By Peter Stephenson
This month, Mooroolbark Soccer Club celebrated 20 years of senior women’s soccer at Esther Park, but how did it all begin?
Mooroolbark’s senior women’s team, known as the Barkerettes, was established in 2003.
A group of soccer-loving school friends wanted to play in a proper team, but they needed a coach. So, they approached Mark Bunce, an experienced player. Having never played competitive football against other teams, Mooroolbark was admitted to Victoria’s State League 4SE. The Barkerettes were on their way!
In fact, Bunce steered the fledgling Barkerettes from State 4 to State 1 in just four seasons.
However, lack of playing numbers meant they were unable to field the reserve team required by State 1, so the promotion they earned was not taken up.
The next few years were spent as a solid State 2 side, and in 2011, with the introduction of floodlights at Esther Park, the women’s games, previously played on Sunday afternoons, were moved to Friday nights.
This allows the Barkerettes to have their own dedicated spot in the weekend program and gives a theatrical quality to the games that is lacking at many other women’s clubs.
In 2012, Andrew Mashoian was appointed coach.
Mash led the team to the most successful season in the club’s history.
They were the first Barker side, male or female, to go unbeaten away from home and won 16 of 18 games. So of course they finished second (amazingly beaten to the title on goal difference), but were promoted to State 1 – this time the promotion was accepted.
A tough season in State 1 in 2013 saw Barkerettes go straight back down, but in 2016, another stellar season saw the side win the State 2SE championship.
A talented side finished fifth in State 1SE in 2017, the club’s highest-ever league position.
In 2023, the Barkerettes are challenging for a promotion play-off spot in State 3S. They are three wins away from securing a spot in State 2.
Last week was a celebration of this journey, and a chance to reconnect with old friends.
These pioneers of women’s soccer could surely not have foreseen the growth of the game not only among women and girls in general, but in Mooroolbark in particular.
Not only that, but some of those foundation Barkerettes are still at the club helping out in various capacities – once a Barkerette always a Barkerette!
Today at the Kennel, the Barkers field no fewer than seven female teams, from senior women down to under seven girls.
This is far above the average for similar clubs in the eastern suburbs, and with the expected stimulus to the game provided by the Women’s World Cup, the club and the game can only grow. So if you are or know a woman or girl who is looking for a friendly, progressive female soccer club – see you down the Kennel!
