Penrith Football – A Brief History

Provided by Michael Reeves, as first appeared in Western Weekender

             In 1961 the Nepean district soccer football association was formed. In 1962 Penrith played in the NSW Third Division coming 5^th of eight teams, winning four, drawing four and losing 6 (36 goals for 34 against.)

            By 1964 they were struggling near the bottom of the Amateur Division B before coming runners up in the Inter Suburban Third Division, two points away from promotion in 1966. 1970 saw a Nepean United side finish mid table in the Inter Suburban Third Division but throughout this period there was no representation for Penrith in the top two tiers of NSW football.

            Through the mid 1970s Nepean continued to finish around mid table but things were looking up and in 1975 they finished third in the NSW Inter Suburban First Division. Of course there were many other clubs coming from around the wider area throughout the football leagues. In the first year of the NSL both Nepean Corinthians and Riverstone Schofields played in the third division in NSW.

            In 1978 Emu Plains played in division seven but finished last with only three wins. That same year Nepean Corinthians won the third division with only 1 loss and 80 goals scored in 22 games. Nepean skipped a division and joined the top flight of NSW football in 1979. They finished 7^th of 15 teams, ahead of the likes of Marconi and Sydney Olympic.

            A year later the newly badged Penrith United came second last scoring 26 goals but conceding 65. They survived to fight back to seventh the following season and improved another place in 1982. However after a reshuffle of teams Penrith United finished up in the second division and suffered in form to finish nearer the bottom and the top the malaise continuing through 1984.

            A season later and Penrith United hit bottom spot of the second division, winning no games, drawing three and losing 19, scoring less than a goal a game and conceding just under 4 a match. It was to be their last contribution at this level for a long time.

            The following season “Penrith City” were allowed into the first division, finishing second last but managing six wins having just played at the heights of the NSL this was disappointing. For in 1984 Penrith City had joined the NSL in the newly created northern division. They finished seventh with eights wins and only two spots off a semi final position. A year later six wins saw them finish second last, which was why they were back in the NSW league in 1986.

            By 1987 “Uruguayan Penrith” had made it all the way up to sixth spot on the ladder and the following year finished third. Unfortunately the following season saw the team tumble to last.

            In 1990 Penrith started life in the sixth division and won promotion at the first attempt by finishing equal first. In 1991 Penrith went straight up to the fourth division where they struggled but survived, whilst Springwood joined the sixth division and finished second, only a win from top spot.

            Again they skipped levels and entered the second division and once more they struggled with the jump, finishing only one place off bottom. 1993 saw a mid table finish and in 1994 the newly renamed Penrith Panthers finished ninth.

            In 1995 the Panthers won the second division with only three losses against their name. Finally in Division One they struggled in 1996 but finished mid table with this kind of effort being repeated 1997 through 1999.

            In 2000 the Panthers were invited into the NSW Super League and there they finished 11^th of 14 teams. The following year they finished second last with only two wins to their name. They replicated this result in the following year under the renamed NSW Premier League competition. After a couple of mid table finishes the club 2004/2005 saw relegation haunt the club but they were able to bounce straight back up and Penrith Nepean United (the Penrith club who had by now linked with the local association) were able to start once more in the NSW Premier League. Their first season at CUA had few highs although they did manage a win at CUA Stadium against Sydney Olympic, but 2008 has seen better results overall for the team.

            When Penrith City played in the top flight in the country (1984 and 1985) they played their games at Cook Park St Marys, where the current Penrith Nepean United sides train and where the youth league play their games. Overall they played 50 games, winning 12 drawing 16 and losing 22. They scored 53 goals and conceded 76.