As a Club entrenched in history, Parramatta City FC has secured a double milestone in its future towards providing a football team for the region.
For many years, Parramatta City had no authentic home ground, having been based in the neighbouring suburb of Rydalmere.
However, coinciding with the half century of existence is the confirmed move to Old Saleyards Reserve in the suitably located heartland of North Parramatta.
Thanks to the individuals and committee members and their negotiations with City of Parramatta Council, the new fields bring a range of benefits – such as increased capacity for participation, improved facilities and enhanced community engagement.
Two of those committee members to turn the plans into reality are Club Secretary Lou Mantzos and President Angelo Aronis.
Having been at the Club since day one in 1974 from their junior days in numerous capacities, both are still heavily involved in driving future growth in participants in junior and senior level.
Mantzos described what it was like at Rydalmere and how the move across to Old Salesyards Reserve unfolded.
“We had been at Rydalmere since 1981 and it’s an older area that is now growing with some new housing,” he told Soccerscene.
“However, the only way for us to survive long-term was being back in Parramatta, rather than competing with Rydalmere FC who are based up the road and with brand new facilities.
“The breakthrough occurred last year with executive general managers of council in the parks & recreation area.
“We had follow up meetings early this year and eventually our mission was accomplished in leasing Old Saleyards Reserve which is a nine-year-old facility.
“The fields are in excellent shape and rated as one of three A-grade grounds in the Parramatta precinct.
“We now have a dozen teams training and playing at the venue and once the junior rugby league moves across to Doyle Park nearby, we will be permanently based at our new home in 2025.”
Similarly to all clubs involved in the negotiation process, challenges are always going to occur, whether it be due to capacity or financially.
Aronis shared his involvement at the Club alongside Mantzos during a difficult period.
“We came into it 4-5 years ago as a sub-committee, working on the new grounds and other issues involved in the Club,” he said to Soccerscene.
“The previous committees did their best in trying times, worked hard, kept the club afloat especially during the Covid pandemic but lost numerous teams during and post this period, and potentially other clubs had similar problems.
“It did make us realise that Rydalmere was not a growth area.
“For example, across Silverwater Road, Newington and Sydney Olympic Park precinct was thriving and nobody wanted to cross over and get to us which is essentially walking distance.
“The other side of Silverwater Road, which includes Wilson Park, now NSW cricket academy, was growing exponentially and the previous committees just weren’t able to attract the numbers we needed.”
The Covid-19 pandemic was not immune to Parramatta City, who needed to navigate through postponed games and seasons.
It presented the confronting reality that even a Club like Parramatta City could fold due to mounting hardship and pressure.
However, Aronis and Mantzos persevered and played a crucial role in keeping the Club afloat.
It was one initiative in particular that Mantzos believes changed the Club’s fortunes entirely.
“In September last year, after failed attempts due to Covid-19 lockdowns, we finally held a reunion game to bring back some familiar faces,” he said.
“It was Andrew Charlton (Federal MP for Parramatta) who assisted with funding for some new equipment and together helped bring many former players back to participate on the day.
“There was a collective buy-in from all participants – the former Parramatta City state league (a powerhouse during the 90’s) and all-age players paid $20 to enter as a way to raise funds and interest.
“We got 40 players on the day and the game attracted a lot of attention as people started talking about it and that was the reason why we did it – we wanted to get traction back rather than see a slow demise.
“We had a ‘Beyond 50’ push that really urged Club members to get behind us and do what they could to keep us around for the next 50 years.”
The reunion proved a major hit, paving the way for long-term success in participation.
Aronis added what the overall impact was like post-event and a great indication of what we expect to see.
“We had two teams in 2023 as a band-aid solution, and if it stayed that way, we would have had no choice but in folding the Club,” he said.
“For this season, the number of teams is up at 12 and the reunion was one of the springboard we needed as we reached that figure without really trying.
“Now, we anticipate that we will double that figure by 2025 which would be a fantastic result.
“We were really proud of the efforts of all involved on reunion day and every bit that went into it was worth it.”
“In closing, I sincerely thank all those individuals and recent committees of this proud club for the contributions.”
