Northcote City FC

Last updated

Northcote City FC
Northcote City FC logo.png
Full nameNorthcote City Football Club
Nickname(s)City, Hraklis (Iraklis)
Founded1960;63 years ago (1960)
GroundJohn Cain Memorial Reserve
PresidentMichael Skliros
ManagerZeljko Kuzman
League NPL Victoria 2
2022 6th of 12
Website Club website

Northcote City Football Club (Iraklis) is a soccer club based on the border of Thornbury and Northcote, Victoria (Australia). Formed in 1960 by local Greek Australians, the club currently competes in the NPL Victoria 2.

Contents

In 2011, Northcote won the inaugural Mirabella Cup, their first Victorian top-level success. In season 2013, Northcote City won their first Victorian Premier League Championship, defeating Bentleigh Greens SC 3–2 after extra time at AAMI Park. [1]

History

Foundation & Early Years

Northcote City FC was formed in 1960 by a group of Greek migrants new to Australia with a passion for sport and a need to form friendships in a new country, with soccer being the major connection.

Northcote City FC is the third oldest Greek club in Victoria behind South Melbourne FC and Heidelberg United FC. In its formative years the club fielded teams not only in soccer but also in volleyball, basketball and table tennis.

A milestone in the club's history was moving to John Cain Memorial Reserve in 1979, which even today is considered one of the state's best soccer venues.

In its formative years, the club was known as Hercules before adopting the Princes Park Hercules name given that it was playing at Princes Park, before changing venues to Fairfield Park in 1977 and adopting Collingwood City as the club's new name. The new name was to only last a short time however and in 1980 the club clinched a significant breakthrough by negotiating with the Northcote City Council a move to John Cain Memorial Park and another name change for the club with Northcote City SC the new identity. To this very day it is still the club's home and name.

The club first gained promotion into the Victorian Soccer Federation leagues in 1964 after competing in the amateur competitions in its formative years. In 1965 it achieved its first ever championship winning the Metropolitan League Division 4, suffering only one loss for the year. In a somewhat golden era for the club, consistent finishes in the upper reaches of the ladder, saw the club achieve a second championship in the 60's with the Metropolitan League Division 3 title won in 1969. The early to mid 70's saw the club struggling to make an impression on Metropolitan League Division 2 until a wonderful 1977 campaign saw the club finish second to Doveton and thus gain promotion to Metropolitan League Division 1 for the first time in its history. Another top 4 finish in 1980 saw the club achieve the ultimate and win promotion to the Victorian State League, which would later become the Victorian Premier League. The 1980s were not kind to the club and many bottom half of the table finishes ultimately saw the club relegated in 1991 back to the State League Division 1 competition.

The 1990s were not much kinder when a Victorian Soccer Federation restructure in 1999 saw the club relegated to State League Division 2 despite finishing 5 places form the bottom of the ladder. If the 1980 and 90's were not kind to the club, then the first decade of the new millennium is arguably the greatest in the club's rich history. An undefeated Championship success in 2002 in State League 2 North West saw it regain its standing in State League Division 1, a feat that lasted only until 2006. However the undoubted turning point came in 2007 when Peter Tsolakis was appointed coach of the club and after a mediocre first year at the helm, back-to-back championships in State League Division 2 South-East in 2008 and State League Division 1 in 2009 saw the club regain its status to the Victorian Premier league in 2010, coinciding with its 50-year anniversary. In their first year back in the Victorian Premier League, Northcote City finished 5th on 31 points, qualifying for the Elimination Final which they lost 3–1 to Heidelberg United. In 2011 Northcote finished 6th on 39 points, which meant they missed out on the finals by 1 point, finishing behind Heidelberg who ended the season on 40 points. Despite failing to reach the finals, they did manage to end the season with some silverware, defeating Melbourne Knights FC 2–0 at AAMI Park to lift the Mirabella Cup.

Premiership, Championship and Recent Years

Northcote City enjoyed the most successful season in its history in 2013, the same year a stalwart and life member of the club, Emmanuel Himonas died, winning the minor premiership in the Victorian Premier League, followed by winning the VPL Grand Final against Bentleigh Greens 3–2. Senior Coach Goran Lozanovski was awarded Victorian Premier League Coach of year and striker Milos Lujic won the golden boot.

The following season, Northcote finished 7th in the new National Premier Leagues Victoria competition, which replaced the old VPL. Northcote then finished 10th in 2015 and championship winning head coach Goran Lozanovski departed the club. [2] Lozanovski had been at the club since 2011, starting as an assistant and assuming the head role at the beginning of 2012. [3]

Alex Gymnopoulos was announced as the new manager in September 2015. [4] Gymnopoulos had previously held the position of U20 head coach at the club. After a disastrous start to season 2016, which saw Northcote manage just one point from seven NPL Victoria games and exit the 2016 FFA Cup to National Premier Leagues Victoria 2 side St Albans Saints, manager Alex Gymnopoulos was sacked. [5] In April 2016, Northcote announced the return of former head coach and VPL winner Goran Lozanovski as Gymnopoulos' replacement. [6] Lozanovski signed eleven players in the mid-season transfer window, including former Newcastle Jets FC striker Braedyn Crowley. [7] [8] "Lozza"'s return was marked by some upturn in form, including a 5–0 victory over Melbourne Knights, where Crowley scored all five goals, [9] but also more heavy defeats, including 5–0 losses in successive weeks to Hume City FC and Bentleigh. [10] Relegation to NPL2 was confirmed on the final matchday for Northcote, following a 3–0 loss to Oakleigh Cannons. [11] Lozanovski stepped down from his position at the end of the season. [12]

In preparation of its first season outside of the top-flight since 2009, Northcote hired Željko Kuzman as its new manager for the 2017 season. [13] City achieved promotion back to the NPL after just one season out with one round to play with a 1–0 win over Moreland City FC.

After the 2017 season, Kuzman departed the club to take up a role with Dandenong City SC. Northcote reacted by signing former Port Melbourne SC coach Eric Vassiliadis. [14] City qualified for the 2018 FFA Cup national stages, but went down to Devonport Strikers in the Round of 32. [15] Northcote were relegated in 2018. [16] Vassiliadis resigned from his position as head manager after relegation was confirmed.

Northcote announced the return of Peter Tsolakis for the 2019 NPL2 season.

Crest and colours

Northcote adopt the colours of Greek Superleague team Iraklis from Thessaloniki.

Current squads

Senior Team

Below is the 2018 FFA CUP Northcote City Senior playing squad who currently play in the National Premier Leagues Victoria:

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Fraser Chalmers
2 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Adam Acosta
3 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Jacob Metaxas
4 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Charlie Beverly
5 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Benjamin Collins
6 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Bahdi Hysoli
7 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Jacob Papatheodorou
8 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Paul Swithenbank
9 FW Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  WAL William Hoskins
10 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Adam Papatheodorou
No.Pos.NationPlayer
11 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Matthew Papadimitriou
12 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Jesse Di Marco
14 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Anthony Theodoropoulos
15 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Adrian Mancini
16 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Jaiden Madaferri
17 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Noah Mihailidis
26 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Lambros Honos
32 GK Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Phillip Petrovski
33 GK Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Gab Mattei
45 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Gerrie Sylaidos

Head Coach: Flag of Australia (converted).svg Eric Vassiliadis

Assistant Coach: Flag of England.svg David Chick

Goalkeeper Coach: Flag of Australia (converted).svg Adam Hrehoresin

Team Manager: Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ian Morella

Honours

Senior Team

Under-21/Reserve team

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Melbourne FC</span> Football club

South Melbourne Football Club is an Australian semi-professional soccer club based in suburb of Albert Park, in Melbourne, Victoria. The club currently competes in the National Premier Leagues Victoria, with matches played at Lakeside Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heidelberg United FC</span> Football club

Heidelberg United Alexander Football Club established in 1958 is a football (soccer) club based in the northern Melbourne suburb of Heidelberg West, Victoria, Australia. The team currently competes in the National Premier League Victoria.

The National Premier Leagues Victoria, commonly known as NPL Victoria, is a semi-professional soccer league in Victoria, Australia. The league is a part of the National Premier Leagues, and is the highest level within the Victorian soccer league system, serving jointly as the second tier within the overall Australian pyramid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Albans Saints SC</span> Football club

St Albans Saints Soccer Club is an Australian semi-professional soccer club based in St Albans, Victoria. Established by local Croatian Australians as Dinamo, the club is a regular participant in the Australian-Croatian Soccer Tournament. The club is well known for having produced many great players over the years, including many that have gone on to play for its sister club the Melbourne Knights. Dinamo won promotion to the National Premier League (NPL) Victoria for the 2017 season but, after finishing second last, was relegated to the NPL 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Gully SC</span> Football club

Green Gully Soccer Club is an Australian association football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. Green Gully is one of the largest clubs in Melbourne, having participated in the now defunct National Soccer League between 1984–1986. The club currently competes in the National Premier Leagues Victoria, with matches played at Green Gully Reserve in Kealba. Green Gully have won the Victorian state league title nine times, second only to South Melbourne FC with ten. It is one of seven state league teams to eliminate an A-League team in the FFA Cup, alongside Blacktown City FC, Heidelberg United FC, Redlands United FC, Adelaide City FC, Bentleigh Greens SC and APIA Leichhardt FC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Altona Magic SC</span> Australian soccer team

Altona Magic Soccer Club is a soccer team based in Altona North, a western suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The Magic currently compete in the second tier of the Australian soccer league system. Founded in 1968, Altona Magic plays out of Paisley Park Soccer Complex. The club has won the Victorian Premier League on 5 occasions in seasons 1995,1996,1997,2008 and 2009. In 2019, Altona made a return to the National Premier Leagues Victoria, following successive promotions in 2017 via the Victorian State League Division 1 and again in 2018 via National Premier Leagues Victoria 2 (West), both seasons Magic were crowned champions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oakleigh Cannons FC</span> Australian association football club

Oakleigh Cannons Football Club is a soccer club based in the south-east Melbourne suburb of Oakleigh, Victoria, Australia. The club, established by members of Oakleigh's Greek Australian community, currently competes in the NPL Victoria. The club's home ground is at Jack Edwards Reserve, on Edward Street, Oakleigh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preston Lions FC</span> Football club

Preston Lions Football Club is a soccer club from Preston, a northern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The club was established in 1947 to play non-professional soccer matches against other teams in the local community until 1959, and 12 years later, they joined the Victorian Soccer Federation, the club's first season in an officially sanctioned competition. The Lions currently compete in the National Premier Leagues Victoria 2 competition after being promoted in 2022, which is the third tier in the Australian soccer league system. The club won the Victorian Premier League in seasons 1980,1994, 2002 and 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caroline Springs George Cross FC</span> Australian football club

Caroline Springs George Cross Football Club is an Australian soccer club based in Fraser Rise, a north-western suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and plays in State League Division 1, the fourth tier of football in Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Geelong Warriors FC</span> Football club

North Geelong Warriors Football Club, formerly known as North Geelong Croatia, is an Australian semi-professional soccer club from the regional Victorian city of Geelong. The club currently competes in the National Premier Leagues Victoria, Australia's second division in the country's league system and top division in Victoria. The club was founded in 1967 by a large contingent of ethnic Croatians in the city of Geelong. The Warriors' home base is Elcho Park in the northern Geelong suburb of Lara.

Giannis "Johnny" Anastasiadis is a former Australian soccer player who spent the majority of his career playing for Greek club PAOK FC. He is currently the senior assistant coach at A-League side Western United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Melbourne SC</span> Football club

Port Melbourne SC is an Australian soccer club based in Port Melbourne, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. The club was formed in 1968 by local Greek Australians, and was promoted over the years to the Victorian Premier League in 1994. It spent the years 1994–2003 in the Victorian Premier League, winning the minor premiership twice, but was unable to secure the title during its time in the VPL. The club currently competes in the National Premier Leagues Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dandenong City SC</span> Football club

Dandenong City Soccer Club, formerly known as Chelsea Hajduk, is an Australian soccer club based in the South-East region of Melbourne, Victoria. The club's home is at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex in the suburb of Endeavour Hills. They compete in the NPL Victoria, which is the top tier of football in Victoria, having been promoted for the first time for the 2019 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bentleigh Greens SC</span> Australian soccer club in Melbourne

Bentleigh Greens Soccer Club is an Australian semi professional soccer club based in Cheltenham, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. The club was formed in 1986, by the Greek Cypriot community and currently competes in the National Premier Leagues Victoria. Bentleigh made nationwide headlines when it became the first club below the A-League to make the semi-final of the FFA Cup in 2014. The Greens hit another milestone a year later when they claimed their first major trophy, the NPL Victoria title. In 2016, Bentleigh Greens became Victorian top-flight league premiers for the first time.

Goran Lozanovski is a former Australian football (soccer) player of Macedonian descent, and current manager holding the role of senior coach at Sydenham Park SC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hume City FC</span> Football club

Hume City Football Club is a semi-professional Australian football club based in Broadmeadows, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. Established by the local Turkish Australian community, the club competes in the National Premier Leagues Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avondale FC</span> Australian football club

Avondale FC is an Australian semi-professional association football club, with the men's and women's teams based in Parkville and the junior sides based in Avondale Heights, suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the National Premier Leagues Victoria, having reached the top tier of Victorian football in 2015.

The 2012 Victorian Premier League was the one-hundredth season of the top tier of club football in Victoria. The home and away season commenced on 23 March 2012. Green Gully were the defending champions. Dandenong Thunder defeated Oakleigh Cannons in the Grand Final, becoming the first side in thirty one years to secure a Victorian football treble, having won the State Knockout Cup, VPL League Title and their first VPL Grand Final this year.

The 2016 Football Federation Victoria season was the third season under the new competition format for state-level football (soccer) in Victoria. The competition consisted of seven divisions across the state of Victoria.

The 2018 Football Federation Victoria season was the fifth season under the new competition format for state-level soccer in Victoria. The competition consists of seven divisions across the state of Victoria.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/northcote-defeat-bentleigh-win-vpl-crown, p. 1.
  2. ↑ "Goran Lozanovski quits Northcote – Corner Flag".
  3. ↑ "Skipper departs Northcote with heavy heart – Corner Flag".
  4. ↑ "GoBet® - Free Sports Betting & Horse Racing Tips".
  5. ↑ "ANNOUNCEMENT: NORTHCOTE AND GYMNOPOULOS PART WAYS". Northcote City FC. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  6. ↑ "ANNOUNCEMENT: LOZANOVSKI COMES HOME TO FULFIL HEAD COACH VACANCY". Northcote City FC. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "Northcote turn hopes to former A-League youth trio". The Corner Flag. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "Former Zebras reunite at Northcote – Corner Flag".
  9. ↑ Caloutas, Ellie. "CROWLEY RUNS RIOT AS CITY SMASH KNIGHTS". Northcote City FC. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  10. ↑ "Former Zebras reunite at Northcote – Corner Flag".
  11. ↑ "GoBet® - Free Sports Betting & Horse Racing Tips".
  12. ↑ "ANNOUNCEMENT: LOZANOVSKI STEPS DOWN". Northcote City FC. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  13. ↑ Kulas, Damir. "Kuzman to take reigns at Northcote". The Corner Flag. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  14. ↑ "Northcote appoints Vassiliadis – Northcote City". northcotecity.com.au. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  15. ↑ "Northcote City FC vs Devonport Strikers, FFA Cup, Round of 32, 7th Aug 2018". FFA Cup. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  16. ↑ "Ladder for NPL VIC". SportsTG. Retrieved 4 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.