Rochedale_Rovers_FC
Rochedale Rovers FC
Football club
Rochedale Rovers are a semi-professional football club which plays at Underwood Park in Priestdale, Queensland, Australia and competes in the National Premier Leagues Queensland with junior teams competing in both Football Queensland and Football Brisbane competitions.
| Full name | Rochedale Rovers Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Rovers | ||
| Founded | 1972; 52 years ago (1972) | ||
| Ground | Underwood Park | ||
| Capacity | 5,000 | ||
| President | Jon McKain | ||
| Head Coach | Scott MacNicol | ||
| League | NPL Queensland | ||
| 2023 | 7th of 12 | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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In November 1972, local resident Tommy Vance placed an advertisement in the local paper looking for people interested in forming a soccer club on a small field behind the historic Glen Hotel at Eight Mile Plains.
In 1973, Rovers started their first ever game with a dominant 4-0 victory over Redlands United, all four goals coming from the boot of Darren Byrne.
From the start, local business identities came forward to help, including the late Graham Hogg of Graham Hogg Real Estate, Brian Fitzgibbon of the Glen Hotel and John Beerling from Galeprufe Garages.
Within a few years the club had leased land at Underwood Park and with the help of a small army of volunteers had developed three fields (fenced and floodlit), a canteen, office and showers.
In the late 1970s a brick clubhouse was built with grandstands, full playing amenities, canteen and sports bar, at the time being one of the best facilities in Queensland.
In 2019, the original clubhouse was demolished to make way for a start of the art clubhouse based around the design of the original featuring the new Tom Vance and Keiran Cooper Grandstands and a full length verandah (extending the seating capacity to 500+) as well as a spectacular entrance way, top floor canteen and bar facilities.
Beneath the grandstand, which overlooks the main field, are modern changing rooms and storage facilities.
To date, Rochedale have collected six Premierships (1986, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2017), six Championships (1985, 1986, 1993, 1995, 2011, 2019) and have produced three internationals in Jon McKain (Socceroos), Chris O'Connor (Olyroos), and Luke Brattan (Under20s).
Former players turned professional include Shane Huke, Tim Smits, Matt Mundy, James Donachie and Steve Fitzsimmons.
Of teams still active, only Lions, Bardon Latrobe and Brisbane City have won more Premierships.
Premierships: 1986, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2017
Runners-up: 2011, 2009, 2006, 2005, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1993, 1992, 1991
Championships: 1984, 1985, 1993, 1995, 2011, 2019
Runners-up: 2012, 2010, 2006, 1998, 1992, 1991