Sport
19 October, 2026
Club shares history ahead of 80th
BORZI Park will become very lively this weekend when the Mareeba United Football Club celebrates its 80th anniversary, with many old-timers beginning to reminisce on the good old days.
The club has a big bash planned for its 80th birthday, including a commemorative gala event this Saturday night and the release of a special in-house documentary created by Sandro and Robby Soncin.
As part of the milestone, a team of volunteers have been unearthing some special moments in the club’s history.
The club, known as the Mareeba Bulls, is currently located at Borzi Park. However, it has had many homes, beginning with Basalt Gully behind the pool, Borzi Park (“Version 1”), the International Club, and then finally back to Borzi Park again.
When the club was given access to the council land it now resides at, the nominated sports reserve was “literally nothing but a dirt paddock”. Nevertheless, volunteers quickly went to work and established a small canteen and toilet block, and on 22 April 1973, Borzi Park was officially opened.
During its time at the International Club (1977-1989), the club enjoyed one of its most significant times in football.
This was when it entered the State League Competition in 1979 – a semi-professional statewide competition. Surprisingly, Mareeba was ahead of its times in terms of football and facilities and regularly attracted crowds of up to 2,000 people.
It also became a launchpad of sorts for young players like Frank Farina, who went on to play internationally for the Socceroos.
The club recently caught up with several players who shared some of their experiences during this time.
Frank Tosoni:
“Geoff Mayes had a white Holden ute. Frank Farina and myself used to hop in the back from Cairns and come up to Mareeba for training, then drive back down at night time. Imagine doing that now!”
Chris Young:
“The atmosphere was there, big crowds, and people loved it. We liked to travel, we were young and we had some good times.”
Mick Pirovich:
“Mate, you learnt quick, they hit you hard. On the Gold Coast during a game, while the ball was kicked away, I was headbutted! You learned to get match weary.”
However, due to the travelling becoming too much of a financial burden, Mareeba eventually withdrew in 1981. But those good old days in the State League are still remembered today.
