Written by Laurie Williams
Drouin Dragons On Field History 1975 to 2020
The Drouin Soccer club were formed in 1975 after a meeting convened by Shire President Keith Pretty. From the meeting Leo Boeyn was elected president with Steve Andrews in the supporting role of secretary/treasurer.
It was early days as the club started to recruit players and by season 1977, they were able to field a team in the Gippsland Soccer League’s Second division which comprised Warragul, St Pats College (Sale), Bairnsdale, Bairnsdale United, Raaf, Morwell Falcons and Sale Cardinals. Travelling became a big problem as Drouin had to travel to Bairnsdale and Sale twice during the season. Luckily their first match was against Warragul but the Dogs proved too strong with a 5-2 victory. The following week it was against Warragul again, this time in round one of the Harry Dougan Cup with Warragul again having the better with a 3-0 victory. Drouin’s first home match was on May 8 and expectations were high that the Dragons would be competitive against Bairnsdale United, but the Eastern team were far too good beating Drouin 9-1. As the match finished at 1.00pm Drouin put on a BBQ for the Bairnsdale United club which helped to cement relationships between the Eastern and Western clubs. In the first round of the Advertiser Shield, Falcons handed a lesson to Drouin 9-0. It was a severe beginning for the young club, but their first reward came on June 5 when they demolished Sale Cardinals 10-0 for their first win and more pleasing it was at home in front of their loyal fans. The club went through a horror patch losing their next five matches before beating St Pats at home 3-2. Due to a lack of players and finance Sale Cardinals withdrew from the competition. At the season’s end Drouin finished 6th from eight teams with 5 points, the ultimate Champions were Bairnsdale SC.
In 1978 the second division was split into two groups East and West to cut down on travelling. Drouin were in the West Group along with Newborough, Warragul, Hazelwood, Traralgon Tigers and Monash. A third division was also formed with Drouin enough players to field a squad, other teams were Hazelwood, Sale, Monash, Moe, Traralgon Tigers and Korumburra.
In round 1 of the Battle of Britain Cup Drouin had their first taste of success beating Korumburra 7-1 while in the opening roster match they drew 2-2 in 2nd division but lost to Korumburra in third divvy 4-2. The Dragons were knocked out of the Battle of Britain Cup in the 2nd round by Leongatha 8-1. In 2nd division Drouin defeated Moe 4-1 but then lost to Traralgon Tigers in a double header 5-3 with third division also losing to the Tigers 4-2. Drouin biggest win in 2nd Division on May 21 with a 10-0 belter over Newborough while the third division also bringing home the chocolates with a 6-5 win over Monash. Drouin finished the season in fourth position in both grades, an improvement from the previous season. Drouin again entered teams in both second and third divisions in 1979 which was a steller season for third division as they took out the League Championship becoming the first Drouin team to win silverware finishing on top by one point (22) from Korumburra on 21. The 2nd Division team finished third. Pegasus entered a first for the league with an all female team called the Pegasus Phillies which won a couple of matches. Drouin second division lost the Harry Dougan playoff to Dinamo 3-1.
The Gippsland Soccer League went through many changes in 1980 with Dinamo promoted to first division, Morwell Falcons had a team in 2nd division, Olympians fielded teams in 2nd and 3rd divisions, Jeeralang Rams rebranded as Hazelwood Cobras in 2nd and 3rd and Drouin still couldn’t make it to 1st division were still content to field 2nd and 3rd division teams.
Both teams travelled to Leongatha in the opening round with 2nd Division winning 4-1 while the reigning Champions lost their mantle 3-0. Raaf belted 2nd Div the following week 10-0 but 3rd division tied with Traralgon Tigers 0-0. Droun 2nd division drew with Korumburra in round one of the Express Shield which forced a play-off later in the season, in the replay Drouin scored their highest ever with a 15-3 win over the Burra’s. Sadly for Drouin they were knocked out by Morwell Falcons 5-2. Drouin finished third in 2nd division and seventh in in third division.
Due to the large number of clubs division three was abolished in 1981 with 2nd division split into two groups East and West, Drouin were in the western group along with Korumburra, Newborough, Dinamo 1 & 2, Leongatha, Jeeralang Rams, Monash and Pegasus. Their first match was a 4-4 draw with Monash, they won a couple of matches to finish fifth for the season.
The League again in its wisdom made wholesale changes to divisions and boundaries in 1982, they reverted back to three divisions with Drouin fielding two teams Drouin and Drouin Dragons in 2nd and a team in 3rd. Second division comprised Yallourn, Drouin, Drouin Dragons, Monash, Leonburra 1 & 2 (Korumburra/Leongatha combined,) Jeeralang Rams and Newborough while third division saw Newborough, Drouin, Warragul, Yallourn, Olympians and Leonburra field teams. Drouin had a special Anzac Day match (special permission had to be granted by the Governor-General to play on Anzac Day) with part proceeds going to the RSL. It was a big day out for the Drouin club as they hosted Leonburra and after a moving ceremony by the RSL got into the winning mood as the Dragons defeating the Burra (1) 10-0 while in the second match Drouin had no mercy for Leonburra’s number 2 team winning 15-1.Drouin finished second to Yallourn in 2nd Div while the Dragons sat on the bottom. Third division were beaten in the final of the Express Shield by Yallourn 3-1 and also lost to Yallourn in the Harry Dougan Trophy 4-2. However it was not all doom and gloom as David Cairns took out the League best and fairest award in Division 3.
By 1983 the League reverted to Seniors, reserves and 2nd division with 10 teams, Drouin, Drouin Dragons, Newborough, Newborough Hotspurs, Pegasus, Jeeralang Rams, Monash, Traralgon Tigers and two teams from South Gippsland United. It was an exciting season for Drouin winning the Express Shield 6-2 over Jeeralang and the Harry Dougan Trophy over South Gippsland (1) 2-1. Drouin Dragons were also League Champions in 2nd division with squad members being: C Batchelor, G Mitchell, S Mitchell, D Cairns, A Campbell, A Cairns, T Carson, D Mitchell, J Smith, F Naylor, R Cairns, C & A Sceney
With their success the previous year Drouin were promoted to 1st division in 1984 with seniors and reserves with their first win coming up against Loy Yang Condors at Traralgon’s Airfield road pitch when the ball was twice lobbed over the road and into the airfield property. Drouin winning 2-1. It was a long wait for the Dragons with 14 matches without a win but again LY Condors provided Drouin with another win this time 2-1, the following week they scored their second successive win a 2-0 victory over Sale United. It was Drouin’s third win for the season but they still continued in first division for season 1985 where there were 14 teams vying for the top position but again Drouin found it a hard task against some classy opposition to register two wins and a draw scoring 28 goals but leaking 152 goals. The reserves also won three games.
Drouin stay in first division only lasted two seasons and in 1986 they were relegated to second division joining LY Condors, Inter-Morwell, South Gippsland, Newborough, Morwell Rangers, Churchill, Moe, Olympians, and Monash. It was a better season for Drouin as they competed against teams at their own level and were competitive finishing in third position behind Inter-Morwell and Moe. Drouin’s David Cairns won his second league best and fairest medal after a starring season.
Maryvale entered a team in 1987 in 2nd division but in fact it was a Morwell Rangers leftover team (the players that couldn’t get a game with Rangers other three teams). Drouin had a reasonable season finishing in second to Morwell Rangers but did take home some silverware winning the Harry Dougan Trophy after beating Dinamo 3-0. Coach David Cairns winning his third league best and fairest medal, the first and only player to win three timers.
Drouin were still in division two in 1988 and collected four wins to finish fourth in a tight season. In 1989 there were 12 division two teams but some clubs argued to the GSL that travelling and one-sided matches needed to be addressed so the league after 12 rounds split second division into East and West with Drouin in the Western group. The Dragons finished with seven wins (5-0 Monash, 2-1 Inter-Morwell, 4-2 Sth Gippsland, 2-1 Dinamo, 6-0 Fortuna, 9-3 Traralgon City and 2-1 over Newborough and a 3-3 draw with Moe.
Morwell Rangers and Loy Yang Condors merged to form Rangers/Condors in 1990 and they formed a very strong team going through the whole season undefeated in league and Cup matches. Drouin finished fourth but reached the final of the Express Shield only to be beaten by Rangers/Condors 1-0
The success of Rangers/Condors lasted only a season and they disbanded in 1991 (the contract at LY Power Station was cancelled and many players who worked there lost their jobs and left the Valley). Eight teams now comprised 2nd division with Drouin able to field two teams Drouin and Drouin Dragons. In the first round of the Battle of Britain Cup Drouin defeated Koori United (a invitational team of aboriginal players) 3-0. The Dragons took out the pre-season Charity Bowl (Lightning Premiership) with a 2-0 win over Moe. It was a difficult time at Drouin and who was the better squad, Drouin or the Dragons, who played where, could players interchange with the two teams to make one team stronger. As it worked out the Dragons performed better to win the League Championship by one point over Moe with Drouin finishing fifth. The Dragons reached the final of the Darryl King Trophy but were knocked out by Leongatha 5-3 on penalties.
Season 1992 was a real downer for the club struggling in all three teams. They were promoted to 1st division fielding 1sts and reserves and had a 2nd division team. The senior team finished on the bottom of the 12 team table with only a 2-2 draw with Moe to show for the season. They suffered some real belting as the stronger Valley teams showed their force big losing scores of 13-0 (Pegasus), 8-0 (Churchill), 11-0 and 13-0 (Newborough) 8-2 (Olympians), 11-1 (Warragul) and 14-0 (Olympians) didn’t inspire confident with the Drouin team. It was a miserable season with all three teams finishing on the bottom.
Drouin continued in 1993 in the senior division as the league dropped second division only running with seniors and reserves, again Drouin had a bad season finishing on the bottom but somehow won three matches scoring 19 goals (10 more than the previous season) but conceding 61 goals which was 89 less than the previous season.
Second division was reintroduced in 1994 with Drouin fielding teams in the three grades (seniors/reserves and 2nd division). History was made on August 28 (which still stands) that all winning teams in seniors won 3-0. Drouin again finished wooden-spooners but picked up 11 points, reserves five and second division six.
Final four and finals were introduced in 1995 with 10 teams in first division and eight in division two. Drouin fielded only senior and reserve teams but the seniors still struggled as there was no fire in the Dragon camp and they finished on the bottom again with only one win. Season 1996 showed a slight improvement with two wins being recorded, Season 1997 saw Drouin finish wooden-spooners for the fifth successive season but with four drawn games (Monash 1-1, Churchill 0-0, 1-1, Newborough/Yallourn 1-1 and Sale 2-2) and a 3-2 win over Tyers actually saw their on field performances showing improvement. Drouin were committed to division one for 1998 and notched up five wins (Monash 1-0 and 2-0, Olympians 2-1, Newborough/Yallourn 6-1 and a massive 10-0 over NYU in the return match), Drawn matches against Olympians 2-2 and Moe 2-2 saw Drouin finishing ninth.
Drouin dropped back in 1999 to finish on the bottom again with only nine points but the new millennium 2000 saw the Dragons improve three positions on the ladder but it was still a tall ask for the younger players to match it will the more experienced Valley teams. The Government introduced a Goods and Services Tax (GST) to replace Sales Tax and many clubs had to revise their financial situations to abide to the new system. The League and the ATO organised meetings to explain the GST in regard to Sporting clubs.
The 2000’s were not a happy time for the Dragons with teams not reaching expectations over the next decade finishing either bottom or near bottom, by 2007 there were 16 division one teams and Drouin found it difficult to compete, Morwell Falcons introduced an all female team in second division called Falcons Blue. Drouin finished 11th from 15 teams. Division two split into two regions in 2008 Drouin were in the West Group of division two along with Newborough, Trafalgar, Moe, Monash, Warragul, Churchill West and Tyers Green. Trafalgar were league champions and were promoted to division one in 2009. Drouin’s three teams finished on the bottom of the respective tables in 2010 Drouin had only a second division team who finished 6th with seven wins and six draws which ultimately cost them a place in the finals.
In a new era Drouin joined the Gippsland Soccer League (South Gippsland) in 2012 with the players working hard to do well, success came with the winning of the League Championship and the Grand Final defeating Mirboo North 2-1. Trafalgar and Morwell Pegasus joined the GSL in 2013 bringing it up to nine clubs, the scenario repeated itself in 2013 when the Dragons again took out the League Championship and winning the Grand Final after a penalty shootout with Phillip Island. Wonthaggi joined the GSL in 2014 but it was Phillip Islands’s turn to win the silverware taking out the League Championship and having revenge over Drouin to win the Grand Final 5-3.
Trafalgar left the GSL in 2015 paving the way for Drouin to win the league Championship again and the Grand Final beating arch rivals Phillip Island 3-2. The Gippsland Soccer League broke away from the Latrobe Valley Soccer League to form the Southern group GSL. Ian Murphy elected President with Darren Humphrey as secretary. Lang Lang were admitted into the GSL in 2016. In 2017 Drouin took the big plunge to enter a team in State League with a team in State League 5 (South) as well as a team in the GSL. The SL5 team had four wins and a draw but still finished on the bottom, the GFL team also finished on the bottom with only a draw to show for the season. The GSL was reduced to six teams in 2018 with Drouin opting to field a team again in SL5 South, they won three matches beating Bunyip twice 2-1 and 3-1 and Aspendale 2-1 scoring 22 goals with 79 against. Drouin had enough of the SL5 South and ventured back to the GSL in 2019 when they performed much better after their experience at the higher grade. The Dragons topped the League table winning the Championship as well as winning the Grand Final with a 3-2 score-line over Phillip Island
Seasons 2020 was a non-event with the Covid epidemic shutting down most sport in Victoria, the League tried to get up and running in 2021 but again the forces of disease and Government intervention saw the season curtailed midway through the season. Drouin had topped the ladder at the cessation of the season.
