In 1989 Rory Champion, Siggy Pihodnya and Julie Andersen decided it was time to do something about providing an opportunity for kids to play football (soccer) in the Barossa. They compiled a team that played only “friendly” uncompetitive games for their first season. The club was named the Greenock Town Junior Soccer Club and the team was called the Barossa Hotspurs. It was an Under 10 team with players ranging down to 5 year olds and they played against teams in the Adelaide Hills Association.

In 1990 they played competitively, and their first coach was Jeff Taylor, who had experience in English football and was also a Physical Education teacher at Nuriootpa High School. Their home ground was at Greenock Recreation Park where an adult team was already based.

By 1992 there were four teams with a total of 50 players. The club colours were then red, white and black, and the team emblem was “Angry Chicks”. The Under 11’s team took out the 1992 league premiership.

At the end of the 1994 season the Club became an incorporated body and changed to being a member of the Elizabeth and Districts Junior Soccer Association. Reasons for the league change included less travel and a perceived stronger competition. 

In 1995 the club changed its name to Greenock Barossa United Junior Soccer Club. The club colours changed to green, burgundy and black. The Under13 team took out the Div2 Premiership.

In 1996 the name was changed to Barossa United Junior Soccer Club. There were six teams including a development squad. The club also moved to new grounds due to Greenock Oval being deemed as overworked with Greenock Town seniors also playing there. They moved to the back “cricket” oval at Nuriootpa Centennial Park and due to poor drainage also set up a pitch at Nuriootpa High School. As there were no buildings at the oval the club purchased an old Highways Department caravan which they set up as a canteen. The main fundraiser was operating the canteen during the Barossa Hot Air Balloon Regatta.

By 1997 there were 120 players and the club was looking again for a new pitch due to the ongoing drainage issues and clashes with other sporting clubs wanting to use the grounds. Efforts began to set up a new pitch by the neighbouring existing Scouts Hall area and a “modified” pitch nearby. In 1998 the club worked with the Nuriootpa Centennial Park Committee, the Lions Club, the Nuriootpa Cricket Club and the Scouts to finance and build a shared “shed” with many volunteer hours involved. The soccer club would use their portion of the shed for clubrooms and storage. By 1999 the new pitch and clubrooms were in full use.

In 2016 the inaugural Barossa United women’s team was established, with the first Under 15 girls team added in 2019, both playing in the FSA’s Girl’s Community Competition.

The beginning of the 2020 season arrived with the COVID-19 pandemic. The socially-distanced committee decided to withdraw all teams from competitions and pulled together a local 7-a-side competition, called the ‘B20’ to limit travel and avoid hosting teams from outside the Barossa. 

In season 2021 the name was changed to Barossa United Football Club (BUFC) and the Senior and Junior organisations were amalgamated. For many reasons, including limited options for female participation, dwindling numbers and junior pitch sizes, BUFC moved all juniors from the EDJSA League to join the Football SA League (FSA), Barossa United rebranded with club colours being changed to navy and green with a sky blue away top.

After generations of Barossa United committees advocating for new facilities, grants from the Federal Government and Barossa Council brought the beginning of the redevelopment of the precinct. The synthetic pitch was completed in 2022 and the new clubroom, changerooms, car park and canteen will be completed in 2023.

BUFC continues to see record growth with over 300 members in 2023. This includes a large U6 development squad, 16 junior teams (including U11, U13 and U15 Girls Teams), one senior women’s team, two senior men’s men’s teams and an over 35s team. Players come from far afield including Owen, Marrabel, Riverton, Freeling, Eden Valley and the northern suburbs of Adelaide.

Barossa United prides itself on its hospitality to travelling teams, supporters and referees. It also has a culture and reputation for a high level of sportsmanship always achieving highly in the Referees Association Club Award, the Dennis Moore Trophy, basing this success on active parent involvement and a family atmosphere built from the juniors up.