Cessnock City Hornets FC
Cessnock City Hornets FC is a semi-professional soccer club based in Cessnock in the Hunter Region, New South Wales. The Hornets currently compete in the NewFM Division with teams in First Grade, Reserve Grade, Under 18, Under 16, Under 15, Under 14 and Under 13 divisions. The NewFM Division is the 2nd tier of Football in Northern New South Wales Football below the NBN State Football League.
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| Full name | Cessnock City Hornets Football Club Inc | ||
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| Founded | 1907 | ||
| Ground | Turner Park, Aberdare Road, Aberdare | ||
| Coordinates | 32°50′32.68″S 151°21′50.88″E | ||
| President | Malcom Stewart | ||
| Head Coach | Michael Gatt | ||
| League | Northern NSW State League Division 1 | ||
| 2019 | 8th | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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History
Over the years, doubt has been expressed about the birth of soccer in Cessnock.
To get down to the basic truths, Sid Grant, a well known historian, undertook a detailed research including personal interviews with old Bob Harden (ex-West Wallsend skipper), Tom Rennex, ‘G ‘Tup’’ Rennex, Alf Brunskill, Alec Renfrew and others. But the truth of this problem came out when a former Secretary of the NDBFA, Mr George Reay of Dudley, presented Sid with both the official minute book and registrar of players book for the period 1902–1911.
This indicated clearly that soccer started in Cessnock in April, 1907. A group of 15 sportsmen met on a vacant allotment just south of the Cessnock railway station. Many of these enthusiasts were recent arrivals from Minmi, West Wallsend, Greta and Stockton. The first ground was a large vacant area near where the Aberdare Park was established 15 years later. 2007 saw Cessnock celebrate 100 years of football.[1]
Home Ground
Cessnock play their home games at the Hornets Ground, Turner Park Complex, Aberdare Road, Aberdare.
Rivalries
Cessnock City Hornets' biggest rival is Weston Workers Bears FC who are currently in the Northern NSW NPL competition while Cessnock were relegated to the NewFM 1st Division in 2005. Both of the clubs have enjoyed success at the top of local football over their histories and have always had that extra spark in the games where these 2 clubs meet in any Grade/Age as you do with games between two rival football clubs.
The Hornets also have a big local rivalry with Singleton Strikers.
Cessnock share a somewhat local rivalry with Maitland Magpies too, who now currently play in the Northern NSW NPL.
Worthy Mention
The end of the Hornets 2013 season saw the retirement of Andrew O'Hearn (nickname: Kanga ) a Cessnock City Hornets Football Club life member, a former Newcastle Breakers player, and Hornets 1st Grade Captain who ended his footballing career with 414 senior caps for the Hornets.
Notable Former Players
Cessnock has had many players go on to represent Australia at a junior and senior level including
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