Yearbook and History

South Eastern Rugby League Football Club, founded in 1957 is based at our picturesque home ground of Pioneers Park, on Anzac Parade at Malabar.

Mr William Ward founded the South Eastern Junior Rugby League Football Club in 1957.

The name was derived from a combination of Eastern Suburbs and South Sydney Football Clubs as Bill Ward played his football with Easts Juniors but had since moved to the South Sydney Area to reside.

The club’s uniform was also a combination of the colours and design of both district teams. The club’s jersey remains the same to this day – red, white and green in colour and the design based on the Eastern Suburbs jumper.

The first meeting of the South Eastern Football Club took place in Bill’s garage at 33 Eyre St, Matraville in early 1957. There were five men present – Bill, Dennis Murphy, Kevin Linsay and two others. The first President was William Ward and the Secretary /Treasurer was Kevin Linsay.

The club entered two teams in the South Sydney Junior League in their inaugural season – G Grade (under 13’s) and H Grade (under 12’s). The club’s first captains were G Grade – Alex Camelleri and H Grade – Terry Murphy.

South Eastern is a unique club in many ways as we were not only responsible for the running of a large junior football club but we also leased our home ground, Pioneers Park, from Randwick City Council until very recently. South Eastern was the only club in our junior league and possibly all of Sydney who was totally and solely responsible for the maintenance, upkeep and management of their football fields. Our volunteers would cut the fields and the surrounds – twenty nine acres in total (by tractor, hand mowers and whipper snippers), line marked the playing areas, erect and dismantle all game day goal posts, barriers and markers, maintain, tidy and clean dressing rooms, canteen and club rooms and surrounding spectator areas as well as perform our football responsibilities of coaching, managing and caring for in excess of 200 players. 

Pioneers Park is not only used by our football club but also by many other organisations and groups in our community who frequent this park. All the local schools, Special Olympics, netball, touch football, cricket, rugby union, aussie rules, runners, dog walkers all use pioneers park. These arrangements were not be possible if it were not for the dedication and efforts of our magnificent committee, parents, friends and helpers. We also rely heavily on the expertise and financial assistance given to us by Randwick City Council and South Sydney Juniors and our many Club Sponsors.

From little things, big things grow and South Eastern has evolved into the largest Junior Rugby League Club in the South Sydney Junior League District with teams ranging in age from Under 5s to A Grade. All players can Register and take the field of play once they turn 4 years of age.

Our hardworking team of Coaches, Trainers, Managers and Volunteers support a Club Executive who are driven to provide boys and girls in our area with the opportunity to enjoy the game of Rugby League, emphasizing on developing the participants skills, increasing participation and learning the spirit of teamwork, discipline, commitment and achievement. Above all else, we encourage our club members to have fun and be an integral part of our community.

We also rely heavily on the expertise and financial assistance given to us by Randwick City Council and the South Sydney Junior rugby League District and our Club Sponsors. South Eastern Rugby League Football Club (SEFC) encourages and welcomes all new players, Male and Female, to our club and the wonderful game that is Rugby League.