Rochedale Rovers are a semi-professional football club which plays at
Underwood Park in
Priestdale,
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
and competes in the
Football Queensland Premier League
The Football Queensland Premier League (known by its abbreviation FQPL) is a men's football competition contested by clubs in Queensland, Australia. It is administered by Football Queensland and is the second tier of football in Queensland, op ...
with junior teams competing in both
Football Queensland and
Football Brisbane
Football Queensland Metro is a Football Queensland administrative zone encompassing the greater Brisbane area in Queensland, Australia, with surrounding areas including Caboolture, Ipswich, Redland City and Logan City. The premier men's football ...
competitions.
History
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
Eight Mile Plains is an outer southern suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the , Eight Mile Plains had a population of 15,322 people.
Geography
Eight Mile Plains is by road south-southeast of the Brisbane GPO.
Bulimba Cre ...
.
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
Jonathan "Jon" McKain (born 21 September 1982) is a Scottish Australian football player who retired from professional football in 2016 after a long and successful career. He played in countries including Romania, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and M ...
(
Socceroos
The Australia men's national soccer team represents Australia in international men's soccer. Officially nicknamed the Socceroos, the team is controlled by the governing body for soccer in Australia, Football Australia, which is affiliated with ...
),
Chris O'Connor (
Olyroos
The Australia national under-23 soccer team represents Australia in international under-23 soccer and at the Olympic Games. The team is controlled by the governing body for soccer in Australia, Football Australia (FA), which is currently a membe ...
), and
Luke Brattan
Nathan Luke Brattan (born 8 March 1990) is an Australian professional football player who plays as a defensive midfielder for Sydney FC.
Born in England, Brattan moved to Australia at a young age, playing youth football for Rochedale Rovers a ...
(
Under20s).
Former players turned professional include
Shane Huke
Shane Huke (born 2 October 1985) is a retired professional footballer who last played for Maidstone United.
Club career
He began his career with Peterborough United, and scored his first competitive goal in his career on 25 November 2006, agai ...
,
Tim Smits
Tim Smits (born 11 April 1986) is an Australian footballer who plays for Grange Thistle.
Club career
Smits began his career with North Pine SC, he then moved to Albany Creek and then to the QAS. At the Queensland Academy of Sport he spent thre ...
,
Matt Mundy
Matt Mundy is an Australian footballer who plays for Olympic FC.
Club career
He made his A-League debut for the Brisbane Roar on 4 October 2008 against Sydney FC.
Honors
With Brisbane Roar
Brisbane Roar Football Club is an Australian ...
,
James Donachie
James Kevin Donachie (born 14 May 1993) is an Australian soccer player who plays as a centre back for Sydney FC in the A-League.
Club career
Brisbane Roar
In 2010, he signed a youth contract with A-League club Brisbane Roar
Brisbane ...
and
Steve Fitzsimmons
Steve Fitzsimmons (born 7 September 1976) is a former Australian football (soccer) player and coach.
Club career
Steve started his NSL career with Parramatta Power under coach & former Socceroo David Mitchell and his assistant coach Lawrie M ...
.
Of teams still active, only Lions, Bardon Latrobe and Brisbane City have won more Premierships.
Silverware
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''
Historical Finishing Positions
''Key: Year/League/Premiership/Post-season *denotes equivalent of second tier''
2020 *FQPL 5th/DNQ
''1973-1981 tbc''
References
External links
Official Website
{{AUS fb state Qld Brisbane
Association football clubs established in 1972
Soccer clubs in Brisbane
Brisbane Premier League teams
1972 establishments in Australia
Logan City