1970 promised much with network TV channel Nine beginning live coverage of a match of
the round each Saturday afternoon. However, the club failed to get out of first gear through a
mediocre season that saw them finish sixth. An uncertain ’71 season followed, and several
coaching changes later Ringwood finished in what was viewed as a creditable fifth place, with
the reserves once again winning the Armstrong Cup.
In 1972 the coaching mantle was given to Bobby Collins, but disagreements with van Hoboken
resulted in Collins departure and Cliff Portwood being made coach. Portwood though failed
to deliver results, and it was left to reserves coach Archie Campbell to steer the club to
eighth place at season’s end. Ken Kontra was appointed coach at the beginning of the ’73 season,
and the club unexpectedly made it to the final of the Ampol Cup, losing 3-2 to Melbourne Hungaria.
This began some good results for the club but Kontra’s European trip during the important part of
the season led to a string of poor results and caretaker coach Fred Bunce was unable to halt the
club’s slide into a disappointing seventh place. Ringwood placed seventh again in 1974, as
inconsistent form hampered the team’s league season. In spite of this though, Ringwood made it
through to the final of the Dockerty Cup, losing 4-1 to Hellas. Another mediocre season followed
in 1975, this time under the management of coach Trevor Owen. The end of the season saw Ringwood
finish eleventh and finally relinquish their mantle as the premier team of the region to local
rivals Mooroolbark, who beat them 1-0 and 2-1.
1976 was always going to be a difficult season, with several players leaving due to the strange
disciplinary methods of coach Owen. Owen, in fact, lasted a mere four rounds into the season
before he was released by van Hoboken. Rudi van Altena was handed the reins as caretaker coach
until the appointment of Norm Hobson. In the end though, Ringwood finished a disappointing season
ninth on the ladder, and with the beginning of the Phillips National League set for the next year,
it was also the end of Channel Nine’s television coverage of the State League.
After an early string of poor results in 1977 coach Norm Hobson was shown the door and replaced by
former caretaker Fred Bunce. Another mediocre season and a pay dispute between van Hoboken and the
players led to an eighth place finish. An influx of players from Mooroolbark’s doomed National
League venture saw Ringwood’s player ranks bolstered in 1978, but again the club produced poor
results, and, despite Fred Bunce being replaced as coach after round 17 by Sjel de Bruyckere
(again returning to coach at Wilhelmina!) the season ended disastrously with Ringwood City
Wilhelmina relegated to the Metropolitan League. There would be no repeat of 1967’s instant
return to the State League this time, although Ringwood finished a presentable fourth in the
Metropolitan League First Division in 1979.