Heritage Round: Dane Sim, a smiling Spartan

Blacktown Spartans don’t have a long and illustrious history.
But being merely a decade old, they do have a proud one that has seen them rise from the ranks of the Blacktown District Soccer Association to become a recognized member of the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 1.
The road hasn’t always been easy with many a twist and turn however one man who has been instrumental in overseeing their historic rise is club President Dane Sim.
“It has been at times a tumultuous rise but the ride has been amazing and a most worthwhile one to be on. From where we started to where we are today is thanks to so many dedicated people both on and off the pitch.”
Sim has been President of the Spartans for the last four years having spent the first six as club secretary and was one of those who would be there first thing in the morning. He would check the nets, fire up the BBQ and everything in between before turning the lights out at the end of a match day, a scenario so many involved in the game can relate to.
“It used to be like that in the beginning but I’ve cut back a little bit on that,” he says laughing.
“As the club has grown we’ve been able to put people in positions of respective expertise and that has helped lighten my load somewhat.”
And it is quite a load when considering Sim is also the President of the aforementioned BDSA too, another association with football that takes up a lot of free time.
One aspect of the Spartans that they are justly proud of is their youth policy which has seen the club able to feature a number of players in their senior team and one notable of course is inspirational skipper and glove-man Carlos Saliadarre who was on the books of Western Sydney Wanderers.
However Sim, although proud of how this has taken shape, sees another occurrence as the biggest achievement for the club in their short ten-year history.
“I believe the move from our old ground, Francis Park to this our new state of the art site at Blacktown Football Park has helped as a catalyst for us. Francis Park served us well for many, many years but here we have far better facilities and of course an ‘all weather synthetic surface’ for a pitch,” before breaking into laughter once more.
He then recounts the strangest if not funniest moment during his tenure.
“Everyone felt with an all-weather synthetic pitch we would be covered for all contingencies but that didn’t prove the case earlier this season.
“There was a terrific storm earlier this year and the match had to be called off due to a three inch covering of hail on the pitch which led to many social media photo’s being posted of ‘White-town Football Park that resulted in many a laugh being had at our expense but looking back it truly was something you had to see to believe.”
Blacktown Spartans may be young in history but with things on the up, going forward, they are a proud club that is building its traditions on a day to day basis.
Long may it continue.
Heritage Round Match Details
Sydney United 58 FC vs Blacktown Spartans
3:00pm Sunday 14th June @ Sydney United Sports Centre
Tickets available at the gate (Adults $15, Concessions $10)

– by Micky Brock