Thornlie Football and Sports Club has been part of the local space for decades.
What started as a small tin shed used by local football and cricket teams has grown into a lively, welcoming hub that brings together sport, social life and community spirit.
Chairperson Wayne Barrett has been involved with the club since 1981 and has seen it transform into what he proudly calls a “friendly, down-to-earth club” where anyone can feel at home.
“It’s not just about the sport. We’ve got all the homely things people want. A good clubhouse, a great viewing area, places for kids to play, and people you can connect with,” he said.
The club is home to senior and junior football and cricket teams, along with affiliated softball and darts groups.
On any given week, hundreds of players, families and supporters pass through. Junior football alone has around 350 kids involved, while cricket draws in players and spectators throughout summer.
Nonetheless, it is the atmosphere that really sets it apart.
“This club is right in the middle of residential housing. People can walk in. They don’t have to drive. That makes a big difference,” Mr Barrett said,
During the football season, the chairperson said crowds of up to 400 people gather to watch games. In summer, parents and friends come out to support junior cricketers under the sun.
On Friday nights, it’s common to find families and members enjoying an affordable meal, a quiet drink or a game of pool or darts in the club’s warm and friendly setting.
Bar manager Joanne Holmes said it is a place where people of all ages feel welcome.
“Sometimes the dads are having a drink while the kids are outside with a footy or a cricket bat. It’s relaxed. It’s safe. You don’t have to be a player to come in and enjoy it,” she said.
That sense of belonging is a big part of why the club continues to draw in members year after year. It also plays an important role for young people in the area, offering structure, mentoring and a safe place to be.
“We’d rather have them here, keeping an eye on them, than mucking around in the streets,” Mr Barrett said. “They’ve got somewhere to go, rules to follow, and people who care.”
The club also helps ease the pressure on parents, offering support like free uniforms for struggling families and encouraging social memberships for those who just want to be part of the community.
“There are a lot of people who stay at home, but clubs like this need volunteers, sponsors, supporters. The game won’t stay alive without them,” he said.
The club features weekend sport, birthday parties, engagement celebrations and Friday night meals. And, it is open to all, including players, parents, spectators and locals just looking for a friendly spot to meet.
“It’s one of the best clubs people say they’ve ever been to,” Mr Barrett said. “And I don’t say that just because I love it. That’s the feedback we get.”
