With the State League into its third season the club would again find the going tough under the guidance of Ross Wesson and even with the signing of a man that would go onto influence Tasmanian Soccer for decades – Peter Savill.

The club would finish the 1980 State League season in 7th place out of 10 teams, finishing on 14 points (6 wins, 2 draws, 10 losses) and 19 behind the Ken Morton led Rapid Wrest Point.

In 1981 the side performed much better in the State League under Englishman Ken Worden. Peter Sawdon proved to be an astute signing making his mark instantly in taking out the golden boot for the league with 20 goals. Our biggest win for the season was a 12-1 win over Glenorchy Croatia, a State League record for highest scoring game until the Victory League was introduced in 2013.

The Sawdon and Paul Wormley strike partnership heroics weren’t quite enough to get us our maiden State League title falling short on goal difference to Caledonians after we were the only side to go throughout the season undefeated, but four draws cost us compared to Calendonians one.

In the Cadbury Trophy we’d be knocked out in the semi-finals losing 2-1 to an improving Launceston Croatia with Peter Sawdon being our lone goal scorer.

1981 State League Team: J. Ludovici, J. Butler, T. Warmsley, E. Guest, G. Hilli, T. Garrett, I. Abley, D. Conlan, P. Sawdon, J. O’Donnell, K. Worden, P. Savill, B. Hemsley

With sponsorship being pulled from the Tasmanian State League in 1982, soccer in the state went back to regional competitions. The club would lead the Northern State League for much of the year but finished runners up and 3 points behind Devonport after a downturn in form towards the end of the season. The club would manage to win the Northern Reserves league over Devonport by 2 points.

1982 Northern State League Side: M. Burdon, B. Hemsley, C. Bowers, A. Heap, P. Sawdon, M. Wesson, A. Johnston, J. Butler, D. Joss, R. Iasiello, L. Hodge, P. Savill, K. Reynolds, V. Beale

In 1983 our first women’s team coached by Kerry Dennis took to the field in a Northern Women’s League, while finished their Northern State League campaign in 5th on the ladder.

1983 Women’s Squad: K. Robinson, A. Gregson, M. Murfett, K. Robinson, D. Evans, P. Bradley, M. Deane, S. Young, J. Stolp, S. Gibbs, A. Luciani

Some of our emerging players Warren Dent, Luigi Gugliotti and Matt Wesson represented the North against the South of the state, losing 1 goal to nil.

1984 would continue to be a rebuilding year with many of our young players finding their feet in the Northern State League. Our reserves would have a successful year and win their league title while losing 1 nil in the first ever State Reserves Championship playoff to University.

’84 was also the year our current junior club was established with coaches and parents from Summerdale Primary and West Launceston Primary Schools forming the Western Suburbs Junior Soccer Club, headed by founding President Rob Brewer. The newly formed club would play matches of a Saturday morning at primary schools around the Launceston area, which would remain the case until 1988 when all junior matches would be played out of Ogilvie Park, Invermay (where Bunnings North Launceston is situated currently).

In the newly named northern league being called the Honeychurch Premier League, our 1986 side began to climb the table and would finish third, four points behind winners Ulverstone. The men would finish the season on a high and win the northern Honeychurch Cup.

1986 Honeychurch Cup Winning Side: W. Dent, D. Gardiner, R. Mies, G. McFarlane, B. Hemsley, C. Guest, S. Dennis, T. Rossi, T. Gale, L. Gugliotti, B. Davidson, P. Savill, S. Kaitini, E. Guest

Coaches and support staff: L. Hodge, J. Burden, M. Pullen, R. De Santi

‘86 capped of a fine year by English import Colin Guest taking out the Statewide Rothman’s Gold Medal to be adjudged as the best and fairest in the state with 29 votes, 3 votes clear of his Andy Fraser from Launceston United. Roger Mies was our second highest poll getter with 19 votes and Steve Guest on 10 votes.

Our reserves would once again win their division, four point clear of Devonport.

Coached by Leighton Hodge in 1987 the club would take their first Steve Hudson Cup (Northern Pre-Season Cup) and go onto finish one spot higher on the ladder in the Honeychurch Premier League finishing runner up and two points behind Ulverstone who made it back to back Leagues titles. In the newly sponsored Bohemian Restaurant Statewide Cup we were to be knocked out by eventual winners Hobart White Eagles in the Semi-Finals.

Peter Savill would cap off a fine year, winning his first and confirming a Launceston Juventus player would go back to back years in the State Best & Fairest Award the Statewide Rothman’s Medal after Colin Guest won it the year previously.

Also, in 1987 the women first tasted success finishing top of the table and undefeated in their league campaign. The men would also end their season on a high going back to back Honeychurch Cup winners.

1987 Honeychurch Cup Winning Side: N. Scott, S. Guest, S. Dennis, D. Gardiner, J. Visentin, R. Mies, C. Guest, R. Manglone, P. Savill, L. Gugliotti, T. Pilkington, S. Kaitini

Coaching Staff: L. Hodge, J. Hunter

In 1988 the State League was reformed once more with the introduction of a win being worth three points for the first time. Ross Wesson took the reins of the senior men from Leighton Hodge. Ross’s side would end up finishing a credible third with 31 points on the State League ladder, however being 14 points behind the formidable White Eagles side and Olympia finishing second 6 points ahead of us.

The club would start the 1989 season on a high winning the Steve Hudson Cup under new Player/Coach Peter Savill and would go onto finish 4th in the State League on 32 points after 18 rounds with the powerful White Eagles side taking out the title yet again, 20 points ahead of us.

Peter Savill would mark his status as one of the most consistent and best players in the State adding the Vic Tuting Medal formerly named Rothman’s Medal to his ’87 feat.