Ingle Farm Amateur Soccer Club was formed in 1973 when an under 16 Junior colts team had no where to play. Having finished runners up in the Elizabeth and Districts under 16 colts league with Ingle Farm Junior Soccer Club in 1973, the players were faced with the prospect of finding new clubs to continue playing. As many of the players wished to continue playing in the same team, the club endeavoured to field an under 18 colts team in the amateur league.
Terry Lenton, a parent of one of the colt players, and Ron White, President of the juniors, formed a committee in 1973 and went on to register an amateur team in 1974. Word spread fast of the formation of the amateur side, with interest so great from other players, that in 1975 the club had enough players to enter an A's and Reserves team in the amateur league – in addition to the colts team. From here the Ingle Farm Amateur Soccer Club was formed under the name of Ingle Farm Nomads in Division 5A.
The clubs inaugural season was played on a local reserve at Helen Terrace, Valley View, under the instructions of coach Dave Mochin. The ground was small, sloping and had no facilities, players were forced to use their own cars as a changing room. Despite these set backs, the new club fought on and finished Runners Up, gaining promotion to Division 4 in its first season. Ingle Farm Amateur Soccer Club was on its way.
In 1975 the club moved to Rowe Park at Beovich Road Ingle Farm, sharing facilities with the junior club.
Of the original team members in 1973, two remain at the club: Peter (Pop) Newton and Paul Hurst. Paul has been a sensational patron and sponsor to the club and still stands on the committee as club Treasurer to date. Over the years many players have come and gone. Up until 2005, the club held an annual Fossils Cup reunion game were all players of the past where invited to compete and catch up on past glories. As the old players have aged, the annual event has died off and in place you will find the past players supporting the club with the families almost at every home game.
In 1976, the club won it first league championship, albeit the Division 4 Reserves league, but it was still a special moment for the club and it would be another 10 years before the club could pop the Champagne on another title. The A team came close to winning the Division 4 title in 1976, eventually finishing runners up under the guidance of Billy Molloy. This saw the club promoted to Division 3.
Despite finishing a creditable 4th in 1977 in SAASL Division 3, Ingle Farm suffered relegation in 1978 and found themselves back in Division 4 for the 1979 season. However in 1979 the club finally found its new home – it moved to its present ground and clubrooms at Walkley Park on Fairfax Road, Ingle Farm.
The club played the next 6 years in Division 5 before it came close again to winning the 1982 title under the guidance of head coach Keith Hobbs. Although it did not win the silver wear, Ingle Farm Amateur Soccer Club was once again Runners Up but celebrated promotion into Division 4 before again being relegated back into Division 5the following year.
1986 Ingle Farm A Team – Division 5 Champions
BACK ROW – Mick Dobson (Coach) Jeremy Stubbs, Paul Townsend, Tommy Fazekas, Terry Loveday, Kevin O'Hara, Steve Pickford, Jamie McGowan, Steve Cullen, Paul Lenarczyk (Assistant Coach)
FRONT ROW – C Stubbs, Paul Hurst, J Poppitt, Mark Grice, Michael Smith, Sam McMillan, John Nelson
In 1986, under the guidance of Head Coach Mick Dobson, Ingle Farm finally won their first ever 1st team championship in Division 5 after 13 years of existence. A fantastic moment for the club, the then players included Paul Townsend, Jeremy Stubbs, Tommy Fazekas, Terry Loveday, Kevin O'Hara, Steve Pickford, Jamie McGowan, Steve Cullen, Paul Hurst, Mark Grice, Sammy McMillian, John Nelson and Michael Smith. Back into Division 4.
In 1988, under the guidance of Sam McMillan, the A team would finish Runners Up in SAASL Sunday Division 4 and gain promotion to SAASL Sunday Division 3 for the second time in the clubs history. The Ingle Farm Reserves would go onto the win Division 4B in the same year. In 1989 Farm struggled but held on to stay in Division 3, eventually finishing a lowly third-bottom; while the Reserves runner up in Division 3B.
It was in the 92/93 seasons that Ingle Farm fielded arguably one of its strongest first teams under the guiding eye of newly recruited coach Ron Cooper. Cooper had been sought after by the club after SAASL Division 1 club Tubemakers folded in 1991. Cooper had coached Tubemakers for several seasons prior and upon being brought to Ingle Farm several big named players had followed. State Amateur Goalkeeper Clive Malsom, defender Steve Cooper, midfielder Steve Williams and 6'5 central defender Dave Howell were among the big signings for the club in 1992 that joined an already strong Ingle Farm 1st Team squad.
1992 Ingle Farm A Team – Division 3 Champions (& 93 Div 2 Runners Up)
BACK ROW – Christian Wilson, Steve Cooper, Andy Nixey, Reserve GK (?), Stuart Gannon, Clive Malsom (GK), Billy Orr, David Howell, John Harte
FRONT ROW – Steve Williams, Vinnie Evans, Lee Perkins, Ron Cooper (Coach), Peter King, Brian Toomer, Paul Dawson.
Captain Peter King, Dave Howell, Vinnie Evans, Clive Malsom, Lee Perkins, Brian Toomer, Christian Wilson, Steve Williams, Billy Orr, Steve Cooper, Paul Dawson, John Harte, John Loveday and Andy Nixey were some of the names that starred in the 1st team for Ingle Farm in that era. So good was the quality of that 1992-3 team in Division 2 and 3 that the club had two SAASL State Team Representatives in Vinnie Evans and goalkeeper Clive Malsom.
Coopers men won SAASL Division 3 in 1992 and continued on the following season finishing Runners Up in SAASL Sunday Division 2 in 1993. The club boomed for those two seasons, famously then treasurer Joe McNally ensured not a penny was wasted as the club found itself financially flushed. Suddenly Ingle Farm Amateur Soccer Club found itself in SAASL Division 1 for the very first time after 20 years in the SAASL.
About this time (and well before any of us had heard of "Internet") the club was well known for it's home game match program – "Tentacles." This fanzine was put together by David Howell. Tentacles added a buzz around the club on match days with its humorous graphics, player profiles and the clubs guest columnist, The Critical Tennant. His identity remained a mystery, but few players, coaches and members avoid his critical eye. His scathing match reviews always provide great comic entertainment with a touch of mystery.
In 1994, Ron Cooper left to take the Womens State Team job. Ingle Farm Soccer Club sounded out Modbury Soccer Club Reserves Coach Alan Leadbeater for its first ever season in the 1st Division of the SAASL. In a very tough season, Leadbeater's men finished a creditable 7th that included a famous last round win over reigning champions Salisbury Inter that saw saw Para Hills East snatch the title on the last day of the season. Craig "Barn Door" Baker enjoyed a fine season for Ingle Farm netting 10 goals.
In 1995 Ingle Farm Amateur Soccer Club controversially recruited midfielders Noel Flounders and David Brain from Salisbury Inter early into the season and fielded quite a strong team in SAASL Sunday Division 1. That season Ingle Farm were never in danger of being relegated and famously won one match 10-0 over Para Hills at the Paddocks mid season – a Division 1 club record that still stands today. Sadly it was to be Leadbeater's last season as coach due to work commitments and a new coach had to be sought after.
1996 was a miserable year at Ingle Farm Amateur Soccer Club. Club legend Billy Orr had reluctantly taken over the reigns as head coach but player stocks were thin. To their credit the 1st team remained in the hunt to avoid relegation until the second last round, where Farm (2nd last after 16 games) faced off with two matches (one was a catch up game) against 3rd-bottom Parafield Gardens. Unfortunately Farm lost both games and were relegated back to SAASL Sunday Division 2.
In 1997 Ron Olivieri was awarded the position of head coach at Ingle Farm Amateur Soccer Club for its season in Division 2. Olivieri lasted just 7 games as coach before being replaced by former Ingle Farm coach Mick Dobson. Dobson introduced a better structure to the team and the 1st team had a fine second half of the season where the club narrowly avoided relegation.
In 1998, Ingle Farm signed former Adelaide City player Eric Norman as coach for the season after the Pines Soccer Club folded. Norman immediately made an impact around the club with his personality during and after games. Eric attracted several fine players to the squad and in the process he managed to lift the club from the bottom third of the 2nd Division to the top four.
Norman again took charge in 1999 and after a sound start to the season, the team's results dropped away in the second half of the season and the 1st team finished a lowly 8th position. Norman departed the club later that year to take up the Para Hills Knights coaching position.
Off the park Ingle Farm Amateur Soccer Club was brought to its knees in November 1999. A heated AGM revealed a glaring financial loss for the season leaving almost no funds in the bank and rumors that the club would reduce down to one social team. Credit to the then committee lead by chairman George Mulvaney that also included hard working members such as Richard Bales, Brendan Altus, Pop Newton, Ron Sparks, Vinnie Evans and Paul Hurst for picking the club up and getting it running profitable once more.
Vinnie Evans was appointed coach of the 1st team for the year 2000. The 1st team enjoyed a successful start to the season before falling away toward the end. Brendan Altus starred for Ingle Farm leading from the front winning both the club best and fairest and coaches award as captain for the season.
The year 2001 was a difficult one for Ingle Farm Amateur Soccer Club as its playing stocks were stretched to the limit. Injuries ravaged key players at the club that left the 1st team with just 1 win and 1 draw for the season. The club could only field 2 teams and many of those players were required to play 2 games on a match day to make up the numbers. The club was again relegated back into SAASL Sunday Division 3.
In 2002 the 1st Team finished a solid 6th in Division 3 with Steve Paterson enjoying an outstanding season as striker. Mid season the Manchester United Supporters Football Club (who had been based at Para Hills Paddocks) folded which saw several former players file back to Ingle Farm half way through the season. The club was still struggling financially but managed to scrape through another season while comfortably avoiding relegation.
In 2003 Ingle Farm Amateur Soccer Club sought out highly reputed former Manchester United Supporters coach Paul Simpson. Simpson had a large number of players follow him to Ingle Farm for the 2003 season and the club was now in a position where it could field 3 teams once more. Although the club finished 6th in that season, the seed had been planted for what can only be described as an upcoming golden period.
Alan Leadbeater joined Simpson as Assistant 1st Team Coach in 2004 where the club had its most successful season to date. The 1st Team won the SAASL Sunday Division 3 League, the Reserves won the Division 3Bs League and the C Team finished Runners Up in SAASL Sunday Division 9. Previously Ingle Farm had only found success in winning the league in 1986 and 1992 although it had been Runners Up on 5 other occasions.
2004 Ingle Farm A Team – Division 3 Champions
BACK ROW – Gerry McLaughlin (President) Lee Perkins (Ass Coach), Alan Leadbeater (Ass Coach) Chris Ennis, Ricky Simpson, Sandy Neary, Alex lynn, Andy Lynn, Graham Elrick, Trevor Bradbrook Adam Barnes, Robbie Bell (Team Manager) Paul Simpson (Coach) Ron Sparks
FRONT ROW – Brendan Altus (captain) Anthony Staltari, Duy Tran, Anthony Martini, Colin Smith, Barry Fitzharris, Vinnie Evans
Notably in 2004 Ingle Farm's captain, Brendan Altus, was voted the Best and Fairest player in Division 3 by the referees of the league. Other good performances came from Barry Fitzharris, Ricky Simpson (15 goals), Anthony Martini (10 goals), Anthony Staltari, Alby Lynn, Sandy Neary, Colin Smith, Torsten Rutter, Adam Barnes, Chris Ennis, Andy Lynn, Trevor Bradbrook, Graham Elrick, Duy Tran and Kevin Dawson.
2004 also saw another first for the club as Anthony Martini designed, developed and posted the Farm onto the World Wide Web. One of the very first amateur league clubs to have it own website at the time. The players and members of the club also raised monies that season that went toward a proposed new bar for Ingle Farm Amateur Soccer Club's existing changeroom/clubroom.
In early 2005 Club Life Member / Kitchen Installer Brian Toomer volunteered his services over a number of weeks (of his summer holidays) where he basically built an impressive new bar in the club's existing changerooms/clubrooms for the cost of the wood and nails.
Dave Barnes volunteered his services to render the brick walls inside the club and the snowball effect occurred where a number of committee members and players all pitched in to upgrade the look of the Ingle Farm Clubrooms. Paul Simpson purchased tiles and had them laid down at his own cost. George Mulvaney again did a fine job of project managing the process and the clubroom finally had a respectable look to it, albeit very small and cramped.
In 2005 the 1st Team finished a respectable 3rd – narrowly missing out on promotion into Division 1.
2006 A Team – Division 2 Champions
BACK ROW – Ron Sparks (Team Manager) Alan Leadbeater (Ass Coach) Mario Staltari, Ricky Simpson, Chris Ennis, Torsten Rutter, Alex Lynn, Anthony Staltari, Colin Smith (GK) Paul Simpson (Coach) Brian Groom (trainer)
FRONT ROW – David Ennis, Fernando Lara, Anthony Martini, Brendan Altus, Martin Lara, Leon Hannessen, Anthony Ragazzo
In 2006 Paul Simpson & Alan Leadbeater did it again. This time they guided the 1st team to a Division 2 Championship. The players included club captain Brendan Altus, Ricky Simpson, Anthony Staltari, Mario Staltari, Chris Ennis, David Ennis, Leon Hannessen, Marty Lara, Fernando Lara, Anthony Ragazzo, Torsten Rutter, Alby Lynn, Anthony Martini and goalkeeper Colin Smith.
Brian Toomer came into the Reserves coaching role in 2006 and lead that team to the League and Cup double. The 2006 Reserves team became the first ever Ingle Farm team to win the Amateur League Reserve Cup, when they overcame Elizabeth Downs 2-0 at League Headquarters, Grange. This followed a remarkable League turnaround where Farm's Reserves were sitting 8th in the league after 5 Rounds to eventually win Division 2B by 5 points.
In 2007 Ingle Farm returned to the top flight of Division 1 football. Although having a very slow start to the season with both the A's and B's in the bottom three after the third round, the club would turn around its early misfortunes to finish its most successful Division 1 season in the clubs history by finishing second in both the A's and B's.
The Reserves would actually finish equal top on points but miss out on the Champions prize by goal difference. To the credit of the Reserves players, they would bounce back from the disappointment of narrowly missing the champion prize and win the Reserves Cup for the second year running, adding another first to the clubs history by winning the Reserves Cup back to back.
2007 would see another first for the club as it introduced a fourth team. The C2's, better known as Dads Army, (later to field a team in the new Over 35's league formed a year previously) who would also have a successful inaugural year finishing Runners Up. The accolades would not stop there with Ingle Farm having two representatives in the Amateur Leagues State Team in goalkeeper Robbie Greenwood and striker Paul Jones.
2008 was a big year for the club and a year of many firsts. The A team would finish 3rd in Division 1 and the Reserves would win the double again in the League Title and Reserves Cup under Billy Graves. This would make it the treble for 3 Reserves Cup in a row, of course another first for the club.
2008 would also see another first for the club as it introduced a 5th team – the Over 35's, meaning the cub would field A's, B's, C1's, C2's and an O/35's team. What a great effort for a club that almost folded 6 year earlier. Farm captain Chris Ennis would make it a hat trick of firsts for the club by winning the Division 1 Player of the Year prize as voted by the Referees.
In 2009 the Reserves would go onto to win another Reserves League Title in Division 1B and also reach the Semi finals of the Reserves cup. The A team would again finish 3rd under the guidance of Paul Simpson and Alan Leadbeater. The Over 35's would also go onto to make the Semi finals of the O/35 Cup as well.
2009 Ingle Farm A Team – SAASL Cup Winners
BACK ROW – Michael Francken, Billy Graves, Evan Emmanuel, Ricky Simpson, Robbie Greenwood (GK) Michael Clark, Torsten Rutter, Anthony Martini, David Eggers, Lee Cockerill, Paul Simpson (Coach) Alan Leadbeater (Assistant Coach)
FRONT ROW – Mark Bromely, Anthony Ragazzo, Matty Cox, Paul Jones, Barry Fitzharris, Anthony Staltari, David Ennis
But most importantly in 2009 what can only be described as the greatest moment in the club's history thus far, the club would win the SAASL Cup (Bianco Cup) at Hindmarsh Stadium as it defeated Elizabeth Downs 2-0 in front of about 1500 people. Torsten Rutter won the Templin Medal for being judged the best player on the park. Paul Jones and Torsten Rutter scored for Ingle Farm that day.
In 2010, once again under the guidance of Paul Simpson and Alan Leadbeater, the A's would win the Cichanowski Shield for the first time beating Adelaide Villa 2-0 at Walkley Park. The A's would finish 3rd in Division 1 while Reserves under the guidance of Leon Hannennson and Anthony Martini would win the Reserves Cup for the fourth time in 5 years. David Eggers would win the BOG Award.
2010 saw yet another first for the club with the introduction of Ingle Farm's first ever Women's Team into the FFSA Division 5 league coached by Tim Walker. Ingle Farm Amateur Soccer Club now had 6 teams !!!
2011 was another successful year for the club with Ingle Farm's 1st team finishing Runners Up behind Parafield Gardens in Sunday Division 1 (now known as the Sunday Premier League.) Young Farm striker Luke Air had an outstanding season winning the league's Golden Boot award with 19 goals.
2012 and Ingle Farm's first team finished Runners Up in the Sunday Premier League once again. Matty Cox finished league Golden Boot winner with 15 goals for the season. Our Reserves returned to the winners circle with the league and cup double. Farm defeated St Peters 2-1 at Hindmarsh Stadium.
In 2013 Farm had their lowest finish in the Sunday Premier League – 4th. The 1st team were unlucky to be defeated by Elizabeth Downs in the SAASL Cup in the semi final at Hindmarsh Stadium on penalties by Elizabeth Downs. The Reserves were pipped for the league in the final round of the league season when Parafield Gardens won their match over Pontian Eagles 13-0 to win the league on goal difference.
2014 was a tricky season for the club. Due to construction of its new clubrooms from March 2014, Ingle Farm Soccer Club was moved into a village of temporary buildings for its entire season. Ingle Farm Amateur Soccer Club were finally handed the keys to its new 2.1 million dollar clubroom on Friday the 3rd of October.
Despite these disruptions, Ingle Farm's 1st team kept their standards high. They won the pre season Mayors Cup competition by defeating Salisbury Florina 1-0 at Bradman Oval in March. Ingle Farm then went on to finish 3rd in the Sunday Premier League and reached the final of the SAASL Cup. Unfortunately in the final at Hindmarsh Stadium against Elizabeth Downs, Ingle Farm lead at half time but succumbed in the second half to lose 2-1 after a stoppage time winner from Downs player Nathan Day. Paul Jones was Ingle Farm's scorer.
Also in 2014, Ingle Farm's Reserves powered away to win the Sunday Premier League B title under the guiding eye of Dean Lawrence. Unusually the Reserves were knocked out of the cup in an early round by Adelaide Wanderers. The Reserves also had won the 2014 Templin Cup in the reserve grade back in March.
Season 2015 will be remembered as the year Farm broke through for its first ever SAASL Division 1 / Sunday Premier League Championship League win !!! In an extraordinary year, Paul Simpson's men won all three trophies available to them at 1st team level that season.
Firstly Farm won the newly re-formed pre season tournament the Templin Cup. The Templin Cup was an expansion of the old Mayors Cup that involved clubs from all over Adelaide in South, East, Inner North and Outer North divisions. Farm defeated Seaford Rangers 5-0 in the final played at Argana Park on Friday March 27th, 2015.
Ingle Farm 1st Team Squad 2015
BACK ROW: Alan Leadbeater (Assistant Coach) Peter Buckley (Team Manager) Adrian Plowman, Luke Veloudos, Fernando Lara, Evan Emmanuel, Toby Dodd, Chris Nicholls, Chris Ennis, Dean Kenrick, Luke Air, Paul Simpson (Head Coach)
FRONT ROW: Chris Burnett, Ben White, Jarrad Noel, Alex Baxter, Pro Loizides, James Thelwell, Michael Clark, David Ennis, Liam Mulvaney, Musti Ipekdal, Sonny Murrell, Shalayding Tursun.
Farm secondly won the league title on Sunday September the 6th (Round 17) with a 5-0 win over Elizabeth Vale. This sparked scenes never before seen at the club as a mass celebration ensued. Players, coaches and supporters partied all night and even into the next day after what a momentous season. Ingle Farm's 1st Team conceded just 12 goals all season and won 15 of their 18 league games. Ingle Farm striker Musti Ipekdal was crowned the league's top goalscorer with 21 goals and Ingle Farm midfielder Jarrad Noel was Runner Up in the SAASL Sunday Premier League's best and fairest result.
And to ice the cake in the final game of the 2015 season, Ingle Farm completed the triple as it won the SAASL Challenge Cup final in front of a big crowd at Para Hills Paddocks on Sunday the 27th of September. Ingle Farm defeated Sturt-Marion 2-0 with the goalscorers being Farm captain Chris Ennis and evergreen Musti Ipekdal. Ingle Farm midfielder James Thelwell was awarded the Templin Medal after being voted best on ground by the officials.
Looking forward, Ingle Farm has much to be positive about. Our brand new clubroom is an incredible step forward for our club – we now are the envy of many other clubs with our set up. Our team's at all levels are very strong and there is a very strong coaching structure and equally good hard working committee. We are always looking for more people to get involved and build our club into the powerhouse we want it to be, so if you like the sound of things feel free to drop us a line and join us on our quest !!