Goonellabah FC's 50th anniversary dinner was a golden occasion that will live long in the memory of all that attended.

The strength of any club is the bond that it creates with its members. Goonellabah FC's event, a sellout of 180 people, encapsulated that bond, that sense of community that is the strength of the Hornets.

Craig Foster with Goonellabah FC President Michael Primiano and Junior Club President Brett Carden.

Players, past and present; coaches, administrators, volunteers and long-time supporters came together to applaud 50 years of community vision and purpose that is Goonellabah FC, a club born out of Goonellabah Public School.

Former Socceroo and SBS football commentator Craig Foster and Newcastle Jets Westfield W-League Assistant Coach Ashley Wilson returned to the club where they started playing football and gave speeches that were more about the community that has given them a life in football and how they never forget that community. There were also a special message from Lisa Casagrande, the Northern Rivers' most decorated female player, a Goonellabah FC Junior player who became a Matilda in 1994 and was inducted in to the Football Federation Australia Hall of Fame in 2015.

Craig Foster with his parents Kevin and Dee, who still live in Lismore.

The 50th anniversary function was organised by Life Member and former Premiership winning coach Renato Cheli, Lee Cheli, Nelson Cheli, David O'Brien and Anne Coveney. 

"It was good that the night went off with a bang," Renato Cheli told the Lismore App.

"It went well. We had Stephen Kelly return from Auckland, Craig Foster from Sydney and Ashley Wilson from Newcastle come back home to the Hornets. The music from ex-Hornet, the famous Damien Cooper, was great and the MC David O'Brien wA fantastic and kept us entertained all night."

The Hornets' 50th birthday cake by Cass Fawcett.

The event saw a huge and amazing Hornets cake made by Cass Fawcett.

Craig Foster with Goonellabah FC First Grade coach John Eakin and the present players.