The 70’s didn’t start off to the best of starts with the club relinquishing the Northern Combined League title finishing third and four 5 points behind Champions George Town United after they signed three of our players Alan Whitemore, P. Winnet and N. Wilson.

The club signed influential Englishman and now Life Member Ross Wesson from Metro Claremont late in the season of 1971 going onto reclaim the Northern Combined League in 1971 over Launceston United on a +11-goal difference. The side would complete the double winning the Northern Knockout Cup against Launceston United over two legs.

In the 1971 State Championship Final the side were outclassed by Hobart Juventus losing 6-1 at White City, Invermay and also 6-2 away at South Hobart to lose 12-3 on aggregate. Hans Streit scoring a double at South Hobart and Van de Pols scoring the lone goal at White City.

1971 State Championship Final: W. Garrett, P. Robinson, F. de Paoli, A. Webb, T. Strickland, J. Beresford, P. Jones, H. Streit, L. Gleeson, P. Mies, R. Wesson Subs: M. Scaglioni, B. Van de Pols

1972 saw the club go back to back once more in taking out the Northern Combined League finishing 4 points (2 points per win) clear of runner up George Town United. Once again, the club came up short in the State Championship Final against Hobart Juventus losing the first leg at South Hobart 3 nil but winning the second leg 3-2 after a gallant effort at White City. Hans Streit again doing what he did best in scoring a double complemented by a strike from Robinson.

1972 State Championship Side: L. Gugliotti, F. de Paoli, P. Jones, R. Wesson, T. Strickland, Crapper, M. Morosini, H. Streit, P. Mies, A. Robinson, B. Van de Pols Subs: J. Austin, Macaskill

1973 proved to be a nail biter in the Northern Combined League as we failed to complete the treble finishing runner up to Ravenswood Olympic who was coached by club great and Life Member Peter Mies would go onto beat us in the second last game of the season 2-1 with another Life Member in action Leighton Hodge scoring the winner.

The League went down to the last game of the season and Devonport at Valley Road stood in our way from claiming the title as we went down 1 nil to finish one points behind Ravenswood who took care of business against Burnie Rovers at Montello 4-2.

The club would drop down to third at the conclusion of the 1974 season but would storm back with signing Devonport’s Champion goalkeeper Joe Udovicic to be Northern league winners in 1975, seven points clear of Ulverstone. Hans Streit once again being the leading the front line that scored 97 times and conceded 19 goal in 22 matches.

The proceeding State Championship would prove our undoing yet again this time at the hands of Croatia Glenorchy. The first leg played out of Brooks High ended in a 1 all draw with then State U16 representative Braden Carter scoring our solitary goal.

In the second leg at South Hobart things looked promising shooting off to a 2-1 lead until Croatia equalised in the 79th minute to send the game to extra-time and from there it was all Croatia Glenorchy running out 4-2 winners are adding to our long list of losses in the State Championship final.

1975 State Championship Side: J. Udovicic, F de Paoli, de Plotta, R. Wesson, T. Strickland, I. Spiranovic, Whitton, M. Morosini, H. Streit, B. Carter, A. Robinson Subs: P. Moore, J. Beresford, E. Visentin

In 1976 the club completed the double in winning a fifth Northern Combined League since its inception in 1969 and also taking out a second Ampol (Statewide Cup) on the back of a ‘brilliant game’ by goalkeeper Nick Scott to lead us to a 1 nil victory over Hobart Juventus, claiming the $900 cheque and trophy back in those days.

1976 Ampol Cup Winners: N. Scott, B. Colla, J. Butler, V. Beal, T. Strickland, B. Hemsley, H. Streit, D. Collinghan, Ponting, P. Mies, A. Robinson Subs: P. Moore, Clark, E. Visentin Coach – J. Austin Trainer – A. De Santi

However, a State Championship and Statewide Cup double was rare in those days with only three other clubs managing the feat as we faced Rapid Wrest Point for the State Championship.

The first leg at South Hobart once again proved our undoing losing 3-2. The second leg at Brooks was a see-sawing affair with Hans Streit giving us the lead until a Tommy Strickland hand on the goal line conceded a penalty which was converted.

Hemsley and Streit put us ahead on aggregate however Rapid got one back to tie it up and send it to extra time. Neither side could trouble the scoresheet in extra time and it sent the tie to penalties which was a first for a State Final which used to be settled by a replay or even corners. On this occasion Rapid edged us out in the shootout to hand us our 10th loss in the State Championship final and have us continue our search next State Championship victory which has eluded us since 1963.

1977 was Devonport’s year to do the League and Ampol Cup double by defeating us in the final by 1 nil, while we finished third in the league 10 points behind champions Devonport and runner up Burnie Spartans.

The ‘true’ Statewide league was first introduced in 1978 and was announced to be an 8-team league that you had to apply for and accepted on criteria based off home ground, facilities, financial status, club supporter base and success of the club over the last 10 years (1968-1978)

The Tasmanian Soccer Federation initially rejected the club’s entry submission, but the decision was appealed after significant work by Peter Mies and volunteers to establish the Prospect Vale home ground. This included developing a training pitch and change-room facilities adjacent to the Australian Italian Club on Westbury Road. It was a major undertaking involving many families, including volunteers who cleared rocks to help prepare the playing surface.

The appeal was successful and alongside our entry Rapid Wrest Point was also accepted making the new Radio Rentals Statewide League a 10-team competition.

The club found the going tough in the new competition winning 7 games out of 18 and finishing 6th place on the ladder, 10 points off league champions White Eagles.

1978 State League Squad: T. Garrett, B. Colla, T. Strickland, J. Butler, B. Hemsley, J. Hodge, C. Collins, A. Heap, T. Gibbons, Ponting, L. Hodge, S. Foden, Foran, V. Beal, S. Clark, P. Gimpl

The club received recognition at the Tasmanian Soccer Federation’s 1978 awards evening at Wrest Point Casino, although in a somewhat controversial manner. Our well-respected captain, Tom Strickland, tied on votes with Larry Nunn of the New Town Eagles for the Rothman’s Medal (State League Player of the Year). On the night, the federation awarded the only medal available to Nunn, citing his lower yellow-card count, which is why records list Nunn as the sole winner. Strickland was later recognised by the federation with an engraved silver-plated tea set inscribed “State League Player of the Year”.

The club faired a little better under Paul Throssel in 1979 finishing 5th in the league 9 points off winners Rapid. However, they would stop Rapid from completing the treble by defeating them in the Cadbury Cup after a 5-4 penalty shootout win in what proved to be our Captain and the late Tommy Strickland’s final state league match as he announced his retirement and was chaired off, under lights at KGV after playing over 400 matches for the club.