – 2 December 1955) captained the Australia national association football team in five matches in 1923 and 1924. Masters was recognised as one of Australia’s best players of his time. In over 400 club and representative games he was never cautioned. He first captained the Balgownie Public School team at the age of 12. He then joined Balgownie Rangers Soccer Club in 1904, gaining selection for the senior side at the age of 15 in 1907 after being coached by Tom Thompson, and played alongside Dave Ward and Frank Smith.

Masters went on to captain Balgownie Rangers, South Coast FC, and received representative honours with New South Wales (who he first played for in 1908 when 16, at inside-right), then Granville and Newton after enlisting at the Liverpool barracks before departing for service at Gallipoli and in France. He led an AIF team which was formed in France after the Armistice in 1918.

When he returned to Australia, Masters rejoined Balgownie in their undefeated 1921 championship side.

Masters appeared 22 times for Australia including six full international matches. He was captain of Australia five times in full internationals. His first match for the national side came in 1924 in a B international against a Chinese Universities team on 8 August, when he scored four times. He was captain of Australia in: five games against the Chinese Universities team in 1923, all five tests against Canada in 1924, and three games against FC Bohemians Praha of Czechoslovakia in 1927.

Honour Roll of past Presidents, Treasurers and Secretaries

**Wishes not to be named

Honour Roll of Life Members

*Deceased (some details yet to be updated)