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Bringing back the mighty Bush Rats

A fresh generation of players are giving one of Ipswich’s most historic soccer clubs a new life

It has been a long journey for the Dinmore Bush Rats. First formed 130 years ago, the club has scaled the heights of Ipswich and Brisbane competitions, and suffered the lows of being disbanded in recent years.

But with hard work, passion and a new crop of keen players the Dinmore Bush Rats have two teams – Under 6 and Under 11 – for the QCSA 2018 Winter Competition.

Club president Scott Morrison said both boys and girls were welcome, and more players were encouraged to sign up for a successful season.

The club is also celebrating returning to its Riverview field, about 25 years after the Dinmore Bush Rats last played a season on those grounds.

It’s taken a lot of work to get the Bush Rats back on the field, and for Mr Morrison there’s a personal connection to the black and gold club colours.

“My family, we all played for the club in the 80s and 90s,” he said. “I had a family member who played around 1910.”

But more than that, Mr Morrison said his passion to re-start the Bush Rats was because of a need for more sporting facilities in the local area.

Division 3 Councillor Kerry Silver said Ipswich City Council supported the Dinmore Bush Rats by helping to source a training field while council worked to get their historic field at Riverview up and running.

“I look forward to welcoming this club back to the area. It has a proud history, and with the support of the local community it will have a bright future,” she said. 

Mr Morrison said a significant grant from Holden has helped the club buy jerseys and soccer goals, and they were ready to reignite the club for the community and provide a well-maintained sporting venue.

Family fun day

9am-1pm, Saturday July 21, 2018

66 Riverview Road, Riverview

Free kids rides, market stalls and loads more

9am U6 game, 10am U11 game

Contact

facebook.com/dinmorebushrats

[email protected]

www.dinmorebushrats.com.au

Dinmore Bush Rats players Isabella De Oliveira, Mateo De Oliveira, Ava Boland and Noah Weston.
Dinmore Bush Rats, 2nd Premiers, Ipswich, 1910. Image source: Picture Ipswich
The first soccer match, ever, in Ipswich was played on the North Ipswich reserve on June 26, 1886.

The Bush Rats were founded in 1888 – the third club established in Ipswich.

The name of the club came from the original members… “seeing that as they had worked in the dark with miners’ lamps, that Bush Rats was the appropriate name”.

There were no football boots in those days. Players tacked bars of leather onto their boot soles to prevent slipping.

Source: A History of Ipswich Soccer by Reg Erskine (Ipswich Libraries local history collection)

Don't beat about the bush

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