- Macarthur Rams
Football club infobox
clubname = Macarthur Rams
current = New South Wales Premier League 2008
fullname = Macarthur Rams Soccer Club
nickname =
founded =1984
ground =Campbelltown Stadium ,
Campbelltown,New South Wales
capacity = 20,000
chairman = Rob Burns
mgrtitle = CEO
manager = Bill Kostandas
league =New South Wales Premier League
season =
position =
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=
leftarm1=FFFFFF|body1=990000|rightarm1=FFFFFF|shorts1=990000|socks1=990000Macarthur Rams is an
association football team based inCampbelltown, New South Wales ,Australia . They currently compete in theNew South Wales Premier League , playing home fixtures atCampbelltown Stadium .Current (Pool B) standings
History
The idea of forming a soccer Association south of the crossroads at Liverpool was first discussed in 1979. By 1983 the MDSFA was to become a reality and in 1984 the MDSFA became an incorporated body with charter of fostering, developing and promoting junior soccer in the Campbelltown, Camden and Wollondilly municipalities.
In the Associations inaugural year there were 20 Clubs registered with the Association, these being Bradbury Ambarvale, Burragorang, Camcraft, Camden Tigers, Campbelltown City, Campbelltown Police Boys, Campbelltown Collegians, Campbelltown Districts (now Gunners United), Campbelltown RSL, Eschol Park, Ingleburn RSL, Johnson & Johnson & K Lions (now Leppington Lions), Macarthur Raiders, Macquarie Fields United (now Fields United), Minto, Narellan, Tahmoor Nepean Rovers, Picton Rangers and Ruse. Thirteen Clubs moved from the Southern Districts Association, three Clubs from the Southern Highlands Association and five new Clubs were formed.
Since the Associations inception clubs have passed by the way due to various reasons and have made way for new clubs. Clubs newer to the Association are Appin, Camden RSL, Campbelltown Southern Districts, Campbelltown Uniting and St Marys Eaglevale (as of 2008 the biggest club in the entire district), Douglas Park, Campbelltown Condors, East Campbelltown, Mt Annan and Harrington Park.. All of this makes the Association 25 clubs strong, providing Soccer from some 8000 players and officials.
Over the years clubs supported Super League outside the control of the MDSFA with some mixed success. In 1987 Campbelltown City Soccer Club and Campbelltown Districts Soccer Club amalgamated forming Campbelltown City and Districts Soccer Club, which opened the door for negotiations between the Federation club of the area and the MDSFA. This lead to the MDSFA and Campbelltown City and Districts Soccer club agreeing on a change of colours of both bodies to make the identifiable step of furthering soccer and providing a career path for our better players. Campbelltown City and Districts played out of Bensley Road Complex and the Junior Representative Teams (Junior and Youth League) played our of Lynwood Park, St Helens Park which is now the Headquarters and home ground of the Association. The Super League and the Association colours were changed to grey tops maroon shorts and maroon socks.
Probably the saddest moment in the Association history was the passing of Ron Dine (the father of soccer in the area) in 1986. Although Ron never served on the Association as a Committee member he was always there to help and advice in presentation of medals to both winners and runners-up. Ponderosa Park (formerly the home of the Association) was renamed Ron Dine Memorial Reserve in His honour.
During the 1991 season the Campbelltown City and Districts Soccer Club approached the MDSFA to discuss the transfer of their Federation team to the control of the Association. After agreement had been reached between the parties the Association approached the NSW Soccer Federation to ratify the agreement and from the 1992 season the Federation team representing the Association would be the Macarthur Rams. This boosted the profile of soccer in the Macarthur area and provides a role model for the younger players in the District, and a career path for the more talented players.
For the 2008 season the Macarthur Rams will be competing in the NSW Premier League competition for both Senior Men's and Youth League. The Association will also be entering teams in the Metropolitan League which caters for Under 11's and 12's.
External links
* [http://www.macarthurrams.com.au/ Official site]
* [http://www.macarthursoccer.com.au/ Macarthur District Soccer Football Association]
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