Springvale White Eagles FC

Last updated

Springvale White Eagles
Springvale White Eagles 2020 Logo.jpeg
Full nameSpringvale White Eagles Football Club
Nickname(s)Beli Orlovi, Eagles
Founded1975;50 years ago (1975)
Ground Serbian Sports Centre
Capacity5000 (400 Seated)
ChairmanZivko Milovanovic
ManagerAndrew Skledar
League Victoria Premier League 2
2025 5th of 14
Website Official website OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Springvale White Eagles Football Club is a semi-professional Australian soccer club based in Melbourne, Victoria currently playing in the Victorian Premier League 2. Founded by Serbian Australians, they play at the Serbian Sports Centre in Keysborough, Victoria.

Contents

They were founded in 1975 and were in the Victorian Premier League from 1997 to 1999, 2007 and 2011. [1]

History

Springvale White Eagles Club was formed in 1975 as Springvale United, [2] and have been known by their current name since 1995.

In 2002 White Eagles got into the State League Cup Final, losing 4–2 to Westvale.

In June 2007, the coach Leon Gardikiotis resigned less than a month after replacing from Zoran Trajceski. [3] The club president Zoran Stojanovic also resigned. In 2008, Springvale White Eagles appointed former Frankston Pines coach Stan Webster, who experienced little success at the club.

The club was promoted to the Victorian Premier League in 2010, but suffered relegation in their first season in the top flight in the following year. [4]

In 2012 Springvale were relegated from State League 1, having finished bottom of the league with just 1 win in 22 league games. − [5] They took out the State League 2 South-East title the following season, pipping Dandenong City SC by one point. [6]

National Premier Leagues Victoria (2014–present)

The club entered the NPL Victoria 2 division for the 2014 season, the new second tier of soccer in Victoria. The club finished the season in 12th place in the 14 team league, just avoiding the relegation playoffs. [7]

In 2015, the NPL 2 was split into an East and West division with the White Eagles competing in the East division, finishing in nineteenth place overall in the NPL1 league system. [8] Late in October 2015, head manager Zlatko Mihajlović resigned from his position. [9] Shortly after, Mihajlović was replaced by Boyan Mitkov as the new senior head coach. [10] Springvale then lost key player Šimo Jovanović to Kingston City. Jovanović had spent his entire career with the White Eagles, progressing through the youth system to eventually become the club's captain. [11] On 12 April 2016, it was announced that Mitkov and his assistant Gus Caminos (who were winless in their first seven league games in the NPL2 season) had resigned from their positions, with former White Eagles player Nik Kovacevic announced as the replacement. [12] Springvale subsequently finished the season in 6th place in the NPL2 East, its second best-ever finish in the NPL2 competition. [13] In November 2016, head coach Kovacevic departed the club to return to Pascoe Vale as a senior assistant coach. [14]

Springvale White Eagles appointed former Altona Magic coach Vlado Tortevski as their new manager for the 2017 NPL2 season. [15] Despite winning three of their opening four NPL2 league games, Tortevski's side then won just one of the following ten, leading to the departure of the head coach in May 2017. [16] The White Eagles finished the season in 7th place. [17]

For the 2018 season, Springvale reappointed former club coach Nik Kovacevic to lead the team, and had a total of 7 key signings in the off-season. This included the experienced central defensive partnership of Pavle Durkic (formerly at Whittlesea Ranges FC) and Milos Tošić (formerly at West Adelaide SC). Also adding to the squad were Andy Kecojević, Marcus Dimanche, Delarno Pharoe, Slaven Vranešević and Englishmen Luke Barrow. With the mid-season loss of Captain Dejan Erakovic the Eagles brought in other key signings to its squad, including Bonel Obradović, Nemanja Lojanica and Nenad Nikolic. The Eagles finished the 2018 campaign in fourth place in the NPL2 East, its best finish since the inception of the NPL in 2014.

In 2019 the club finished in last place, with just four wins in 28 games, and were relegated to NPL3 for the 2020 season. [18] Head coach Nebojsa Vukosavljevic resigned after the club's relegation, with Springvale appointing former Socceroo John Markovski for the 2020 NPL3 campaign.

In 2024, the club finished second on the State League 1 ladder with a 3-1 victory over the Eltham Redbacks in the final game of the season, this win secured the club a return to the Victorian Premier League in 2025 after a 2 year hiatus.

Achievements

League

DivisionChampionsRunners Up
VIC State League 1st Division(x2) 1996, 2010(x2) 2006, 2024
VIC State League 2nd Division SE(x1) 2005
VIC State League 2nd Division(x1) 1995
VIC State League 3rd Division(x1) 1992
VIC Metropolitan League Division 4(x1) 1984
VIC Buffalo Provisional League Division 3(x1) 1983
VIC Provisional League Division 4(x1) 1982
VIC District League Division 3(x1) 1981

Cup

CupChampionsRunners Up
Victorian State League Cup –(x1) 2002
Karadjordje Cup(x8) 1999, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2019, 2023(x5) 2000, 2006, 2012, 2016, 2022

Victorian Premier League/NPL Victoria

Notable current and former international players

Individual awards

Bill Fleming Medal – Media voted VPL Player of the Year

Club Top Goal Scorers

Rivalries

Dandenong Thunder

The teams both situated 6 km apart, the rivalry between the clubs is immense.

On 11 February 2017 The White Eagles hosted The Thunder in the Second Round of the 2017 NPL Victoria 2 competition. In front of a healthy contingent of local fans, the White Eagles got off to a perfect start early in the second half with new signing Cody Martindale gaining the lead for the Eagles. With a fiery clash on and off the field referee Alessandro Arbizzani was not holding back on the cautions. With Springvale leading the contest 1–0 in the 60th minute, a brawl erupted in the stands which escalated, forcing the referee to halt proceedings for approximately 10 minutes. In the final stages of the game the Eagles capitalised on a counterattack with goal scorer Tapiwanashe Munyanyiwa finishing a great move by the Eagles. Late in the game there was drama, with Springvale Player Nebojsa Pejić putting one in his own net bringing back the game to 2–1. The Eagles hung on for a vital three points, winning its first two games off the 2017 season under Vlado Tortevski. They later faced Dandenong at George Andrews Reserve in Round 17 losing 4–0.

Melbourne Knights

The teams were both in the Victorian Premier League in the 2007 and 2011 seasons.

St Albans Saints

These 2 clubs first met in the Victorian Premier league on 22 March 1997. The game was played in the Serbian Sports Centre where White Eagles recorded a 3–1 win. In that match, St Albans took the lead in the 43 minutes with a goal by Idriz Peja. White Eagles Jim Gacovski levelled the score in the 83rd minute. Anthony Burlak scored in the 89th minute and Nick Kovacevic in the 90th minute to give White Eagles a memorable 3–1 victory.

In Round 12 on 12 May 2019 in the NPL 2 season the eagles travelled to Churchill Reserve & took all three points back to White Eagles Stadium in a thrilling 2–1 win with goals to Taban Makoii from the penalty spot (19th minute) and Gerry Kavadas (21st minute). A win for the Eagles after a long unsuccessful period at Churchill Reserve in over 7 years.

North Sunshine Eagles

The teams were first met on 16 April 2021 in NPL Victoria 3 competition.

Stadium

White Eagles play at the Serbian Sports Centre (Srpski Sportski Centar).

Current squad

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Ali Hakimi
2 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Bol Ter
3 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Matthew Ferreira Hughes
4 DF Flag of England.svg  ENG Aaron Morris
5 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Luke Eyles
6 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Thomas Podaridis
7 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Lee Gellis
8 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Liam Wolstenholme
9 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG Terence Carter
10 MF Flag of Japan.svg  JPN Miki Gamo
11 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Vasili Tsoumpris
12 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Sam Orritt
No.Pos.NationPlayer
13 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Daniel Bennett
15 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Mohammed Khademi
16 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Miles Mavricos
17 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Kyle Marambio
19 MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Goran Zoric
21 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Josh Millar
23 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Vojo Milojevic(Captain)
24 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS John Kuol
27 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Gianluca Bozzo
29 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Marko Stanisavljevic
55 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Faisal Sakhizada
77 GK Flag of England.svg  ENG Thomas Hull

Squad correct at 21 February 2025.

Competition timeline

SeasonLeagueTop scorerDockerty Cup
DivisionPldWDLGFGA+/-PtsPositionPlayer(s)Goals
1982 Div4 262015752352432nd
1983 Div3 262321952174481stRunner up
1984 Div4 261655613427372nd
1985 Div3 261457543717335th
1986 Div3 261041259518249th
1987 Div3 2411494045−5264th
1988 Div3 261439624022316th
1989 Div3 2668123166−252011th
1990 Div3 2674152858−301812th
1991 Div3 2678112536−113111thIan Kerezovic9
1992 Div3 281900672344471stZlatko Mihaljović12
1993 Div2 261655471730373rdZlatko Mihaljović11
1994 Div2 26117841329295thZlatko Mihaljović7
1995 Div2 261853562927591stMicheal Michalakopoulos14
1996 Div1 261745562729551stZlatko Mihaljović16
1997 VPL 26118743376416thDanny Gnjidić14
1998 VPL 2686122742−153011thSasha Nikolić4
1999 VPL 2686123740−33011thZlatko Mihaljović10
2000 Div1 2264122636−10229thEric Styczen6
2001 Div1 228682737−10308thNebojsa Kozlica6
2002 Div1 2255123457−232011thEric Styczen9Runner up
2003 SL2SE 22104834322345thRicky Diaco12
2004 SL2SE 2248102545−202010thZlatko Mihaljović9
2005 SL2 221444502525461stSastre Teyedor Juan11
2006 SL1 22116530228392ndNikolaos Papadopoulos11
2007 VPL 2612231777−60516thGoran Zorić5No cup
2008 SL1 2256112538−13219thGrujo Mrdić7
2009 SL1 2245133141−101710thZoran Vukas6
2010 SL1 221237453411392ndNenad Pavasovic8
2011 VPL 2436152462381511thGoran Zoric8Quarter final
2012 SL1 2215161969−49812thPhilip Ajao5Zone final
2013 SL2 22135433249441stStephane Leblond144th round
2014 NPL 2 2673164463192412thVojislav Milojević116th round
2015 NPL 2 284519245430179thHernan de Rito65th round
2016 NPL 2 28124125243+9406thDamir Stoilovic164th round
2017 NPL 2 2810414445814327thDamir Stoilovic104th round
2018 NPL 2 281161141476394thDamir Stoilovic94th round
2019 NPL 2 2847172670−441910thTaban Makoii72nd round
2020 NPL 3 00000000Cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Australia
2021 NPL 3 142391937−189CancelledAndrija Kecojevic5Cancelled
2022 NPL 3 2261153560-251811thNashir Hussainy12
2023 SL1 2245131735-181710thNashir Hussainy6
2024 SL1 221524532528482ndMatheus Assumpção14

Managerial history

References

  1. ↑ "Springvale White Eagles Divisional History". ozfootball.net. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  2. ↑ "Map 94 - Springvale White Eagles FC". digitised-collections.unimelb.edu.au.
  3. ↑ "Springvale coach Gardikiotis resigns". www.heraldsun.com.au/. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  4. ↑ "2011 Victorian Premier League – Final Table". ozfootball.net. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  5. ↑ "Ladder for Men's State League Div 1 – FOX SPORTS PULSE". foxsportspulse.com. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "Ladder for Men's State League 2 South-East – FOX SPORTS PULSE". foxsportspulse.com. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "Summary – Victoria Division One – Australia – Results, fixtures, tables and news – Soccerway". au.soccerway.com. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  8. ↑ "Summary – Victoria Division One – Australia – Results, fixtures, tables and news – Soccerway". au.soccerway.com. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "Mihajlovic departs White Eagles – The Corner Flag". cornerflag.com.au. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  10. ↑ "White Eagles add Mitkov, Caminos to coaching structure – The Corner Flag". cornerflag.com.au. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  11. ↑ Kulas, Damir. "Jovanovic departs childhood club for Kingston". The Corner Flag. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  12. ↑ "Mitkov and Caminos depart White Eagles, Kovacevic joins". The Corner Flag. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  13. ↑ "Summary - State Leagues - Australia - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway".
  14. ↑ "Kovacevic departs White Eagles, takes up Paco role". The Corner Flag. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  15. ↑ Kulas, Damir. "White Eagles appoint former Altona championship winner Tortevski". The Corner Flag. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  16. ↑ Kulas, Damir. "Tortevski and White Eagles part ways". The Corner Flag. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  17. ↑ "Ladder for PS4 NPL2 East VIC Men". SportsTG. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  18. ↑ "Ladder for NPL2 East VIC Men". SportsTG. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
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.