Talked about for 20 years, the much anticipated history of soccer in Singleton 'The Round Ball', will be officially launched on Saturday, July 15.
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Written by Michael ‘Mick’ Akrill a passionate soccer supporter especially of the Singleton Strikers both their senior and junior divisions. Mick has been a player, referee and coach of the game he loves.
He has been very busy this year completing his history of Association Football in Singleton and hopes as many of the game’s past and present players, family and friends are able to come along to the launch to the held at the Royal Hotel, George Street, Singleton from 10:00am.
“I am hoping locals will tell as many former players and supporters, who live out of town, about the event as it would be great to see everyone come and join us for the launch and catch-up and enjoy a few stories from the past,” he said.
In his introduction to the book Mick says the ideal to write the local history of soccer started about 20 years ago.
So it has been a work of love and patience and a great deal of research and fact checking.
“The story tells of a plan to enter two teams of boys in the Maitland Cessnock competition in 1971,” he writes.
“It has grown from those early plans to where in the 2017 competition the senior section of the club has ten teams and over three youngsters are playing the game.”
In those early days the teams were formed under the auspices of the Singleton Police Boys Club- only boys were allowed or perhaps wanted to play.
Where there was once independent senior and junior clubs in 2015 they joined to form a united Singleton Strikers Football Club however there was still two independent senior and junior committees.
Mick spent a good deal of his time researching the book through archive copies of the Singleton Argus both in hard copy and on the Singleton Library’s micro-film
He wanted to thanks everyone who assisted him in his labour of love including David Andrews – his first editor and also Andrew Griffiths, Noel Maher, Peter Robinson, Andrew Hobson and Duncan MacDougal.
From 1971 through to the present day the books at sells for $20 is chock full of photographs and team histories and results.
Its is truly a celebration of soccer, its players and officials in Singleton.
Among the highlights for the club is outstanding performance of former goalkeeper Warren Gillespie who played 344 first grade games plus 88 games and still counting for the clubs over 35 side.
Louise Nichols
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
