Eastern Suburbs Soccer Club
Encyclopedia
Eastern Suburbs Football Club is an Australian football (soccer)
club from East Brisbane, Queensland
, Australia
. Easts competes in the Brisbane Premier League, in both the mens and women's competitions, and play their home games at Heath Park
, East Brisbane.
. It is the most centrally located of all the semi-professional clubs in Brisbane, situated approximately 2.7 km from the city centre. The history of the club and its association with Heath Park
goes back to the 1960s. In 1969 the Easts-Aston Villa Club, a successful 2nd Division competitor consisting mainly of young players who had advanced through their junior ranks, amalgamated with the 1st Division Merton Rovers. It was the blend of experience and youth that ensured the newly founded Merton-East Football Club continued success.
The current name of the club, Eastern Suburbs FC, was introduced in September 1980 and was incorporated the same year. This most recent name change was done primarily to identify the club with a specific area of Brisbane, as well as to promote sponsorship and to differentiate the club for its prospective entry into the Queensland State League
.
Under its various guises, including Merton Rovers, Merton-Easts and finallly Eastern Suburbs FC, the club has played in 11 First Division Grand Finals and have been successful on 6 occasions.
Eastern Suburbs FC has been affiliated with Football Queensland
(formerly Queensland Soccer Federation) for 88 years.
In 2010 Easts fielded 28 junior teams. Further growth is anticipated amongst the junior membership in coming seasons as more qualified coaches join the club and Eastern Suburbs FC solidifies their leadership role in youth development in Queensland.
and the CEO of YMCA Bill Hayden
, the former Governor-General of Australia
. Throughout its history Easts have produced many players who have gone on to play international football for Australia, including Eddie Riley, Eric Patterson, Steve Dolan, Leif Peterson and Steve Perry.
Eric Ferguson
(1992–93) 37 apps 7 goals
In 2010, first team player James Meyer
signed professional forms with local A-league side Brisbane Roar.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club from East Brisbane, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Easts competes in the Brisbane Premier League, in both the mens and women's competitions, and play their home games at Heath Park
Heath Park (Brisbane)
Heath Park is a multi-sport venue located at East Brisbane, Queensland. It is home to Eastern Suburbs F.C.-Development:In 2007, the club added 6 new dressing sheds toilets along with refurbishments to the clubhouse to update what was fast becoming worn out....
, East Brisbane.
History
The club was formed in 1922, making it one of the oldest and most established clubs in QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. It is the most centrally located of all the semi-professional clubs in Brisbane, situated approximately 2.7 km from the city centre. The history of the club and its association with Heath Park
Heath Park (Brisbane)
Heath Park is a multi-sport venue located at East Brisbane, Queensland. It is home to Eastern Suburbs F.C.-Development:In 2007, the club added 6 new dressing sheds toilets along with refurbishments to the clubhouse to update what was fast becoming worn out....
goes back to the 1960s. In 1969 the Easts-Aston Villa Club, a successful 2nd Division competitor consisting mainly of young players who had advanced through their junior ranks, amalgamated with the 1st Division Merton Rovers. It was the blend of experience and youth that ensured the newly founded Merton-East Football Club continued success.
The current name of the club, Eastern Suburbs FC, was introduced in September 1980 and was incorporated the same year. This most recent name change was done primarily to identify the club with a specific area of Brisbane, as well as to promote sponsorship and to differentiate the club for its prospective entry into the Queensland State League
Queensland State League (association football)
The Hyundai Queensland State League, often abbreviated to the QSL, is a men's semi-professional association football league in the Australian state of Queensland...
.
Under its various guises, including Merton Rovers, Merton-Easts and finallly Eastern Suburbs FC, the club has played in 11 First Division Grand Finals and have been successful on 6 occasions.
Eastern Suburbs FC has been affiliated with Football Queensland
Football Queensland
Football Queensland , often abbreviated to the FQ, is the governing body of association football in the Australian State of Queensland. The body changed its name to be more in line with the new Football Federation Australia in 2005...
(formerly Queensland Soccer Federation) for 88 years.
Current Squad
The squad listed below appear as they did in the match program for the mens Veto Brisbane Premier League game against Capalaba FC on the 4th of September, 2010.Senior Men's Divisional History
| Year | League | Pos | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| 2010 | Brisbane Premier League | 4 | 26 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 49 | 34 | 49 |
| 2009 | Brisbane Premier League | 6 | 24 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 47 | 41 | 39 |
| 2008 Champions | Brisbane Division 1 | 1 | 22 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 58 | 25 | 49 |
| 2007 | Brisbane Division 1 | 10 | 22 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 35 | 49 | 18 |
| 2006 | No records available | ||||||||
| 2005 | No records available | ||||||||
| 2004 | Brisbane Premier League | 9 | 22 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 27 | 43 | 23 |
| 2003 Champions | Brisbane Division 1 | 1 | 26 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 63 | 28 | 52 |
Junior Football
In the junior ranks East's suffered a decline in numbers during the 1980s as urban sprawl saw young families move to outlying suburbs of Brisbane in search of new houses and affordable land. However, the club has seen a strong resurgence in the number of junior registrations, particularly among the very young players. This would indicate that families are now beginning to move back into an area that has been so greatly affected by redevelopment in the last decade. The increasingly favorable demographics give the club great hopes for the future.In 2010 Easts fielded 28 junior teams. Further growth is anticipated amongst the junior membership in coming seasons as more qualified coaches join the club and Eastern Suburbs FC solidifies their leadership role in youth development in Queensland.
Former players
Distinguished 'old boys' of the club include Ross Melville, current Chairman of the Brisbane StrikersBrisbane Strikers
The Brisbane Strikers are an Australian football club from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia who play in the Queensland State League.-National Soccer League:...
and the CEO of YMCA Bill Hayden
Bill Hayden
William George "Bill" Hayden AC was the 21st Governor-General of Australia. Prior to this, he represented the Australian Labor Party in parliament; he was a minister in the government of Gough Whitlam, and later became Leader of the Opposition, narrowly losing the 1980 federal election to the...
, the former Governor-General of Australia
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
. Throughout its history Easts have produced many players who have gone on to play international football for Australia, including Eddie Riley, Eric Patterson, Steve Dolan, Leif Peterson and Steve Perry.
Eric Ferguson
Eric Ferguson (footballer)
Eric Ferguson is a former Scottish footballer who played as a striker.Ferguson joined Rangers from Gairdoch United. He went on loan to Clydebank and Southampton, before joining Dunfermline permanently. A second loan spell with Clydebank followed then moves to Raith Rovers and Cowdenbeath...
(1992–93) 37 apps 7 goals
In 2010, first team player James Meyer
James Meyer
James Meyer is an Australian football player who plays in the Australian A-League for the Brisbane Roar.- Club career :Before turning professional Meyer had youth team stints at Bohemian F.C...
signed professional forms with local A-league side Brisbane Roar.