A LEGACY OF COMMUNITY SPORT IN NORTH TURRAMURRA
Since 1957, our club has been a cornerstone of the local community. We are proud to be one of the six founding members of the Northern Suburbs Football Association (formerly KDSA), debuting in the very first Under 12 competition held at Bannockburn Oval.
What started as the North Turramurra Junior Soccer Club evolved in 1970 into the North Turramurra Junior Sports Club, expanding our family to include our dedicated local netballers (spot them in their classic green skirts!)
The much loved Gala day - when the community game together to celebrate the end of the football season (photo 1978)
A Community Tradition: The Annual Gala Day
Since 1958, the heart of the season had been the Club Gala Day. First held at Bannockburn Oval, this day brought the community together to celebrate the end of winter through sport and high-spirited fun.
While the competition was usually fierce, Gala Day was famous for its "novelty" matches. Whether it's the Fathers vs. Sons or Mothers & Sisters vs. The Boys, the stakes are always high, rumor has it that many boys were threatened with "no dinner" if they dared to outplay the girls! The day concluded with a trophy ceremony and the presentation of the cherished club pennants to every single player.
From Hand-Stitched to Stripes
Whilst we are now known for our iconic vertical black and white stripes (a look we’ve sported since the 1970s), our beginnings were a bit more "DIY." Our original kit featured hand-made black shirts with a white V-neck, paired with white shorts and classic hooped socks.
North Turramurra Junior Soccer Club members (circa 1968)
Some treasured club pennants from the late 60s, early 70s
North Turramurra Junior Soccer Club Under 7's (circa 1967)
A junior magpie collecting his well earned club pennant
North Turramurra Sports Club junior members (1976)
North Turramurra Sports Club junior members (circa 1981)
Our first female team of Under 13 aged girls in 1961
Pioneers of the Pitch: Women at the Magpies
While many clubs are only just beginning their female football journey, ours started in 1961—just four years after we were founded.
Our first all-female team was born from the passion of local 12- and 13-year-old girls who grew up on the sidelines watching their fathers and brothers. They decided it was time to move from the sidelines and on to the playing picth, paving the way for generations to come.
Today, the "Magpies" spirit is stronger than ever. Female players now make up nearly 40% of our playing membership!!
A Magpie Renaissance
After decades of junior success, participation took a hiatus in 1987, with the club kept alive throughout the 90s and 2000s by our dedicated senior men’s teams.
The turning point came in 2013 when the "Junior Magpies" were reignited through just one single Under 6 team proudly wearing our heritage black and white stripes and in just eight years, that single team sparked a movement towards fielding over 30 teams across both male and female competitions.
Junior football returned in 2013 (Under 6 Magpies)
Samuel King Oval entrance 2019
The Legacy of Samuel King Oval
Our home ground is a tribute to the pioneering spirit of North Turramurra. Originally known as North Turramurra Park, the ground was renamed in 1980 to honour Samuel King, an Irishman from County Donegal who arrived in Sydney in 1853.
Samuel and his wife Annie established orchards along Bobbin Head Road in an area affectionately known at the time as ‘Irish Town.’ A dedicated church and community supporter, Samuel’s influence helped shape the neighborhood we call home today.
Players emerging from the original tin shed in the late 70s
From the 'Tin Shed' to Modern Day Facilities
Long-time locals might remember the ground's most famous landmark: an elevated 'tin shed' located just inside the driveway. Until the early 1970s, this humble structure did it all—serving as our dressing room, canteen, equipment storage, and the meeting room where the club’s future was debated and decided.
The field itself used to run north to south before being repositioned to east west in the 1990s.
The field and amenities building were renovated by Council in 2023 for the benefit of future Magpies!
The Lifeblood of the Magpies:
Our Volunteers We are immensely proud of our heritage, but we know that a club is only as strong as its people. Since 1957, the lifeblood of our club have been the tireless players and volunteers who have given their time to the North Turramurra community.
We wish to recognize the special families who have been instrumental in our journey:
The Cavender, Lethorn, Onsyko, Robertson, Dent, Law, Harwood, Glenister, Newell, Whitehouse, Redfearn, Soupidis, and Ryan families.
A Legacy of Service The Cavender family stands as a shining example, with members serving as players, coaches, and administrators from the 1960s through the 1980s. We remember with gratitude Mrs. Cavender, who not only managed the tuck shop and fundraising but, like many dedicated mothers of the era, hand-stitched and washed the team’s playing shirts.
SAVE THE DATE:
70th Anniversary (2027) We are preparing for our 70th year and we want our "Old Boys and Girls" to be a part of it. 📧 Contact: admin@ntfc.com.au 📸 Wanted: Photos, stories, and memorabilia.