About OBGSC
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The Old Brighton Grammarians Soccer Club (OBGSC) plays in Football Federation of Victoria's Provisional League 2 South East. OBGSC consists of both ex-Brighton Grammar School students and non ex students. We currently have 2 teams (first and reserves) and are looking to commence 3rd's in 2009 for the first time.
Our home is Dendy Park, Dendy St, Brighton. Our season runs from April to September, with pre-season from January March. We play Saturday afternoons, and train Tuesday and Thursday nights.
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Founded by Yorrick Nicholson and Jonathan Prendergast in 1999, the OBGS team was organised to reunite old boy soccer players since the sports inception at Brighton Grammar School in 1996.
A team was entered under the banner of 'Sandringham OBGS' into the Victoria Soccer Federation 'Central Thirds League' competition. Sandringham City Soccer Club had generously allowed our team to play as part of their club, using their facilities.
Our first season was very successful. With a squad of 16, we played very competitive soccer throughout the season and managed to win more games than we lost. We also made the finals of the 3 combined third's leagues where we unfortunately lost in the first round 2-0 against the eventual runners up. In the same year, the BGS first XI won the APS premiership lead by a Michael Strintzos hand ball and the line.
However, season 2000, was met with less enthusiasm with the team often struggling to get 11 players on the field. The team looked doomed when Jonathan left overseas in June and Yorrick decided to try his hand at a higher level at the end of the season, joining Beaumauris Soccer Club and becoming club captain.
But in season 2001, the year 12's from 2000 at BGS brought a new face to OBGSC. Led by Michael Strintzos and Mathew Hunt, the team was kept alive and by the start of the 2002 season, a championship potential squad had been formed. Still in the central thirds league, the team managed to win every game up until round 15 (out of 18), when we lost to Brighton Old Boys. Then, after a win, draw and loss in the last 3 games, we ended up losing the league by 2 points.
Team spirit stayed high, and the club expanded to have 2 teams in 2003, as an independent club. Although the club only had 21 registered players by the first game of the season, we managed to attract 12 more players, and both teams looked like title contenders. However, the long season took its toll, and the first team finished fourth, but the mighty reserves managed to come runner-up!
The club stepped up a level in professionalism in 2004 with the appointment of Dermott Breen and Yorrick as first and reserve team coaches respectively. The reserves went though the season only losing one game and winning the league with 4 weeks left in the season. The firsts led the league for most of the first half of the season, but losses to lesser teams always kept OBGSC close with Swinburne and Carringbush in a 3 way tussle for the championship. Carringbush dominated the league in the second half of the season with multiple goal wins most weeks, and when they beat OBGSC 3-1 in the 15th round (of 21), Swinburne lead the league by 2 points from OBGSC, with Carringbush only 1 point further behind. We beat Swinburne 1-0 in the next round, and round 17 saw OBGSC go top by 1 point as Carringbush beat Swinburne. OBGSC won their remaining 5 games to hold off Carringbush and win the league, and gain promotion to the ASF Premier League.
OBGSC continued their progression with the appointment of former Everton and Austalian NSL player Gerry Bennet as senior coach in 2005, along with reserves coach Peter Hale. OBGSC faired well in the higher division, finishing 6th in the seniors. OBGSC also had great cup runs, which saw them go out in the semis to Middle Park in the ASF cup tournament, and lose 1-0 in the final to Old Melbournians of the Old Boys Cup.
A team was entered under the banner of 'Sandringham OBGS' into the Victoria Soccer Federation 'Central Thirds League' competition. Sandringham City Soccer Club had generously allowed our team to play as part of their club, using their facilities.
Our first season was very successful. With a squad of 16, we played very competitive soccer throughout the season and managed to win more games than we lost. We also made the finals of the 3 combined third's leagues where we unfortunately lost in the first round 2-0 against the eventual runners up. In the same year, the BGS first XI won the APS premiership lead by a Michael Strintzos hand ball and the line.
However, season 2000, was met with less enthusiasm with the team often struggling to get 11 players on the field. The team looked doomed when Jonathan left overseas in June and Yorrick decided to try his hand at a higher level at the end of the season, joining Beaumauris Soccer Club and becoming club captain.
But in season 2001, the year 12's from 2000 at BGS brought a new face to OBGSC. Led by Michael Strintzos and Mathew Hunt, the team was kept alive and by the start of the 2002 season, a championship potential squad had been formed. Still in the central thirds league, the team managed to win every game up until round 15 (out of 18), when we lost to Brighton Old Boys. Then, after a win, draw and loss in the last 3 games, we ended up losing the league by 2 points.
Team spirit stayed high, and the club expanded to have 2 teams in 2003, as an independent club. Although the club only had 21 registered players by the first game of the season, we managed to attract 12 more players, and both teams looked like title contenders. However, the long season took its toll, and the first team finished fourth, but the mighty reserves managed to come runner-up!
The club stepped up a level in professionalism in 2004 with the appointment of Dermott Breen and Yorrick as first and reserve team coaches respectively. The reserves went though the season only losing one game and winning the league with 4 weeks left in the season. The firsts led the league for most of the first half of the season, but losses to lesser teams always kept OBGSC close with Swinburne and Carringbush in a 3 way tussle for the championship. Carringbush dominated the league in the second half of the season with multiple goal wins most weeks, and when they beat OBGSC 3-1 in the 15th round (of 21), Swinburne lead the league by 2 points from OBGSC, with Carringbush only 1 point further behind. We beat Swinburne 1-0 in the next round, and round 17 saw OBGSC go top by 1 point as Carringbush beat Swinburne. OBGSC won their remaining 5 games to hold off Carringbush and win the league, and gain promotion to the ASF Premier League.
OBGSC continued their progression with the appointment of former Everton and Austalian NSL player Gerry Bennet as senior coach in 2005, along with reserves coach Peter Hale. OBGSC faired well in the higher division, finishing 6th in the seniors. OBGSC also had great cup runs, which saw them go out in the semis to Middle Park in the ASF cup tournament, and lose 1-0 in the final to Old Melbournians of the Old Boys Cup.
In 2006, OBGSC committee made the decision to join the Football Federation of Victoria. This would see OBGSC compete in the Provisional League 3 South East. Peter Hale was promoted from reserves to first team coach, with Michael Strintzos coaching the reserves. Positioned 2nd at the half way mark of the season, OBGSC then had a bad run in the second half of the season to finish 5th, still a massive achievement in it's 1st year in the FFV.
After finishing his year due to a knee injury in the OBGSC seniors in 2006, Con Nitsikis took the reigns at OBGSC for what would be a very succesful 2 years. In 2007, Con oversaw OBGSC dominate and win the league just from Old Camberwell (1 point difference) in an exciting season. This also saw OBGSC youngsters Dylan Hall and Matt Cameron jointly win the league's best and fairest award. Having been promoted to the FFV Prov 2 South East league, OBGSC started well, and top the tables after 9 games, only for the league and injuries to catch up and see OBGSC settle in 7th position in a great consolidation year.
By Jonathan Prendergast
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