Mt Gravatt Hawks Soccer Club

Mt Gravatt Hawks are an Australian football (soccer) club from Mount Gravatt, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane. The club was formed in 1960, and currently play in the Brisbane Premier League. Mt Gravatt is currently one of the biggest clubs in Brisbane and boasts over 500 juniors, 100 senior players and 120 women and junior girls.

The origins of the Mt Gravatt Soccer Club were formulated over 45 years ago in 1960 in the booming post-war era southern suburbs, attracting players from around not only the Mt Gravatt district, but also other neighbouring and growing suburbs. The establishment of a local soccer club provided an outlet through sporting activity to the many young players on the southside, previously denied activity due to rapid urban development and lack of public transport.

Due to the foresight of the Clubs foundation members, many talented local players have become engaged in this rewarding endeavour, namely soccer. The aims of the club then and now, are premised upon developing players both in the skill of the game and general life skills learnt in a team activity.

The club in its infancy firstly assumed residence within the environs of the Mt Gravatt Showgrounds, but as the years passed the popularity for soccer grew and the subsequent attraction of players to Mt Gravatt increased rapidly, the club made the decision to seek more extensive and accommodating surroundings and relocated to the current grounds at Dittmer Park Klumpp Rd.

Mt Gravatt Soccer Club has thrived and succeeded over the past 45 years based on the established traditions of catering to junior development, fostering many past and current players to attain their goal of representation at the highest level in their chosen sport.

Mt Gravatt Soccer Club is highly recognised as a quality stable that possesses a pedigree in the development of junior players who regularity attain Regional, State and National selection and esteemed honour.

The First 10 Years (extracted from the Mt. Gravatt Soccer Club Year Book 69) Early in the year 1960 the management committee of the Mt. Gravatt Youth and Recreation Club decided to promote soccer in Mt. Gravatt.

Charlie. Giant, one of the founders of the Youth Club, was given the responsibility of trying to organise a soccer section within the club.

Advertisements were placed in the "Truth" and "Southside News" in February, 1960, calling for boys interested to turn up at show grounds.

The grand total of three boys arrived on the day at the duly appointed time, Risto Salo, Bob McKenzie and Jim Johnson. Jim, as an eight year old, played in the 14 team to start and then changed to U12 when the second team was formed.

Three men also arrived and introduced themselves. They were Roy Johnson, Jack Cranney and Noel Brown. It was agreed to pursue the matter further and to turn up the next Sunday morning and in the interim to try and interest more boys.

Contact was made with schools and announcements made, and on the following Sunday, the four stalwarts turned up again and this time fourteen boys. So the first team was formed and although some heavy defeats were inflicted on the pioneers, they lived to play another day.

At this stage the club was known as the "Mountain Rangers” and was not changed to Mt. Gravatt Junior Soccer Club until 1962. Nineteen sixty-two was the year the club recorded its first Trophy win, when our U15 team won the Redlands Ambulance Day Trophy.

The club continued to grow and was managed by a handful of willing workers. Mr. Charles Grant held the position of Chairman until owing to ill health he declined office. He was then appointed President (Life appointment). Mr. A Petersen took over as chairman of the club starting the year 1964 and holding this position until 1969 when he declined office at the election of officers for our combined junior and senior club.

Mr. John Quinn who became President was no newcomer, he had been with the club since the first year and he was the first delegate from Mt. Gravatt to Brisbane Junior Soccer Association. He also held the position of Secretary for a number of years.

Mr. Nev Forknall and Mr. Jack Cranney were active members with early meetings held at the home of Mr. and Mr's. Forknall.

The club gave considerable consideration as to the future of junior players with our club after they reached eighteen years of age. It was decided in 1965 to try and enter senior football, and we were advised by the federation we would have to come in in the sixth division.

It came to notice that the "Excelsior" Club, based at Stone's Corner, was struggling and it was felt that with an injection of assistance from our club a working arrangement could be made which was subsequently carried out by our representatives, Mr. Charlie Grant and Mr. John Quinn.

It was pleasing to note that the club's fourth division team won the Premiership and as a result were promoted to third division in 1966. The secretary that year being Mr. Paul Jones.

1966 - Our first year as an affiliated Club with Mt. Gravatt Youth Club, and club members accepted the responsibility of handling their own affairs with enthusiasm.

The senior team changed name from Mt. Gravatt Excelsior to Mt. Gravatt Soccer Club. Another first in this year, Mt. Gravatt Youth Club entered a team in Ladies competition, made up of young ladies from their basketball and softball teams.

1967- Clairvaux College came into competition soccer starting with one team and a lot of help from Mt. Gravatt Junior Soccer Club. They had five teams playing this year confirming the wisdom of that early assistance. The first news letters were compiled this year with Mr. and Mrs. Gustavson, Mr. Hamilton and Mrs. Dickson handling all details.

During 1967 the club was to lose its founder. Charlie Grant's death occurred in the midst of the season on Saturday, 8th July. After cheering Third division boys on he returned to his car and died at the wheel. It was gratifying to see the third division tean of this year promoted to second division its Charlie had made the senior teams his special interest in the latter years.

Mr. Quinn was appointed first life member of the club and presented with a badge early in 1968.

Owing to the club's growth and the need for promoting soccer a publicity committee was formed in February, 1969, with regular meetings being held. In April, our first field day proved a complete success with under 8A winning their Round Robin Tournament.

With the combination of senior and junior clubs came a newly elected management committee which met for their first meeting in June 69. Our original player, Jim Johnson, was picked to play in Queensland Colts squad.

We have finished the first decade of soccer in Mt. Gravatt with promising results for the next 10 years.

2010 and Beyond

In the 2010 season of the Brisbane Premier League, Mt Gravatt struggled but finally overcame the threat of relegation, finishing in 12th, 4 points clear of relegated Beenleigh FC. There was debate that Mt Gravatt may enter the Queensland State League in 2011, however they soon confirmed they would take part in the Brisbane Premier League in 2011. However, Southern Cross United were admitted to the QSL - with speculation rife that the club was in some way connected to the Hawks. It turned out to be meaningless anyway as Southern Cross folded after only a few games of football.

Mount Gravatt's start to the 2011 season has been indifferent, with three successive 5-1 home defeats leaving them in a similarly threatening position to the previous season.

External links

• Official Website