In 1962 a group in Heathcote decided to forma junior soccer club in the area. They knew very little about the procedures so they enlisted the help of Alex Versigi and on 19 July 1962 a meeting was held in the Church Hall, Boronia Grove, Heathcote.

The executive committee approached the Sutherland Shire Junior Football Association with a request that a Heathcote team become affiliated. A Cronulla club representative was the only protest to the admission because they did not want to take the long drive down the highway to play soccer. Our club was accepted and Heathcote Waratah Junior Football Club was born.

Sutherland Council gave the people of Heathcote a block of rocky bush ground for a soccer field. The Committee of the day faced a mammoth task to clear and grass the field so that it became suitable. The Secretary's son attacked the rocky ground by towing an old bedspring weighed down by children up and down the field to break up the rocks. The old bedspring was also used to sift the remaining rocks out of the soil. Before they could plant the grass, a water source had to be obtained. A quote of £500 was beyond their means, but undaunted they set to digging a trench approximately 300 metres long through heavy clay and rock, and with the help of a local plumber they laid water pipes to the field. Once laid grass runners from everyone's garden was used to grass up the field.

In the early days the home ground was at Waterfall Oval with alternating weeks on the Hawks Australian Rules field at Heathcote. Preston Park, Engadine was also used.

The wives of the Club Committee hand made the unique uniform of red and green quarters.

Since Heathcote Waratahs was founded in 1962 it has been more than just a soccer club to the local community. When the Club expanded in the late 1960s, many social functions were organised and members made friends with other children's parents, and these friendships are still going strong today and Heathcote has never lost its small club attributes - everyone will pitch into help.

We thank our founders for their physical, mental and financial achievements and we hope that they are proud of the Club as it is today.

Extracted from Sutherland Shire Junior Soccer Football Association "Reflections" 50th Anniversary booklet, 2 May 2003.