Raymond Terrace Soccer Club was founded on family, and that’s what keeps it going strong today, according to life member and current club president Peter Petryk.
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“It’s about family with the junior ranks, and guys coming through the ranks to play in our senior teams and at higher levels,” he said.
“Former Socceroo Marshal Soper played at Raymond Terrace as did Clatyon Zane, former Matilda Alison Forman, Bridgette Starr and Cheryl Salisbury.
“Everyone plays for each other no matter what level and that’s what makes the club strong.”
The club was formed in 1957 at the instigation of life member Bill Bobbins.
Another life member, Anne Jones, who joined when her children began playing in 1969, said Raymond Terrace, as the new club in the region, was not popular
“No one wanted us when we first started,” she said.
This season, the club has 394 registered players – starting from under 6s through to all-age men and women – and 34 teams. All up, the club has 21 life members including Petryk, the latest, inducted in 2016.
Another life member, Toni Heard, said it’s the club’s family atmosphere that made it special.
To celebrate 60 years of family and friendship, the club is inviting past players to the first grade home game on August 5 to cheer on the team before heading back to Raymond Terrace Bowling Club for an anniversary dinner.
“It will be nice to have as many former players as possible to form a guard of honour, and then get back to the bowling club for the dinner and a few drinks,” Petryk said.
