Our History

Lakemba Sports & Recreation Club (LFC Sports)
Established – 1917
Home grounds – Parry Park
Current members – 555
Previous names – Lakemba RSL Soccer Club, Lakemba RSC, Lakemba Soccer Club, Lakemba Returned Soldiers Junior Football Club

Lakemba Sports & Recreation Club (LSRC) is one of Australia’s oldest soccer clubs, established in 1917. The club was originally named the ‘Lakemba Returned Soldiers Junior Football Club’.

As the original name suggests, the club served to support returned soldiers’ integration back into society.

The club had its first meeting in Moseley’s Shop, Lakemba in 1917 and from this meeting the first football club in the CDSFA was formed. That year an under-17 team played in the Metropolitan Soccer Association on the site that later became Lakemba Public School.

Later, in 1920, Lakemba soccer players helped clear 94 stumps from Wiley Park Oval as a gesture towards the establishment of Rugby League in the district.

There was a slight decline in Soccer during the war, although at this time a very promising young player, Jim Staples (later Judge Jim Staples) was playing inside left for Lakemba.

There have been at least sixteen teams entered each year by Lakemba in the Canterbury District Competitions, many reaching the finals and going on to Champion of Champions. Lakemba is always well-represented in Canterbury Representative teams.

Mr S. (Pop) Gould, a Life Member of our club and also a foundation member of Lakemba’s original club, is still active around Parry Park, our home ground; his son and grandson have both played for Lakemba.

Another first for Lakemba was our Ladies team who have been playing in competition for five years, and who, this year, are playing in the newly formed Canterbury District Ladies competition. Since inception, ‘integration through sports’ has been the club’s motto and focus.

The club serves the community though the hard work of volunteers and continues to provide support to the community. Today, Lakemba Sports & Recreation Club (LFC Sports) assists local immigrants integrate into their new life in Australia and proudly serves more than 600 players, with numbers continuing to grow.

LFC Sports has football programs in place for all levels, from beginners to professionals. Its main focus is getting players on the field, loving the game and excelling.

The Club has also a growing presence in cricket and previously also participated in Martial Arts, Water Polo and Life Saving.

1917: Established as Lakemba Returned Soldiers Junior Football Club

1981: Name Changed into Lakemba Sport & Recreation Club

2004 – 8 male teams 1 girls team
2005 – 11 male teams 2 girls teams
2006 – 16 male teams 3 girls teams – 2 state league teams
2007 – 17 male teams 4 girls teams – 2 state league teams
2008 – 16 male teams 5 girls teams
2009 – 17 male teams 3 girls teams
2010 – 11 male teams 1 girls team
2011 – 10 male teams
2012 – 9 male teams
2013 – 3 male teams
2014 – 3 male teams
2015 – 1 male teams
2016 – 10 male teams
2017 – 16 male teams
2018 – 18 Teams, won Club Championship; The Cristal Cup from CDSFA
2019 – 23 Teams
2021 – 33 Teams, 570 Players
2022 – 34 Teams
2023 – 19 Teams
2024 – 20 Teams, 420 Players

Others
Cricket

Ali Kourouche

Holder of the local district Association’s record for most runs in an inning by a single player – 222 runs
Player Australian Universities Team and Rugby League world cup (Lebanon team)
Martial Arts

Vovi-Nam – Master Dr Samuel Nguyen

Australian Citizen of the Year, Canterbury
NSW volunteer award for 2006
6 young people will represent Australia at tournament in USA and Vietnam July 2008
Black Belt Dojo – Instructor B. El Hayek

Youngest and most successful karate trainer
Athletics

Hafiz Gami 10 years old

Gold medal 200 meters sprint (New Australian Record)
Silver in 100 meters sprint
Third in long jump

Alex Jalloh 11 years old

Gold medal 100 Meters sprint
Gold medal 200 meters sprint “24.5 seconds, (2 seconds outside Olympic qualifying time)
Bronze medal in high jump
Water Polo

Farouk Ismail Ali 18 years old

Voted most valuable player in his team
Selected to represent Australia in the Australian water polo team “youth” to tour Europe in June / July 2008

Mohamed Ismail Ali – 16 years old

Selected for the Australian secondary schools boys to tour the United kingdom, Germany, New Zealand in Nov/ Dec 2008
Life Saving

22 youth obtained pool lifeguards and swimming instructors with certificates from Royal Lifesaving, Australia
Australian Government Initiative “On The Same Wave” with Surf Life Saving Australia and 4 Surf lifesaving clubs in Cronulla
14 young men 3 young women qualified for their Bronze Medallion to patrol Cronulla beaches
7 continued advance training
65 different qualifications obtained in total
Screening of “Race to the Beach” documentary film on BBC and SBS (Link)
Other Projects

Community service scheme
Promoting SES and Army Reserve
Exercise classes for women
Senior Citizen activities and youth excursions
Host visits of delegates organised by DFAT
Participation in Youth Harmony Festival Darling Harbour, Sydney 2008
Local 2020 Summit
Family Fun Day – school holiday program