Box Hill United FC officially kicked off their 2025 season earlier this month, with a celebration of the club’s rich 100-plus-year history and an exciting look ahead to its future.
Unlike a typical season-opening event, attendees were treated to the highly anticipated launch of A Century of Soccer – The History of Box Hill’s Soccer Clubs 1922-2025, a book written by the late Lynne Harper and her son Kyle Patterson.
The comprehensive publication chronicles more than a century of soccer in Box Hill, from the club’s foundation in 1922 and its first official match in 1925, through to the present day. It tells the story of the rich history and evolution of football in Box Hill and the hard work done by so many in its community.
A Story Almost Lost to Time
One remarkable tale that doesn’t appear in A Century of Soccer is how the book itself came to be. Co-author Kyle Patterson shared the incredible journey of rediscovering his mother’s work which had been lost for more than 30-years and bringing it to completion.
“The manuscript for this great book was lost for a long time,” Patterson revealed. “My mother passed away from cancer in 1993, and we thought the story was gone.”
However, former club members never stopped asking about it. “Whenever I met old-timers from the club, they’d say, ‘Have you found the manuscript?’ It became like the Bermuda Triangle.”
Miraculously, the manuscript resurfaced in the garage of a deceased committee member. “Two and a half years ago, it came to me through a former club president, and I thought, ‘I’ve got to finish this. I’ve got to complete the hundred years.’”
Patterson reflected on the emotional significance of the book’s release. “This is a tribute to my mother. Now, 35 years after she passed, I can finally say, ‘You’re a published author.’”
Looking to the Future
Following the heartfelt discussion on the club’s history, Box Hill United FC announced their ongoing efforts to secure additional government funding. These funds will support the club’s vision of upgrading Sparks Reserve, ensuring continued growth and development required now and for future generations.
The project, which is still in the petition phase, plans to transform the current grass area of Sparks Reserve into a year-round synthetic surface, along with essential upgrades such as new lighting, improved seating, a goal storage area, and a completed car park. This facility will allow for better training and playing conditions for all ages, particularly reducing the strain on Wembley Park.
This will not be the first time the club has received funding to upgrade their facilities at Sparks Reserve. In 2021, Box Hill received $2.8m in government funding which was used to build a new satellite pavilion with four female-friendly changerooms, referee changerooms, a canteen, a first aid room, a storage room, public toilets and a covered external concourse for spectator viewing.
All levels of Government were well represented at the event, including Federal Labor Candidates Gabriel Ng and Katie Allen; Federal Liberal Member for Menzies Keith Wolahan; Victorian Labor Member for Box Hill Paul Hamer and Victorian Liberal Member Richard Welch MP; alongside Mayor Andrew Davenport and Councillors from the City Of Whitehorse.
Federal Member for Menzies Keith Wolahan and State Member for Box Hill Paul Hamer took to the stage to discuss the population growth of the area and the crucial position clubs and their facilities play in healthy communities.
"We know the city of Melbourne will have, at current projections, a population the size of London's by 2035." Said Wolahan.
"And in Box Hill, the population will double by 2050. And for the families that live there, open spaces and clubs like this will matter more than ever."
Copies of A Century of Soccer – The History of Box Hill’s Soccer Clubs are now available for purchase. For more information on how to get your copy, contact the club.