Bulli FC

Last updated

Bulli FC
Balls Paddock.jpg
Balls Paddock
Full nameBulli Football Club
Nickname(s)The 'I
Founded1901;123 years ago (1901)
GroundBalls Paddock, Woonona
Capacity1000
PresidentPaul Connery
Head CoachJulio Miranda
League Illawarra Premier League
20203rd of 12
(note 2021 season cancelled)
Website Club website

Bulli FC, commonly known as Bulli Football Club are a semi-professional association football team based in Bulli, New South Wales. They compete in the Illawarra Premier League, and are considered one of the most successful teams in the competition having finished Premiers 4 times, the most recently in 2014. The team plays out of Balls Paddock, a small ground located at Woonona, just south of Bulli which was opened in 1988. Bulli FC has had several well known, high-profile players both play, and coach at the club including Socceroos players Adrian Alston, and Dean Heffernan. In addition to their Illawarra Premier League team, Bulli FC also fields junior teams and women's teams in local club competitions in Wollongong.

Contents

History

Foundation

Bulli football club, was founded at the turn of the 20th century in 1901, however records of some organised football competition go back as far as the mid 1880s. This is believed to be the North Illawarra Rovers who are credited with being the "First club on the NSW South Coast – North Illawarra, with a ground at Bulli, founded in 1888". [1] The foundations of the club were believed to have occurred whilst British traditions of football were still in a development stage. [2]

Early years

Historically, Bulli have always played in strips of blue and white. This however changed in the 1950s when following amalgamation with Bulli Surf Life Saving Club (Bulli SLSC) they changed their kits to green and gold. In 1956 Bulli took out their first Premiership of the Illawarra 1st division. The 1960s were seen as the golden generation for the club, with silverware and success being had right throughout the decade. The 1969 team, coached by Ron Mcgarry (Ex Newcastle Unt UK and South coast Unt) won an impressive 5 trophies that year, including the Premiership & Championship for 1969, NSW Amateur Cup, Langridge Shield and the Corrimal Leagues Knock-out. These successes earned the team the title "The invincibles".

1970s, 1980s and 1990s

Th 1970s saw a return to a blue and white playing strip. However the 70s was not to be a successful decade for the club on the field. However, it was a success for the field of youth which the club brought through their ranks. The club however struggled in the opening years of the IPL.

The 1980s would be a mixed bag of success's and disappointments for the club. They were relegated into the second division in 1982, however re-gained promotion into the Illawarra Premier League after winning the 1983 second division. 2 years later they would achieve their first success in the Illawarra Premier League, when they won the 1985 season. 1986 would see them defend their Premiership, and go on to win further silverware, winner the grand final. 1988 would also see more success for the North Wollongong club, with the opening of their home ground Balls Paddock, by Wollongong Mayor Frank Arkell, MP Brian Tobin, and Illawarra Football Association President George Naylor. Bulli would go on to win their third IPL title in 1988, their last piece of silverware for 26 years.

The 1990s for the club saw steady finishing, for little or no reward. Some of the club's most famous, and well-respected players played during this era including Rod Paterson who would go on a 22-year career with the club.

2000s-now

The start of the 21st century started poorly for Bulli, with the club being relegated for only their second time in its history in 2002 since the foundation of the Illawarra Premier League. However, like their previous relegation in 1982, the club bounced back the season following, and would go on to win the Bampton Cup in 2004.

In 2006 Bulli made headlines in the Australian footballing community, when they signed former English born Socceroo, Adrian Alston. [3] Alston, who made appearances for Cardiff City FC, and Luton Town FC coached the club for 2-years.

The club's next major piece of silverware would come in the 2014 Illawarra Premier League season, where they finished Premiers, ahead of Dapto Dandaloo Fury FC. [4] Dapto Dandaloo would go on to win the grand final, defeating Bulli 2–0 in the process. [5] It was this season they signed another former Socceroo, and former A-League stalwart Dean Heffernan who signed for the club following a stint with the Western Sydney Wanderers. [6]

In 2017, Matt Bailey took over from Ben Smith as first-grade coach. The side enjoyed success in the FFA Cup, reaching the seventh round where they were beaten 3–0 by NPL heavyweights Blacktown City at Balls Paddock. Bulli won the Bert Bampton Cup for the second time in their history, their final opponents where Albion Park White Eagles and a Marcus Beattie goal saw Bulli win 1–0. In the final round of the season, Bulli clinched their fifth League Championship with a 1–0 win over 2nd placed Wollongong Olympic FC. Bulli made it to the Grand Final where they faced Port Kembla who came 5th in the regular season. Though Bulli were strong favourites Port Kembla secured a shock upset, winning via a penalty shootout after it finished 0–0 after extra time.

Grand Final Hoodoo

Despite being one of the Premier League's most successful clubs, Bulli would go 32-years between their first grand final win in 1986 and their second in 2018. This period saw the club lose eight grand finals including seven in 12 seasons between 2006 and 2017 including a shock penalty shootout defeat to Port Kembla in 2017 which was one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history. [7] Bulli would break the hoodoo in 2018 with a 3–2 win over rivals Wollongong United at Win Stadium [8]

Notable past players and managers

Honours and awards

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wollongong</span> City in New South Wales, Australia

Wollongong is a city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. The name is believed to originate from the Dharawal language, meaning either 'five islands/clouds', 'ground near water' or 'sound of the sea'. Wollongong lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 85 kilometres south of central Sydney. Wollongong had an estimated urban population of 302,739 at June 2018, making it the third-largest city in New South Wales after Sydney and Newcastle and the tenth-largest city in Australia by population. The city's current Lord Mayor is Gordon Bradbery AM who was elected in 2021.

Jacob Timpano is a former Australian footballer and current head coach of Wollongong Wolves in the National Premier Leagues NSW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noel Spencer</span> Australian soccer player

Noel Spencer is a former Australian football (soccer) player who coaches Dapto Dandaloo Fury in the Illawarra Premier League.

Alvin Ceccoli is an Australian footballer who played for three A-League clubs and was capped internationally for Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dean Heffernan</span> Australian soccer player

Dean James Heffernan is a former professional football (soccer) player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wollongong Showground</span> Multi-sports stadium

Wollongong Showground, known as WIN Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Wollongong, Australia. The stadium was officially opened in 1911. From 1982 until 1998 it played host to every home match for the Illawarra Steelers NRL team, and is still the team's home ground in the lower grade competitions. It is now used as one home ground of the St George Illawarra Dragons rugby league side and Wollongong Wolves of the National Premier Leagues NSW.

Adrian Alston is a former professional soccer player. Born in England, he began his career as a youth player with Preston North End and briefly at non-league Fleetwood before moving to Australia. In Australia, he played for South Coast United, then St George before returning to South Coast United and was called up to the Australia national soccer team after two years in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Group 7 Rugby League</span>

South Coast Group 7 Rugby League is the divisional boundary drawn from the Southern Illawarra and South Coast regions of New South Wales, Australia and is governed by the NSWCRL. The main semi-professional competition,, comprises ten (10) teams from across the region. Group 7 Rugby League also administers reserve grade, third grade, and under-18s competitions, Ladies League Tag, as well as looking over many junior competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illawarra Rugby League</span> Rugby league competition in Australia

The Illawarra Rugby League is a rugby league competition in Wollongong, NSW. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1911 with five clubs. The area provides a nursery of juniors for the Illawarra Steelers and St George Illawarra Dragons. The season is contested by seven teams and concludes with a finals series involving the top four teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AFL South Coast</span>

The AFL South Coast is an Australian rules football competition in the Shoalhaven and Illawarra regions of New South Wales. The AFLSC has two divisions of senior men's football and one division of senior women's football. In 2012 The South Coast AFL became "AFL South Coast" incorporating the three leagues of South Coast AFL Seniors, Shoalhaven Juniors and Illawarra Juniors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wollongong United FC</span> Association football club in Australia

Wollongong United FC is an Australian soccer club based in Wollongong, currently competing in the Illawarra Premier League. The club played in the 1991 season of the National Soccer League under the name Wollongong Macedonia, where it finished last.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balgownie Rangers FC</span> Football club

Balgownie Rangers Football Club is an association football club based in Balgownie, New South Wales. They play in the Illawarra District League. Founded in 1883, Balgownie is believed to be the oldest running association football club in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corrimal Cougars</span> Australian rugby league club, based in Corrimal, NSW

The Corrimal Cougars are an Australian rugby league football team based in Corrimal, a northern suburb of the city of Wollongong. The club are a part of Country Rugby League and has competed in the Illawarra Rugby League premiership since 1912.

Kemblawarra Fury is a former football club based in Dapto and Kemblawarra in New South Wales. The Dapto club was established in 2012 and merged with Kemblawarra in 2016. They were dissolved in 2017.

The Illawarra Premier League is a regional Australian semi-professional association football league, comprising teams from the Illawarra, and South Coast regions of New South Wales. The competition is run under the Football South Coast body, an associate of Football NSW – a member federation of Football Federation Australia. It therefore fits below the national A-League and NSW wide divisions including National Premier Leagues NSW, The league sits at level 4 on the New South Wales league system, making it a level league 5 in the Australian League System. The major sponsor for the Illawarra Premier League is the Illawarra Mercury and as such the competition is often referred to as the Illawarra Mercury Premier League.

Bradley Welch is a Trinidadian and Tobagonian American footballer who currently plays for the Central Florida Panthers SC in the National Premier Soccer League. Welch has represented Trinidad and Tobago at national level.

Port Kembla Football Club are an Australian semi-professional association football club based in Port Kembla, New South Wales. It participates in the regions semi-professional competition, the Illawarra Premier League.

Cringila Lions FC is an Australian soccer club based in Cringila, New South Wales. The team currently participates in the Illawarra Premier League.

Safeway United were a former football (soccer) club based in the Illawarra. They were formed by influential members of the Corrimal Rangers in 1958. For most of the club's existence they were known as South Coast United when they amalgamated with Woonona-Bulli Soccer Club in 1961 before changing their name to Safeway United in 1973 when they were financially backed by Safeway Motors. The club played in the NSW First Division before being absorbed by fellow Wollongong-based club, Balgownie Rangers prior to the creation of the first national league, the National Soccer League. This meant that the club played at the highest level of soccer in Australia for all 17 years of the clubs existence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wollongong Olympic FC</span> Football club

Wollongong Olympic Football Club, often referred to as "Olympic" are semi-professional association football team based in North Wollongong, New South Wales. They compete in the Illawarra Premier League. The club was formed during the 20th century, initially called "Aris FC" and then renamed "Wollongong Olympic FC" in 1990. The club has won the Illawarra Premier League Premiership on two occasions in 1994 and 2019 and the Grand Final on one occasion in 1985. They play out of Herb Clunis Oval which is in the North Wollongong branch of the PCYC.

References

  1. ↑ Pollard, Jack; Blanch, John (1973). Ampol's sporting records (5th rev ed.). Sydney: Jack Pollard. ISBN   0909950229.
  2. ↑ "About us – History". Bulli FC. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "Alston: The man Schoen feared". FIFA. Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "Bulli claim 2014 IPL Premiership". Fox Sports Pulse. 22 November 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Keith, Julian (2 October 2014). "Fury clinch second title in three years". Fox Sports Pulse. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Cohen, Mitch (30 May 2014). "Socceroo star Heffernan looks forward to Bulli stint". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  7. ↑ Arvela, Dylan (22 September 2018). "A year on from the IPL Grand Final upset of the century". Medium. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  8. ↑ Arvela, Dylan (23 September 2018). "BULLI LEAVE IT LATE TO END GRAND FINAL HOODOO". Football South Coast. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
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.