APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC

Last updated

APIA Leichhardt Tigers
APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC.png
Full nameAPIA Leichhardt Tigers Football Club
Nickname(s)The Tigers, Marronazzuri
Founded1954 (as APIA Leichhardt)
Ground Lambert Park,
Leichhardt, New South Wales
Capacity5,000
CoachJohn Calleja
League NPL NSW
2019 2nd
Website Club website

APIA Leichhardt Tigers Football Club, also known simply as APIA, is a semi-professional soccer club based in the suburb of Leichhardt in Sydney, Australia. The club was formed in 1954 as APIA Leichhardt, by Italian Australians APIA, winner of the national Australian championship of 1987, is currently a member of the NPL NSW.

Leichhardt, New South Wales Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Leichhardt is a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Leichhardt is located 5 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district (CBD) and is the administrative centre for the local government area (LGA) of the Inner West Council. The suburb is bordered by Haberfield to the west, Annandale to the east, Lilyfield to the north and Petersham, Lewisham and Stanmore to the south.

The National Premier Leagues NSW are semi-professional soccer competitions in New South Wales, Australia. The competition is conducted by Football NSW, the organising body in New South Wales. The league is a subdivision of the second tier National Premier Leagues (NPL), which sits below the national A-League. Prior to becoming a subdivision of the NPL in 2013, the league was previously known as the NSW Premier League.

Contents

History

The club was founded as the Associazione Poli-sportiva Italo Australiana ("APIA") in 1954 by members of the Italian-Australian community in Sydney's Inner West. After several years in the Canterbury District competition, the club joined the NSW Federation's state league. [1]

In the 1960s APIA became one of the foremost soccer clubs in Australia and won the Premiership of NSW of the years 1964, 1966, 1967 and 1975, which was the highest level of achievement in the absence of a national competition. Between 1966 and 1974 APIA also won three times the State Cup of NSW, then named after a sponsor Ampol Cup. The 1974 final was considered "one of the most incredible finals" of the history of the club when skipper Jimmy Rooney and centreforward Peter Ollerton, who scored five goals, won 9–1 against Auburn in front of a crowd of 5210 at Wentworth Park, the highest finals result ever. [2]

James Rooney is a former footballer. He was a member of the Australian 1974 FIFA World Cup squad in West Germany.

Peter Ollerton is a former Australian football (soccer) forward who represented Australia 55 times between 1974 and 1977 scoring 20 goals. He was a member of the Australian 1974 World Cup squad in West Germany and also represented Victoria.

Wentworth Park stadium

Wentworth Park is a multi-purpose sporting facility in the suburb of Glebe in New South Wales, Australia. that has been used for various sports over the years including soccer, rugby union, rugby league, greyhound racing, and speedway. Wentworth Park is located 2 kilometres from the Sydney central business district.

Rooney and Ollerton were also in the team that represented Australia a few months later in its first World Cup participation in Germany.

In 1979 APIA was given access to the National Soccer League, the top tier of Australian soccer since 1977. In 1987 APIA won the national championship, six points ahead of the Preston Makedonia Soccer Club from Melbourne, with then only two points awarded per win. The coach in that season was Rale Rasic. Charlie Yankos and Peter Katholos are probably the best known players from that side. The main cast of that year consisted of Tony Pezzano; Charlie Yankos, Arno Bertogna, Mark Brown, Jean-Paul de Marigny, Peter Tredinnick, Peter Katholos, Edward Lorens, Hilton Phillips, Gary Ward, Rod Brown and Tony Parison. In 1988 APIA won the National Soccer League Cup. By 1992 the APIA Leichhardt was overwhelmed by financial difficulties. The club was somewhat restructured and forthwith played on state level with the moniker "Tigers." [3] [4] [5]

The National Soccer League (NSL) was the top-level soccer league in Australia, run by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL, the A-League's predecessor, spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977 until its demise in 2004, when it was succeeded by the A-League competition run by Football Federation Australia, the successor to the Australian Soccer Association.

Zvonimir "Rale" Rasic OAM is a Bosnian Australian former association football player, coach and media personality.

Charlie Yankos is an Australian former footballer player who played for the Australian national team 49 times and scored 7 full international goals. He captained the national team on 30 occasions between 1986 and 1989.

In 2017, APIA won the National Premier Leagues NSW premiership, but lost the grand final to Manly United FC on penalties. APIA also made the grand final of the 2017 Waratah Cup, but lost 3–1 to Hakoah Sydney City East FC.

Manly United FC Australian soccer club

Manly United Football Club is an Australian football club based in the northern beaches area of Sydney. The club competes in the National Premier Leagues NSW and their home ground is Cromer Park, in the suburb of Dee Why, approximately 15 minutes away from Manly.

The 2017 Waratah Cup was the 15th season of Football NSW's knockout competition. The Preliminary Rounds are now a part of the FFA Cup competition. The 5 winners from the FFA Cup preliminary Seventh Round qualified for the Waratah Cup, as well as the reigning National Premier Leagues champion.

Hakoah Sydney City East FC

Maccabi Hakoah Sydney City East FC, commonly known as Maccabi Hakoah, is an Australian semi-professional soccer club based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club was formed in 1939 as Sydney Hakoah by members of Sydney's Jewish community. They played between 1977 and 1986 in the National Soccer League as Eastern Suburbs (1977–1979) and Sydney City (1979–1987). One of the most successful sides in New South Wales and interstate competitions in the 1960s and early 1970s coached by the now retired Bob Szatmari, Hakoah were also one of the main instigators for the establishment of a national league. The club currently competes in the National Premier Leagues NSW, with games played from Hensley Athletic Field.

In 2018, APIA won the 2018 Waratah Cup. [6] On 21 August 2018, APIA defeated reigning A-League champions Melbourne Victory FC in the Round of 16 of the 2018 FFA Cup, becoming the seventh state-league side to beat a top-tier team in the knockout tournament. [7] The result was billed as one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history. [8]

Venues

Lambert Park under floodlights with the old turf surface Lambert Park, Leichhardt.jpg
Lambert Park under floodlights with the old turf surface

Lambert Park in Leichhardt is the club's traditional home ground. It was opened in 1954 and has, over the years, been used for most of the club's home games. It is still APIA's main ground and hosts all of the club's NPL matches. APIA has also hosted home games at a number of other venues, including Wentworth Park, Leichhardt Oval and Henson Park. [9]

Current squad

Updated 1 September 2018. [10] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.PositionPlayer
1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg GK Ivan Necevski
3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg DF Paul Galimi
4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg DF Josh Symons
8 Flag of Australia (converted).svg MF Corey Bizco
10 Flag of Australia (converted).svg FW Franco Parisi
13 Flag of Australia (converted).svg DF David D'Apuzzo
15 Flag of Australia (converted).svg DF Themba Marlow
16 Flag of Australia (converted).svg MF Sean Symons
17 Flag of Australia (converted).svg DF Sam Gulisano
18 Flag of Australia (converted).svg MF Adrian Ucchino
22 Flag of Australia (converted).svg GK Blake Tuxford

Seasons

SeasonLeague Waratah Cup NPL Finals
Aust. Cup / NSL Cup / FFA Cup 		Top scorer
DivPldWDLGFGAPtsPosFinalsPlayer(s)Goals
1961 NSW Div. 1 2210485543246th––
1962NSW Div. 12213366538293rdSFW Australia Cup – QF
1963NSW Div. 12214357037312ndRU Australia Cup – QF
1964NSW Div. 12214355935311stW Australia Cup – Runners-Up
1965NSW Div. 11811075128223rdW Australia Cup – Runners-Up
1966NSW Div. 11813415516301stRUW Australia Cup – Winners
1967NSW Div. 12217326519371stRU Australia Cup – Runners-Up
1968NSW Div. 12211474225293rdGS Australia Cup – Unknown Round
1969NSW Div. 1229853526264thWAmpol – 3rd
1970NSW Div. 12291123635197th–Ampol – W
1971NSW Div. 12265112540178th–Ampol – 4th
1972NSW Div. 12211833318303rdSFAmpol – UK
1973NSW Div. 12210663834265th–
1974NSW Div. 12212464425282ndPF
1975NSW Div. 12213543919311stRUW
1976NSW Div. 12215524917352ndW
1977NSW Div. 12215614615362ndPF
1978NSW Div. 12613310364296th–
1979 National Soccer League 2611312293725 8th N/A
1980National Soccer League268711273523 8th N/A
1981National Soccer League3012117393335 4th N/A
1982National Soccer League3012711495431 7th N/A
1983National Soccer League3011613423639 8th N/A
1984NSL (Northern Conf.)281288433532 4th PF
1985NSL (Northern Conf.)227213203416 9th –
1986NSL (Northern Conf.)22967252324 7th –
1987National Soccer League241392392135 1st N/A
1988National Soccer League268711283523 11th –
1989National Soccer League267910273523 10th –
1989–90National Soccer League261196362531 6th –
1990–91National Soccer League267712272821 11th –
1991–92National Soccer League267118262825 8th –
1993 NSW Super League 26106+2 P 83923446th–
1994NSW Super League2273+7 P 52019348th–
1995NSW Super League26104+5 P 72923434th–
1996NSW SL (Stg. 1)137332014243rd–
NSW SL (Stg. 2)134541922178th
1997NSW Super League2012352717392ndPF
1998NSW Super League218673232308th–
1999NSW Super League2211294337357th–
2000NSW Super League2614665339483rdPF
2000–01 NSW Premier League 18828413626 5th –
2001–02NSW Premier League221255402941 4th EF
2002–03NSW Premier League221174442540 2nd WNot held
2003–04NSW Premier League227312243624 9th –SF
2004–05NSW Premier League22949252931 6th –SF
2006NSW Premier League183411163813 10th –RU
2007NSW Premier League18846262328 5th –4R
2008NSW Premier League22976413534 6th –QF
2009NSW Premier League225710303822 11th –4R
2010NSW Premier League221337393739 3rd SF 4R Robbie Younis 14
2011NSW Premier League226511243623 10th – QF Robbie Younis 5 [11]
2012NSW Premier League22949323131 6th – RU Andrew Bevin7 [12]
2013 NSW NPL1 222812294814 11th – W
2014NSW NPL1224810315120 11th – 4R Blake Powell 9 [13]
2015NSW NPL1221363563145 2nd PF 4R
2016NSW NPL1227511394126 8th – 6R
2017NSW NPL1221615501849 1st RU RU NPL Finals – SF, FFA Cup – R16
2018NSW NPL1221435622845 2nd RU W FFA Cup – QF

Source

Note 1: During 1984 to 1986, the league was split into two conferences – APIA played in the Northern Conference and the position in the table reflects position in the conference.
P Draws went to penalty shoot-outs during the 1993–1995 seasons (2 points for win, 1 point for loss).
     = Premiers (premiership positions) or Champions (finals series)
     = Runners-up (premiership or finals series)
1R, 2R, 3R...7R = 1st Round, 2nd Round, 3rd Round...7th Round
R32 = Round of 32
R16 = Round of 16
QF = Quarter-final
SF = Semi-final
EF = Elimination Final
PF = Preliminary Final
PO = Playoff Final

Honours

Regional

Premiers (5): 1964, 1966, 1967, 1975, 2017
Runners-Up (8): 1963, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1997, 2002–03, 2015, 2018
Championships (6): 1964, 1965, 1969, 1976, 2002–03, 2019
Runners-Up (6): 1963, 1966, 1967, 1975, 2017, 2018
Winners (5): 1962, 1966, 1975, 2013, 2018
Runners-Up (2): 2012, 2017

Domestic

Premiers (1): 1987 National Soccer League
Winners (1): 1966
Runners-Up (3): 1964, 1965, 1967
Winners (2): 1982, 1988

Related Research Articles

Sydney United 58 FC association football club

Sydney United 58 Football Club is a semi-professional soccer club based in Edensor Park, Sydney, New South Wales Australia. The club was formed as Sydney Croatia in 1958, by Croatian Australians in the area, but it was renamed in 1993 as Sydney United after having the name Sydney CSC for a season.

Sydney Olympic FC association football club

Sydney Olympic Football Club is an Australian semi-professional soccer club, based in Belmore, Sydney, New South Wales, that plays in the National Premier Leagues NSW. The Club was founded as Pan-Hellenic Soccer Club in 1957 by Greek immigrants. In 1977, the Club changed its name to Sydney Olympic and became a founding member of the Phillips Soccer League, later named the National Soccer League (NSL), the inaugural national football league of Australia, remaining a member of the competition until its demise in 2004.

Marconi Stallions FC soccer club in Australia

Marconi Stallions Football Club is an Australian semi-professional soccer club based in Fairfield, Sydney, New South Wales. The club won the National Soccer League title a record four times, along with South Melbourne and Sydney City SC. The club is one of only two clubs to have competed in every season of the NSL. Over the years, the club has been known as Club Marconi, Marconi-Datsun Leopards, Marconi-Fairfield and Marconi Stallions.

Blacktown City FC

Blacktown City Football Club is an Australian semi-professional football club based in Blacktown, New South Wales. Founded in 1953, the club currently competes in the National Premier Leagues NSW. Blacktown City's home ground is Lily Homes Stadium in the suburb of Seven Hills. Blacktown City are one of six state league teams to have eliminated an A-League team in the FFA Cup, along with Heidelberg United FC, Redlands United FC, Green Gully SC, Adelaide City FC and Bentleigh Greens SC.

Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC

Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC is an Australian semi-professional soccer club based in Bonnyrigg, Sydney, New South Wales, playing in the National Premier Leagues NSW. The club was founded in 1968 as Avala Sports Club and took its current name in 1992.

The Canterbury Bankstown Football Club is a soccer club based in Bankstown, New South Wales.

Western Suburbs SC (NSW) defunct Australian association football club that was based in Sydney, New South Wales

The Western Suburbs Soccer Club is a defunct Australian association football club that was based in Sydney. The club was a foundation member of Australia's National Soccer League in 1977, and had previously played in the NSW Premier League and the NSW State League Division One. Western Suburbs amalgamated with APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC at the end of 1978 NSL season.

Balmain Tigers FC

Balmain Tigers Football Club was an Australian semi-professional football club based in the Inner West suburb of Balmain in Sydney, New South Wales. The club played at the historic Birchgrove Oval, just west of Balmain. Later, they played their home games at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre, but continued to train at Birchgrove Oval. They have previously played at Wentworth Park and Lambert Park, and occasionally played home games at Leichhardt Oval and Fraser Park. After several years of playing in the NSW State League Division 2, they gained promotion at the end of the 2008 season to Division 1 after a hard fought match against Camden, winning on penalties. In 2012 they made the finals series in Division 1 for the first time in the club's history and followed this up by winning the 2013 grand final and securing the State League 1 title. Balmain were the first club to qualify for the Round of 32 of the 2015 FFA Cup. They formerly played in the NSW State League, after being relegated from NSW Premier League 3. The Youth teams (U13-16) play in NSW NPL 2 Youth.

The Waratah Cup is a knockout cup competition in New South Wales, run by the governing body of football in NSW, Football NSW. Teams competing in the Waratah Cup come from the NPL NSW, NPL NSW 2, NSW State League Division One, NSW State League Division Two and numerous other semi professional & amateur association clubs within New South Wales. The Cup is held during the NPL NSW and state league seasons. Since 2014 preliminary rounds of the Waratah Cup have been used to determine the NSW entrants to the national FFA Cup.

Alex Smith is an English-American footballer who plays for Olympic FC. He also holds Australian citizenship.

The Football NSW 2015 season was the third season of football in New South Wales under the banner of the National Premier Leagues. The competition consisted of four divisions across the state of New South Wales, excluding those regions affiliated with the Northern NSW Football federation.

The 2013 Waratah Cup was the 11th season of the Waratah Cup knockout competition, the main domestic cup competition in New South Wales.

The Football NSW 2017 season was the fifth season of football in New South Wales under the banner of the National Premier Leagues. The competition consisted of four divisions across the state of New South Wales. The Premiers of the NPL NSW Men's 1 qualified for the national finals, playing-off to decide the champion of the 2017 National Premier Leagues.

The Football NSW 2018 season was the sixth season of football in New South Wales under the banner of the National Premier Leagues. The competition consisted of four divisions across the state of New South Wales. The Premiers of the NPL NSW Men's 1 qualified for the national finals, playing-off to decide the champion of the 2018 National Premier Leagues.

The 2018 FFA Cup was the fifth season of the FFA Cup, the main national soccer knockout cup competition in Australia. 32 teams contested the competition proper, including the 10 A-League teams and 21 Football Federation Australia (FFA) member federation teams determined through individual state qualifying rounds, as well as the reigning National Premier Leagues Champion.

The 2018 Waratah Cup was the 16th season of Football NSW's knockout competition. The Preliminary Rounds are now a part of the FFA Cup competition. The 5 winners from the FFA Cup preliminary Seventh Round qualified for the Waratah Cup.

The Football NSW 2019 season was the seventh season of football in New South Wales under the banner of the National Premier Leagues. The competition consists of four divisions across the state of New South Wales.

References

  1. ↑ "History". APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  2. ↑ Mossop, Brian (11 March 1974). "Soccer with everything... Apia win 9–1". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 February 2015– via Google News Archive.
  3. ↑ Cockerill, Michael (16 April 1992). "Liquidator takes over troubled Apia". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Cockerill, Michael (25 September 1992). "Apia plan legal tilt for NSL re-entry". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  5. ↑ Cooke, Graham (18 December 1992). "Soccer World – Coaching clinic a must for youngsters". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 23 February 2015– via Trove. FORMER NATIONAL League giant Apia Leichhardt will resumeits interrupted career, reincarnated as the Leichhardt Tigers in the NSW Superleague.
  6. ↑ "APIA clinch Cup crown in NSW ahead of FFA Cup Round of 32". FFA Cup. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  7. ↑ "Sekiya stars as APIA Leichhardt stun Victory in FFA Cup | The World Game". The World Game. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  8. ↑ "We didn't show up: Victory rue shock FFA Cup exit". NewsComAu. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  9. ↑ "Tigers eye historic win". Village Voice. 29 June 2012. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "Men's First Grade". Football NSW. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  11. ↑ "2011 NSWPL goalscorers". SoccerAust. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  12. ↑ "2012 NSWPL goalscorers". SoccerAust. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  13. ↑ "2014 NSW NPL1 Leading Scorers". SoccerAust. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
Preceded by
Adelaide City 		NSL Champions
1987		Succeeded by
Marconi Stallions
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.