Our History
SETTLEMENT
In search for a coastal site suitable for a port, a party reached the mouth of Ross Creek in April 1864, with the first party of settlers arriving on 5th November 1864. Ross Island was found to be covered in fields of cotton plants, with a plantation being established in 1865.
A portion of the land within Ross Island came under the ownership of the Queensland Railways Department, which would later become known as the suburb of Railway Estate.
OUR ISLAND HOME
Estates home has always been that of Ross Island, which consists of suburbs Railway Estate and South Townsville. Ross Island is surrounded by Townsville's two major estuaries; Ross Creek and Ross River.
Over the years, Estates has occupied a range of different training and playing venues including National Park, Reid Park, Townsville State High School and our current home of Victoria Park; all of which are located in Ross Island.
Ross Island and it's two encapsulated suburbs has a rich history as an industrial workers suburb. This included employment at wharves and shipyards, railway freight yards, foundries and sawmills. Ross Island is named after William Ross, Townsville's very first storekeeper and publican.
Ross Island also features many heritage buildings and sites; Railway Estate Primary School was opened in 1884, Victoria Park was reserved for sport and recreation in 1887, Victoria Bridge was built in 1889, The Metropole Hotel opened in 1889 and the Ross Island Hotel in 1904.
CLUB ESTABLISHMENT
Estates was established in 1932 by Crad Evans (a leading football administrator and player) and his colleagues.
Excerpt from Townsville Bulletin Article 05/08/1992
Estates began as a lunchtime conversation in Townsville's railway workshops 60 years ago. Back in 1932, Crad Evans, a well-known Townsville soccer player discussed starting a new club, with some of his railway workmates. Mr Evans was convinced he could establish a team capable of defeating the existing Souths United and Caledonian sides. So months after the first discussion, he held a meeting with his mate Jack Keeler and 12 potential players and Estates started. Most of the original players were wharfies and railway workers from Railway Estate and South Townsville. Cyril "Nunk" Patterson, who was the club's first secretary, remembers the 1932 team as a 'pretty damn good side'. "A lot of the fellows had played before and they were all fairly athletic types. And Crad was a strict sort of coach, so they shaped up as a really good team."
Crad Evans captained and coached Estates from 1932, leading the club to multiple titles before the outbreak of World War II in September 1939. Upon conclusion of the war, Crad was president and coach of Estates; his leadership inspiring the club on the road to years of victory including 6 senior and 6 junior premierships. Crad would also go on to be a leading administrator and coach for representative teams.
THE SIXTIES
Upon Crad's untimely passing in 1961, Estates presented the valuable Crad Evans Memorial Shield for perpetual competition in 1963;
Excerpt from Stratford United Soccer Club 40th Anniversary Book 2003
A leading soccer administrator since the war until his death in 1961, his great efforts and achievements have paved the way to the present day high standard of soccer which exists in Townsville, and to his memory the valuable Crad Evans Memorial Shield has been dedicated for perpetual competition. It was presented to the North Queensland Soccer Federation by Estates Soccer Club in 1963, so his name may live forever in the history of the sport which owes him so much.
H. J Wilson
Life Member
Estates Soccer Club
Cost of trophy in 1963 - $204 (102 pounds)
Esteemed local Stanley Newman came on board in 1962 as a player, referee and administrator - becoming the founding President of the Townsville Junior Soccer Association.
THE GLORY YEARS
It was during the seventies and eighties that Estates enjoyed their most successful seasons, to which the club won numerous league titles, cups and grand finals. It was also during this period that Estates won the Crad Evans Memorial Shield in 1971, 1981 and 1983.
Townsville Bulletin article covering 1983 Crad Evans match
Estates and Stratford United slugged it out for 120 minutes of bruising soccer in wet and heavy conditions. Estates had two goals disallowed during normal time; one for offside and the second for handball. In which the 90 minutes was mainly highlighted by passages of late tackling which resulted in the referee issuing three yellow cards in the space of 3 minutes during the second half. Goalkeeper Peter Leather was at his agile best, on many occasions blocking a string of Stratford shots, particularly in the 2nd half.
The match however was dominated by the defences, in which Estates captain and central defender Dale Whalley was supreme. He combined perfectly with experienced sweeper Dave Searston, along with fullbacks Steve Lovelady and Michael Rach. Stratford player/coach Mike Mehonoshen attempted to exploit a tired Estates defence by steering wide balls to speedy wingers Mark Waddingham and Angelo Cappellazzo. Although looking stretched on many occasions, the defence found enough when needed to cut out the raids. An exhausted Searston, playing only his second game after a 14 week break through injury, was taken from the ground just minutes from the end, being replaced by Jim Graham.
Moments later, referee Peter Crave caused a near riot among the Stratford supporters when he disallowed a Rowan Rusch goal, in which the linesman ruled Rusch was offside when he accepted a Waddingham cross. The winner however came just moments from the end, thanks to determined lead up work by strikers Rick Brownlie and Eric Abel. Brownlie won the ball in the air from a long clearance, slotted it through to Abel who beat two defenders. Abel then forced a cramped shot which went across the goal mouth before ironically, substitute Jim Graham appears from nowhere unmarked in the box, to intercept the ball and hammer home the winner.
Estates coach Bob Prosser said after the match that there was nothing between the teams, quoting "They must feel unlucky, they put real pressure on us but only one team can win."
Estates last won silverware in Townsville Football's highest division in 1988, going the entire season undefeated before losing their Crad Evans match against Leichardt. Estates finished runners-up in 1991 - the last grand final appearance for the club in the highest division.
THE DOWNFALL
Estates ceased competing in the highest division in 1994 due to changes in rules that were imposed by the North Queensland Soccer Federation, and the club did not enter any junior teams in 1995.
In 2002, the club did not compete at any level, however continued to operate as an entity. A group of Estates players continued to play together under Herbert Valley Soccer Club in 2002 and 2003, before returning to re-establish the senior men's teams with Estates in 2004.
REBUILDING
In 2012, Estates secured a long term lease for the clubhouse at Victoria Park. Senior women's team was re-established in 2012 and junior teams re-established in 2013. Estates have since continued to grow the clubs numbers over the years, and undertaken significant improvements to facilities at Victoria Park including field lighting, irrigation and renovations to establish change rooms, toilets/showers and canteen.
Estates have enjoyed success in the lower divisions of football in North Queensland, including multiple premierships, grand finals and Crad Evans victories. The club has since returned to competing in the highest divisions of football in North Queensland for both senior men and women as of 2021; and from 2022, will be competing in the newly formed Football Queensland Premier League Northern competition.
