Sale United FC

Last updated
Sale United
Full nameSale United Football Club
Nickname(s)Swans [1] , Greens [2]
Founded1925 (refounded 1954, 1974)
GroundGodfrey Baldwin Reserve
Capacity500
ChairmanTom Breakspear
ManagerAnouk Meereboer and Romi Bitar
League Latrobe Valley Soccer League
2024 LVSL7th
Website https://www.saleunited.com.au/

Sale United FC is a soccer club based in Sale, Victoria, Australia. The club was originally founded in 1924, before being re-founded in 1954 and again in 1974 and currently competes in Latrobe Valley Soccer League.

Contents

Sale's victory in the 1980 LVSL remains their only Men's league championship to date, [3] although they did win the 2013 Grand Final 3–0 against Monash SC. [4] Sale's women's has proven itself as a growing force, winning two LVSL women's titles in 2023 and 2024.

The club is known for being the youth club of former National Soccer League and Major Soccer League player Marcus Stergiopoulos. [5]

History

Initial formation and role in soccer's local growth (1925–1933)

While the earliest known soccer competition in Gippsland was the Wonthaggi and District Soccer Association, which began in 1912, it was followed by the North Gippsland Soccer League (featuring Sale United, featuring Yallourn SC and clubs from Maffra, Glenmaggie and Nambrok) beginning in 1926. [6] Although both leagues ceased to exist by the late 1930s as a result of a World War Two. [7]

Sale United originally played their matches at the on a makeshift field on a farm at the rear of the Turf Club Hotel in Sale [8] (site of the current day Sale Showgrounds). [9]

In one match against Sale United on 13 August 1925, former Arsenal and Bolton star and England International John Elvey was hailed for his remarkable play for Yallourn SC, as described by the Gippsland Mercury: "Elvey's footwork was superb, and his technique showed himself a professional, for we are informed that he is an ex-Bolton Wanderers player (one of England's leading first Division teams) and was bought by that club from Luton from the sum of 3,500 pounds." [10]

Despite its early role in growing the game in Gippsland, the club did not appear to take part in the NGSA's successor competition, the Central Gippsland Soccer Football Association.

First reformation and joining the LVSL (1954–1959)

After football's growth in Gippsland halted during the Second World War, the Latrobe Valley Soccer League was officially formed in 1951 and after a successful first season, the league grew from five to six teams in 1952 – Heyfield leaving and Overseas Construction Company SC and the RAAF SC coming in. [11]

While RAAF Soccer Club was based at the RAAF Base East Sale, its players were typically those belonging to the air force – leaving a void for players from the town of Sale itself.

Sale United officially reformed in 1954, with Mr. L Nerantzis was appointed chair man, with Mr. D. Knight as vice-president and treasurer, and Mr. P. McMahon, of RAAF Base East Sale, as secretary, with players being drawn from the local area and from the RAAF Base. [12] The club was said be very multicultural, with as many as nine different nationalities making up their inaugural squad [13] – with the club determined to stay "strictly amateur". [14]

After a search for a home, the club would eventually begun its second iteration at Friendly Societies Ground. [15]

Sale United claimed a 3–2 victory in their first Sale Derby against the RAAF, held at the RAAF base on May 8, 1954. However, Sale finished the season in last place. They would improve to fifth in 1955, their best season in their early years in the LVSL. [16]

Sale's first major trophy came in the form of the 1955 Battle of Britain Cup, when they defeated Morwell SC before a "large crowd" at Yallourn's No.3 Oval. Captain Ted Speechley was scored a brace, including scoring in both regular and extra time to secure the club's first silverware. [17]

Despite finishing in sixth in 1959 – their second best season since joining the league – Sale pulled out of the LVSL ahead of the 1960 season. [18]

Second reformation (1974–)

Sale United's third (and current) iteration commenced in 1974, with the club known as Sale City and re-admitted to the Latrobe Valley Soccer League.

While the men's team remained unable to break through for success for many years, they finally won the league title in 1980 – the only time they have finished in the top two placings. [19]

After finishing third at the end of the regular season in 2013, they defeated Monash SC in that season's LVSL grand final. [20]

While the original iteration of Sale United won the Battle of Britain in 1955, the new version of the club is yet to do so – only finishing runner's up in 2013 and 2014. [21]

In 2019, Sale United Football Club coach Anouk Meereboer was named Victoria's Female Coach of the Year by Football Victoria. [22]

In 2021, Meereboer was named as the first female to lead a senior men's team in the history of the LVSL. [23]

Since 1993, Sale United has run a Primary Schools Twilight Tournament, which was awarded the Vicsport Community Event of the Year award in 2023. From 15 teams in 1993 to 67 teams in 2023, nearly 700 kids now play soccer every Monday during Term 4. The club also earned a My Sport Live Community Sporting Event of the Year award and to be named a top-four finalist for the Love the Game Community Sporting Club of the Year. [24]

The club celebrated its 50-year anniversary in 2024. [25]

Club colors and badge

The club plays in green and white jerseys.

Stadium

The club plays its home matches at Godfrey Baldwin Reserve, which has a capacity of 500 (with a seating capacity of 100). [26]

Club achievements

Champions (1): 1980
Grand Final Winners (1): 2013
Winners (1): 1955.
Runners Up (2): 2013, 2014. [27]
Champions (4): 2023, 2024. [28]

Notable former players

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sale, Victoria</span> City in Victoria, Australia

Sale is a city situated in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia and the council capital of the Shire of Wellington. It had an estimated population of 15,305 in 2022 according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The total population including the immediate area around the town is approximately 19,000 according to shire website.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morwell</span> City in Victoria, Australia

Morwell is a town in the Latrobe Valley area of Gippsland, in South-Eastern Victoria, Australia approximately 152 km (94 mi) east of Melbourne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yallourn</span> Former town in Victoria, Australia

Yallourn, Victoria was a company town in Victoria, Australia built between 1921 and 1961 to house employees of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SECV), who operated the nearby Yallourn Power Station complex. However, expansion of the adjacent open-cut brown coal mine led to the closure and removal of the town in the 1980s. Whilst the township no longer exists, at the 2006 census, the adjacent region classified as Yallourn had a population of 251.

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References

  1. ↑ Askew, Zoe (February 21, 2024). "Swans United in Victory". Gippsland Times. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Latrobe Valley Soccer League". Gippsland Times. 1954-07-07. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
  3. ↑ "Fresh Faces To Contest GSL Final". Latrobe Valley Express. September 18, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  4. ↑ "The Year That Was in Sport". Latrobe Valley Express. December 29, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  5. ↑ Francis, Damen (February 6, 2012). "Soccer volunteer recognised". Latrobe Valley Express. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Soccer In The Country". The Sun News-Pictorial. May 26, 1926. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  7. ↑ Lobley, Murray (May 31, 2013). "History of the Yallourn SC, Episode 1". Virtually Yallourn. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  8. ↑ Lobley, Murray (May 31, 2013). "History of the Yallourn SC, Episode 2" (PDF). Virtually Yallourn. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Landmark Demolished". Bairnsdale Advertiser and East Gippsland Stock and Station Journal. May 24, 1954. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  10. ↑ Lobley, Murray (May 31, 2013). "History of the Yallourn SC, Episode 2" (PDF). Virtually Yallourn. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  11. ↑ "LVSL League Results 1951–1970". Latrobe Valley Soccer League. November 14, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Soccer Club Formed". Gippsland Times. February 11, 1954. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  13. ↑ "New Soccer Club at Sale". The Age. March 18, 1954. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Soccer Comes To Sale". The Age. February 18, 1954. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Sale Soccer Club Meets Yallourn". Gippsland Times. August 19, 1954. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  16. ↑ "LVSL League Results 1951–1970". Latrobe Valley Soccer League. November 14, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Soccer Cup to Sale United". Narracan Shire Advocate. September 22, 1955. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  18. ↑ "LVSL League Results 1951–1970". Latrobe Valley Soccer League. November 14, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  19. ↑ "LVSL League Winners". Football Chaos. May 6, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  20. ↑ "The Year That Was in Sport". Latrobe Valley Express. December 29, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  21. ↑ "LVSL Battle of Britain Winners". Football Chaos. May 6, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Soccer volunteer recognised". Latrobe Valley Express. November 6, 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Meet Anouk Meereboer, the first female Head Coach of a senior men's LVSL team". Football Victoria. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Sale United FC recognised at the VicSport 2023 Sport Awards". Football Victoria. June 17, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Sale United FC 50th Year Anniversary Dinner". Sale United SC. June 17, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Godfrey Baldwin Reserve". Football Chaos. May 14, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  27. ↑ "LVSL Battle of Britain Winners". Football Chaos. May 6, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  28. ↑ "LVSL Women's League Winners". Football Chaos. May 6, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
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