Palmerston Magpies Football Club
Palmerston Magpies Football Club
In 1971, a group of comprised mostly of soccer players, banded together to form an Aussie Rules football side so that they could keep fit in the off-season. They voted to name this side the Internationals. A prime mover was John O'Donohue, who was credited with approaching Keith Kemp to act as Club Patron, a position he held from the inception of the club, through to the 2005/2006 season. The committee at the time moved a motion to adopt the black and white colours of the Collingwood FC and approached the NTFL for permission to field a side in the reserves competition. This they were allowed to do on a semi-official basis for the 1971/72 season. In their first season the Internationals showed some promise, so they changed their name to the North Darwin FC and were admitted to the reserves grade competition in 1972/73. North Darwin FC finished last in their first 2 seasons, but following the suspended season of 1974/75, welcomed the 1975/76 season which saw them transform from cellar dwellers to regular finalists for the next six seasons. North Darwin won 13 games in the 1975/76 season and made the Grand Final, which they lost to Darwin FC.
Following a promising start to the 1976/77 season, where they won the Umpire's Carnival in Darwin, North Darwin FC went on to finish 3rd on the ladder, losing the Preliminary final to eventual premiers, Waratahs. The 1980/1981 season saw North Darwin win their first NTFL premiership, under the guidance of club stalwart, Ian Smith.
For a short period in the 1980's the clubs home base was a licensed venue in Progress Drive, Nightcliff. After using the Sanderson High School oval for training for a number of years and the Karama Tavern as the venue for its committee meetings, the club established its home base in the Abala Sporting Complex, Palmerston in 1995. The move saw the committee agree to a name change, and from the 1995/96 season onwards, North Darwin FC was officially known as Palmerston Magpies FC. In the 2010/11 season the Palmerston Magpies FC got a big boost when their Government grant helped with the construction of a Club house facility, now Cazaly’s Arena at Charles Darwin University Palmerston’s campus.
The facility is the envy of the NTFL, with the ability for AFL standard matches to be played under lights at the facility. Indeed, the club hosted a NEAFL level semi-final when NT Thunder took on a very strong Brisbane Lions FC reserves side in 2013.
Our Home Ground
Presidents Message
Incoming President's Vision for the Palmerston Football Club I am thrilled and honored to take on the role of President at the Palmerston Magpies Football Club. Drawing on my experience as a business owner, combined with my involvement for the past two seasons on the committee and my children's active participation in the club, I am confident in my capacity to lead and continue building on the club's progress. I would like to express my gratitude to Russell and the Davey family, for their exceptional contributions to the club. Under Russell's guidance, we have faced many challenges and have succeeded in restoring balance to the club. I am grateful for his continued support as we move forward. My goal as President is to focus on three key elements that are essential for any successful club, business, or family: Respect, Commitment, and Contribution. I want to create a welcoming environment for everyone at Palmerston, where each individual is capable of being their best both on and off the field. Despite our lack of success in the senior division in recent times, I firmly believe that we can turn things around. Our juniors have made significant progress, and our seniors possess the talent and drive for success. By embodying the right mindset and bringing more individuals on board, we can elevate the club to unprecedented levels. Let us embark on this journey together, exciting times are ahead!
Yours Truly, Carmine Rauseo