![]() | |||
Full name | Canberra Cosmos Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | Cosmos | ||
Short name | CCFC, CFC | ||
Founded | 1995 | ||
Dissolved | 2001 | ||
Ground | Canberra Stadium, Bruce, Canberra, ACT | ||
Capacity | 25,011 | ||
Canberra Cosmos Football Club was an Australian soccer club based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. It participated in the National Soccer League from the 1995/96 season until the end of the 2000/01 season, after which it folded, primarily due to financial difficulties. Throughout their tenure in the NSL, the club failed to attract supporters and had limited on-field success.
The Cosmos were founded in 1995 as a new franchise for entry into the 1995/96 NSL season. The club arose as a ‘community model’ consortium with shares held by ACT Soccer Federation and a number of local clubs, with some support from the ACT Government.
Canberra finished respectably in their first season for a new club. In finishing ninth, they performed better than much more experienced teams Wollongong, Newcastle Breakers and Gippsland Falcons. Much of the credit could be given to experienced Socceroo captain Paul Wade. But 1995–96 also saw the revelation of talented Canberra-based youngsters Michael Musitano and Alex Castro, who were accordingly snapped up by other clubs in the 1996 off-season. [1]
Canberra's second season was much more forgettable however. In finishing last, the club ended the season 16 points behind second-last placed team. Despite a dreary end to the season, a positive action would revive the club in 1997 as computing company Novell came on board with a stunningly large sponsorship deal. This allowed the Cosmos to recruit the 1996–97 coach of the year Branko Culina and after losing their best players the previous year, Canberra was a net importer of quality players for this season. New signings included Scottish defender Gordon Hunter from Hibernian, Sydney United midfielder Ante Moric and the return of Michael Musitano. Unfortunately, this did not translate into on-field performance, winning only once in the first thirteen games – a run including an 8–0 loss to Wollongong – and only three times in the season (including a record 8–1 win over UTS). The Cosmos finished the 1997–98 season bottom of the table again which saw the departure of Culina and appointment of former Socceroos coach Rale Rasic.
New signings for 1998–99 including Melbourne Knights goalkeeper Vilson Knezevic brought hope, but a winless start to the season for Rasic's young side escalated tensions with the board and Rale departed seven weeks into the new season. [2] The Cosmos continued to struggle in the national competition, finishing last for the third year in a row, ten points behind the second-last team.
The 1999–2000 season saw some on-field improvement by the club achieving nine wins and nine draws. However, the Cosmos remained unstable financially, and administrators were appointed on 30 June 2000 to oversee the club's financial position.
In a time of general turmoil for the NSL, the 2000–01 season was reasonably successful for Canberra, finishing a respectable 11th place and remaining competitive throughout the year with eleven wins and four draws.
Soccer Australia determined in mid-2000 that it would review the NSL for the 2001–02 season, proposing to reduce the number of teams from 16 to 12. Carlton and Eastern Pride folded during the season, and Soccer Australia determined in June 2001 that Canberra Cosmos was not a 'going concern', excluding them from the league along with Brisbane Strikers. [3]
Appeals by and on behalf of the ejected clubs followed seeking a reversal of the decision, criticising the process and criteria used. Eventually the Soccer Australia board, under pressure from stakeholders and political figures agreed to “re-admit” Canberra and Brisbane to the NSL for the 2001/2002 season.
The Cosmos stepped up planning for the new season, appointing new coaching staff and even forming a partnership with English Second Division club Swindon Town. [4] Despite looking forward, the Cosmos’ financial problems remained and were unable to recover from the initial exclusion decision. After being unable to pay their NSL affiliation fee, Soccer Australia determined that Cosmos FC had not met the required conditions of entry and on 26 September 2001 terminated its right to participate in the 2001/2002 NSL season. [5]
Season | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Table Position | Average attendance | Cup |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1995/96 | 33 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 48 | 61 | 35 | 9th of 12 | 2934 | Semi-final |
1996/97 | 26 | 2 | 5 | 19 | 30 | 69 | 11 | 14th of 14 | 3176 | First Round |
1997/98 | 26 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 29 | 56 | 17 | 14th of 14 | 2719 | Not held |
1998/99 | 28 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 21 | 55 | 15 | 15th of 15 | 2337 | Not held |
1999/00 | 34 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 44 | 64 | 36 | 14th of 16 | 2428 | Not held |
2000/01 | 29 | 11 | 4 | 15 | 49 | 55 | 37 | 11th of 16 | 2184 | Not held |
The club had only a single 'first team' during its existence with no incorporated reserves or youth development system, owing in part to the structure of the NSL. Local players were drawn from the ACT leagues and formed a major component of the squads.
While the National Youth League was in operation the ACT Academy of Sport provided the Cosmos youth side through the involvement of Soccer Canberra. The Canberran location provided a potential pathway for players from the AIS Football Squad, although no formal links were ever established. The program, aimed at developing players aged 16–17, also competed in the NYL independently. Few players graduated successfully from the ACTAS and AIS programs to the Cosmos squad.
In their inaugural season, the Cosmos played in predominantly dark blue shirts and dark blue shorts, colours reflecting the original ‘shooting star’ logo, provided through sportswear manufacturer Asics. The alternate strip was a white shirt and shorts, also with large stars in the trim. A yellow alternate strip with black shorts was later introduced. For the 97/98 season, the away colours of a white shirt with blue trim became the home colours, giving more prominence to the sponsor. For the 1998/99 season, the club emblem was revised to a circle and star design. The home strip colours were changed to red shirt and shorts with a new change strip of yellow shirt and shorts, now manufactured under a new clothing deal with Admiral Sportswear. The logo featured a blue star over a gold circle, which was later revised to a black star over a red circle to closer reflect the new red home strip. For the 2000/01 season which was to be their last due to the Soccer Australia management turmoil had unveiled a new logo for the 2001/02 season. While there was no further information on possible change in shirt colours the new logo featured black, orange and white. [6]
The Cosmos home ground was Canberra Stadium. During major renovations to the stadium in 1997, home games were played at Seiffert Oval in Queanbeyan. A small number of games were also played on AIS grounds.
The Cosmos failed to attract significant support within the Canberra community which was reflected in poor attendances at games.
A small but loyal group of fans formed Cosmos FC Supporters Group and were particularly active in promoting the game to the Canberra community. The group were consistently in attendance at home games and often travelled to away fixtures, particularly matches against the seven clubs located in New South Wales.
The official Canberra Cosmos mascot known as ‘Cosmo’ appeared at most home games throughout the club's tenure. Adorned in a blue white and silver helmet and jumpsuit, Cosmo would ride a unicycle, juggle and entertain the crowd from the sideline and during pre-game and halftime, notably being sent to the stands by the referee during one game for allegedly inciting the crowd to violence.
Below is a list of players who have represented Canberra Cosmos in the NSL and who have at least one senior or junior international cap for a FIFA sanctioned national team.
Name | National Team | Caps(Goals) |
---|---|---|
![]() | Australia men's national under-23 soccer team | UKN |
![]() | Australia men's national soccer team | 46(0) |
![]() | Australia men's national soccer team | 22(2) |
![]() | Northern Ireland national football B team | UKN |
![]() | Australia men's national soccer team | 19(1) |
![]() | Australia men's national under-23 soccer team | UKN |
![]() | Australia men's national soccer team | 1(0) |
![]() | Australia men's national soccer team | 32(2) |
![]() | Australia men's national soccer team | 84(10) |
![]() | Australia national soccer team | 2(0) |
Newcastle United Jets Football Club, commonly known as Newcastle Jets, is an Australian professional soccer club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. It competes in the country's premier competition, the A-League, under licence from the Australian Professional Leagues (APL). The club was formed in 2000 when it joined the National Soccer League (NSL) and was one of only three former NSL clubs to join in the formation of the A-League.
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.
Wollongong Wolves Football Club is an Australian semi-professional soccer club based in Wollongong, in the Illawarra region of New South Wales. The club currently competes in the National Premier Leagues NSW, the second-tier of soccer in Australia. The club plays its home games at WIN Stadium.
Branko Culina is a soccer coach and former player. He previously managed Sydney FC and the Newcastle Jets in the A-League.
Soccer in the Australian Capital Territory is predominantly amateur with a local, interstate, national and international history. Soccer in the ACT is organised and administered by Capital Football and involves teams from within the ACT and surrounding NSW regions, Monaro, Southern Tablelands and Riverina.
Newcastle KB United are a defunct Australian association football club. They participated in the National Soccer League from 1978 until early in the 1984 season.
The 1996–97 National Soccer League season, was the 21st season of the National Soccer League in Australia.
The Football Kingz were New Zealand's first professional football club. They played in the Australian National Soccer League from 1999 until their disestablishment in 2004, when they were replaced by the New Zealand Knights as an inaugural participant in the newly established Australian A-League.
The 1996–97 NSL Cup was the 21st and final edition of the NSL Cup, which was the main national association football knockout cup competition in Australia. The NSL Cup was sponsored by Johnnie Walker and known as the Johnnie Walker Cup for sponsorship purposes.
The 1995–96 NSL Cup was the 20th edition of the NSL Cup, which was the main national association football knockout cup competition in Australia. The NSL Cup was sponsored by Johnnie Walker and known as the Johnnie Walker Cup for sponsorship purposes.
The National Soccer League Coach of the Year was an annual soccer award presented to coaches in Australia. It recognised the most outstanding manager in the National Soccer League each season. The award was established in the first NSL season, 1977.
This article concerns soccer records in Australia. Unless otherwise stated, records are taken from the National Soccer League or A-League Men. Where a different record exists for the top flight, this is also given.
The 1996–97 season was Collingwood Warriors' only season in their history and in the National Soccer League. In addition to the domestic league, Collingwood Warriors participated in the final NSL Cup. Collingwood Warriors finished 13th in their National Soccer League season, and won the NSL Cup winning 1–0 in the Final against Marconi Fairfield.
The 1995–96 season was the first in the history of Canberra Cosmos. It was also the first season in the National Soccer League. In addition to the domestic league, they also participated in the NSL Cup. Canberra Cosmos finished 9th in their National Soccer League season, and were eliminated in the NSL Cup semi-finals by South Melbourne.
The 1996–97 season was the second in the history of Canberra Cosmos. It was also the second season in the National Soccer League. In addition to the domestic league, they also participated in the NSL Cup. Canberra Cosmos finished 14th in their National Soccer League season, and were eliminated in the NSL Cup Round of 16 by Melbourne Knights.
The 1995–96 season was the fourth season in the history of Newcastle Breakers. It was also the fourth season in the National Soccer League. In addition to the domestic league, they also participated in the NSL Cup. Newcastle Breakers finished 12th in their National Soccer League season, and were eliminated in the NSL Cup Final by South Melbourne.
The 1996–97 season was the fifth season in the history of Newcastle Breakers. It was also the fifth season in the National Soccer League. In addition to the domestic league, they also participated in the NSL Cup. Newcastle Breakers finished 11th in their National Soccer League season, and were eliminated in the NSL Cup quarter-finals by Marconi Fairfield.
The 1998–99 season was the first season in the history of Northern Spirit. It was also the first season in the National Soccer League. Northern Spirit finished 5th in their National Soccer League season, and were eliminated in the NSL Finals series elimination-final first round by Marconi Fairfield.