Corio Soccer Club

Last updated
Corio Soccer Club
Corio Soccer club.png
Founded1955;70 years ago (1955)
GroundHume Reserve, Bell Park, Vic, Australia
League Victorian State League 1 North–West
2024 10th of 12
Website https://coriosc.com.au

Corio Soccer Club is an Australian semi-professional soccer club in Bell Park, Geelong, Australia.

Contents

Corio's senior men's team currently competes in the Victorian State League 1.

Junior teams play in the local football competitions run by the Geelong Regional Football Committee.

History

In 1955 a local Dutch newspaper sponsored an international cup competition named the "New World" Cup. Among eight teams, a German team was entered, made up of players from the International Harvester team.

Corio Soccer Club was started shortly after by Norman Haigh (president), J. Hancock (secretary) and Harry Pettig (foundation member). [1]

After relative success in the late 1950s the team was promoted to the Victorian Amateur Soccer Football Association division two in 1958 and promotion again to division one in 1959. Corio along with all other Geelong clubs were moved out of the Melbourne Metropolitan leagues into the reformed Ballarat, Geelong and District Soccer Association as part of the restructuring of Victorian football.

In 1987 Corio SC merged with the Italian club Geelong United to become Corio-Geelong United. [2] [3]

In 1995, Corio-Geelong United merge with the Northern Suburbs club - a Hungarian club playing out of Hendy street, Corio. Officially titled Corio Northern Suburbs United Social and Sports Club Inc. [4]

In 2013,Corio win the State League division four with Adrian Cervinski winning the best and fairest award. [5]

Junior football was relaunched in 2019 expanding to 120 players by 2021 after a period of no junior teams at the club. [6]

In 2020, Corio Soccer Club announced the signing of three talented Italian players: Lorenzo Princigalli, Ivan D’Adamo, and Giorgio Torelli. The addition of these players was aimed at strengthening Corio 's squad for the upcoming State League 1 season. [7]

In 2023, long time club president Mario Gregorio steps down as head of the club. He held the role from 2016. [8]

In 2025 the club sign Canadian Owen Sheppard from Valour FC as part of a raft of signings aimed at winning promotion to the VPL. [9] [10] [11] Corio are docked points after fielding an ineligible player and fall from 1st position on the table to 9th. [12]

Facility

Corio Soccer Club play their home matches at Hume reserve, Bell Park, Geelong.

Hume reserve has three pitches with lights, change and club room facilities. [13]

In 1960, two parcels of residential land adjacent to Hume reserve are purchased by members of the club. Later, club rooms are constructed which remain in use until 2021. [14]

In 2015, pitch four at Hume reserve was converted into a water retention pond after a period of prolonged drought. The reserve was once a facility of six pitches that had been gradually reduced as land had been sold off for industrial and urban development. [14]

In 2022, Corio moved into the newly developed $3 million pavilion and change rooms at Hume Reserve. [15]

Corio sign a three year agreement with Geelong Galaxy to allow use of the new Hume Reserve facility - Galaxy moving away from Stead Park as sub-tenants of Geelong Soccer Club. [16]

Honors

Divisional history

coriosc.com.au - official site

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Hay, Roy (1993). "Corio Soccer Club, 1955-1993".{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. Hay, Roy (1994). "Post war soccer in Geelong" (PDF). The Investigator.
  3. "Almanac Soccer: Corio v Whittlesea United". www.footyalmanac.com.au. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  4. "Victorian Football Club Archive - Caroline Springs George Cross to Croydon City Arrows". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
  5. "IN BRIEF". Geelong Advertiser (Australia). October 26, 2013.
  6. Seemampillai, Janakan. "Juniors help Eagles to soar". Geelong Independent (Victoria).
  7. Prime, Toby (12 June 2020). "Corio lands package of Italian recruits". Geelong Advertiser.
  8. Prusac, Tonci (14 June 2023). "Corio boss makes bombshell departure". Geelong Advertiser.
  9. Mercer, Nicholas (8 Jan 2025). "Owen Sheppard is headed down under as his soccer career continues in Australia". The Telegram.
  10. Kennedy, Alex (Jan 15, 2025). "St. John's soccer star heading to Australia for next step on journey to turn pro". CBC News.
  11. "Highly regarded signings boost Corio SC". 26 Feb 2025.
  12. Prusac, Tonci (12 April 2025). "Corio falls to ninth after being docked points for player breach". Geelong Advertiser (Australia). p. 66.
  13. "Hume Reserve". City of Greater Geelong.
  14. 1 2 "Hume Reserve Master Plan" (PDF). City of Greater Geelong. 2009.
  15. Taylor, James (2022-06-09). "Better facilities opened at Hume Reserve". Geelong Times. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
  16. Oorschot, Vinnie van (2021-12-01). "Landmark deal announced between Geelong soccer clubs". Surf Coast Times. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
  17. "Corio Divisional History". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  18. "Victorian Football Club Archive - Caroline Springs George Cross to Croydon City Arrows". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 2024-10-24.