Marking 50 years of Tigers
The roaring success of Cairns’ biggest junior club will be celebrated when current and former Edge Hill United FC players mark their 50th anniversary tomorrow night. Tigers from yesteryear have come from near and far to be part of the gala dinner festivities and no doubt the best stories will be told among the former players who built the club’s esteemed reputation.
THE roaring success of Cairns’ biggest junior club will be celebrated when current and former Edge Hill United FC players mark their 50th anniversary tomorrow night.
Tigers from yesteryear have come from near and far to be part of the gala dinner festivities and no doubt the best stories will be told among the former players who built the club’s esteemed reputation.
John Reynolds is an example of the family links within the club, being the first of three generations to represent the mighty Tigers.
Four children and two grandchildren have followed in his footsteps since he arrived in Cairns from England in 1982 and they won’t be the last if he has any say in the matter.
“Where I was born and when I was born, you joined a club and that was your club,” Reynolds said.
“This is my club. The kids will all play for it and please god, the grandchildren.”
The 66-year-old played for five seasons but spent the majority of his time as a junior coach, which has become one of the club’s strengths.
“I was very lucky,” Reynolds said.
“I had good kids, a very successful junior team.
“There’s plenty of juniors coming through and hopefully they’ll play senior football.”
Steve Slatyer, the 53-yearold “grandfather of the club”, made a comeback this year after first playing for the club between 1973 and 2002, and said he couldn’t wait to see his old teammates.
“I’m just looking forward to seeing those guys,” Slatyer said.
“We’ve got some coming up from Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane. It will be great to see them all again.
“I’ve developed all my lifelong friends from playing soccer. It started when I was eight, and they’re my best mates.
“I stopped in 2002 and wasn’t too involved in the club as a player, I was coaching juniors, but as a player with the camaraderie and the mateship, it’s something you do miss.”
While the club will reflect on the past tomorrow night, Slatyer said it was exciting to see it moving into the future with a new clubhouse under construction to serve future generations of Tigers.
Former Socceroos coach Frank Farina will help the club mark the occasion tomorrow night at the Hilton Cairns.