Menai Hawks Junior Soccer Club was incorporated in 1979 and
the Club’s first teams began playing in the Sutherland Shire Junior Soccer
Association’s competitions in 1980. In that first year the Club had 100
registered players comprising six junior and two senior teams. The 6E’s were the
first team to take the field for Menai Hawks and the kickoff was taken by the
then Association President, Harrie Dening.
In the early 1980’s there was a lack of sporting facilities
in the rapidly expanding Menai district. Following intense negotiations with
Sutherland Shire Council the Club was allocated use of one of the first ovals in
the district at Billa Road, Bangor where the Club operated a canteen out of an
old broken down caravan.
The Club’s playing strength continued to grow. In 1987,
following considerable fund raising efforts and negotiations with the council
the Club moved to a new complex at Buckle Reserve Menai which was shared with
Illawong Little Athletics Club.
The 1990’s saw player numbers increasing rapidly and by early
2000 the number of registered players exceeded 1200 making Menai Hawks the
biggest club in Sutherland Association and one of the biggest, if not the
biggest, in Australia. With this rapid expansion the Club needed more fields to
accommodate the number of teams playing and over the years acquired use of
Casuarina and Coachwood ovals at Alfords Point.
Through the efforts of the Club Executives and major
fundraising the Club fully funded major extensions to the Buckle Reserve complex
in 1997. These extensions included a 2nd floor meeting room and
viewing balcony, dressing rooms for both home and away teams, expanded canteen
space and storage rooms.
With increased use being made of Casuarina Oval it was no
longer viable to conduct games and a canteen from an old shipping container
which was rapidly rusting away. The Club’s Board of Management developed plans
to remedy the situation and in 2003 a new brick complex was built and funded by
the Club. In more recent years the Club has undertaken major
lighting upgrades at Buckle, Casuarina and Coachwood fields.
Sound administration over the Club’s 30 year history has lead
to outstanding success on the field. From the very beginning the Club has had a
committed and qualified coaching panel to develop and guide our teams and this
has resulted in Menai Hawks being very successful in the
local Sutherland Association’s competitions across all age groups. At
Association level Menai Hawks has won 193 premierships since inception up to and
including the 2009 season.
The Club has also enjoyed considerable success at State level
winning 4 Amateur Cups (all age competition), four Robertson Cups (21A
competition), 5 State Cups and a Metropolitan Cup. In the
prestigious Champion of Champions competition the Club has been successful on no
less than seven occasions. Many of our teams have been Runners- up in these
State run events.
Over the years the Club has provided the stepping stones for
many players to progress to Association representative level. The Club can also
boast producing many players who have progressed to State, A-League and
Australian representative honours and these include female players as well.
From its foundation as a Junior Soccer Club the Club has
progressed with modern trends in as much that in 2009 the Club’s name was
officially changed to “Menai Hawks Football Club Inc”.
From its humble beginnings and thanks to a very loyal and
industrious band of volunteers Menai Hawks has grown into one of the most highly
regarded and prestigious clubs not only in the Sutherland Association but in New
South Wales.
Over its 30 year history the Club has evolved with the area
and grown with it. As such Menai Hawks is now as much a part of the community as
the Menai district and the suburb’s name.
Menai Hawks FC is well placed and looking to the next 30
years and beyond.