[Image: Bardon Latrobe FC]
Brisbane-based Barton Latrobe FC will enjoy a homecoming of sorts today when the club returns to Perry Park as part of its 100th anniversary celebrations.
Formed in 1970 as a merger of two clubs, Bardon Latrobe is celebrating its centenary milestone throughout 2016 to commemorate the 1916 establishment of one of its two predecessors – Latrobe Soccer Club.
The return to Perry Park – a previous home ground – is at the invitation of former Bardon Latrobe player and Brisbane Strikers stalwart Ray Evans.
Club President Robert Wheeler is excited to see both junior and senior matches return to the storied venue.
“Back in the 70s I believe it was where the club played its home games,” Wheeler explained.
“If you go even further back to the 30s we used to play our home games at Lang Park but I think we would have a bit of trouble getting a home game organised there these days.
“Especially for the older boys it’s a bit of a homecoming for them.”
Among the club’s most famous exports is Ray Richards, who played for Latrobe Soccer Club in the 1960s before going to represent Australia in its FIFA World Cup debut in 1974.
While the club is hoping to have Richards involved in the celebrations at some stage – a Gala Dinner is planned for September – there will be plenty of familiar faces attending on Sunday.
“As well as our usual suspects, we have quite a strong group of old boys that have played in the last few years that we call the ‘BLOBS’. They will be there in force,” Wheeler said.
“We’ve also got a much wider cast coming from over the past 50 or so years. Some of the older boys will be coming to watch their first game in quite a while.
“It will be the first chance we’ve had to catch up with those fellas as well, so we’re really looking forward to that.”
The main event for Sunday’s celebration will be the Football Brisbane Capital League 3 match between Bardon Latrobe and AC Carina, which kicks-off at 3.00pm.