History

Gold Coast Knights Football Club (GCKFC) was formed by a group of Croatian migrants in 1978 under the name St. Anthony’s Soccer Club. The first team ran onto the field in 1979. In its early days, there was just one junior team, however as the Croat Australian community grew on the Gold Coast, so did the club.    

After playing at various fields, the club’s 146 founders decided members of St. Anthony’s Soccer Club needed their own “home”, so they purchased 2.985 hectares of vacant land at Carrara on April 16, 1982. The land became home to a small clubhouse (since replaced), and two soccer fields with lighting on one field. The precinct was called Croatian Australian St. Anthony’s Sports Centre Club.  

To fund construction of the first clubhouse, a small loan was taken out with the balance being funded by donations and the introduction of foundation memberships.  

By 1990 the club had outgrown its premises, and the current clubhouse was built to replace it. Foundation members each chipped in $1000 of their own money. However, the completion of the clubhouse experienced delays due to the Homeland War in Croatia. There was conjecture about whether building works should continue, or whether the land should be sold, and the profits sent to Croatia. The decision was made to complete the build. Today’s members are grateful for the drive and resolve of the members who were determined to complete the project.  

St. Anthony’s Soccer Club was renamed Gold Coast Knights Soccer Club in 1999. On June 17, 2016, the name Croatian Australian St. Anthony’s Sports Centre Club officially changed to Croatian Sports Centre Gold Coast Incorporated.  

In 1995, 2012 and 2018 the GC Knights hosted the annual Croatian Soccer Tournament of Australia and New Zealand. Following the 2018 tournament, the club cleared all debts and became unencumbered. This was an extremely important moment for the club’s community, and a milestone that will always be looked back on proudly. 

In 2019, the Knights joined the National Premier League Queensland (NPLQ), which is the top-flight of the Football Queensland administrative division and second flight of the Australian soccer league system. In the same year, at the Knights home ground, a Roman Catholic chapel also officially opened – the St. Leopold Mandic Chapel.  

In 2023 – the same year the Gold Coast Knights secured their second consecutive premiership and an unprecedented NPL Queensland treble – female football was introduced. The Senior Women achieved exceptional results in Football Queensland’s Premier League 3 (FQPL3) becoming premiers, championship winners, and earning a promotion into the QPL1 for 2024.  

With a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1978 by Croatian migrants, the Gold Coast Knights FC has consistently served as a unifying force, fostering a sense of camaraderie and passion among its 450 players, 750 members, and the broader community. The club’s commitment to inclusivity and grassroots development has earned it respected status within the Australian football landscape. 

Since 2014, the club has also been helped by passionate football advocate and Gold Coaster Adrian Puljich, and the GCKFC is now considered one of the best in the state.

Moreover, the Gold Coast Knights FC has played a pivotal role in preserving and celebrating Croatian culture within the local community. The club’s strong ties to the Croatian community have allowed it to showcase the rich heritage, traditions, and love of soccer, serving as a focal point for cultural exchange and pride. Peter Puljich – Adrian’s father and Croatian migrant – was one of the founders of the Croatian Sports Centre Gold Coast and home ground of the GC Knights FC.  

Both Peter and Adrian became inductees of the Croatian Soccer Association of Australia’s Hall of Fame in 2017 and 2022 respectively, for their unwavering commitment to the sport in Australia.