How It All Started – The Panania RSL Soccer Club was formed at the end of 1962 as a new club.

In 1962, Tom Clarke suggested to Dave Harper that the RSL sponsor a soccer team in the 1963 competition. The team he had in mind was then playing Under 14’s with Padstow Hotspurs (Tom’s son Calvin played with this team). Tom took Dave to the Bankstown Association Presentation Day at Memorial Oval to show him what a great event it was and to get him interested in soccer.

At the same time, Ken Anderson had been formulating plans to start a soccer club in the Panania-East Hills area, because there was nothing locally for boys to join. The club then known as Panania Wanderers (now Revesby Workers) was operating from Revesby. Ken was also at the Presentation Day referred to above and he approached Tom and Dave to also suggest that a new soccer club be formed – this club was to be called Panania RSL Soccer Club.

Agreement was reached and Dave Harper, Tom Clarke, Ken Anderson and Joe Ohlrick met several times to formulate plans for a general meeting. At this meeting at the end of 1962, a committee was formed to run the club in 1963.

The licensed Club lent money to the committee to buy material for shirts which were made by Ken Anderson’s wife, Netta. This loan was repaid through funds raised from “punch boards” run in the Club on Sunday mornings.

The design for the strip was submitted by Calvin Clarke. Fred Walmsley designed the pocket badge and this is the one still in use today. The committee were then ready to recruit players.

With the team that came from Padstow Hotspurs, nearly a team from Panania Wanderers, and boys from other clubs, Panania RSL Soccer Club was able to field SIX teams in its first year of soccer.

In 1963, that first year, the Club made its name with some good results including a President’s Cup win by the Under 8/2’s team.