Sydney United
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| Sydney United | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Sydney United Football Club |
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| Nickname(s) | United, Croatia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Founded | 1957 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Sydney United Sports Centre (also known to fans as 'King Tom') |
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| Capacity | 12 000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman | Harry Stilin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manager | Peter Papoythis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | NSWPL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NSWPL 2006 | Premiers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sydney United Football Club are an Australian football (soccer) club from Sydney, Australia; which was established by Croatian immigrants in the area. The team was formed as Sydney Croatia in 1958, but in 1993 was renamed Sydney United after holding the name Sydney CFC for a season. The club plays their home games at Edensor Park in Sydney's western suburbs.
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[edit] Early Years
Sydney United first started playing football in Australia in 1958. It first began playing in the New South Wales State League. The team played under the name of 'Sydney Croatia'. The team brought crowds to the games which were unseen in Australian football at the time, with crowds averaging 10,000, every home match. The success did not come right away, with fans having to wait until 1978 for their first title. The club went on to become champions three more times in 1979, 1981 and 1982, before moving to the National Soccer League.
[edit] The Ground
Sydney Croatia Football Club made permanent their move from the city to the United Sports Centre in Edensor Park in 1981. The ground is better known to fans as King's Tom. The ground has a capacity of 12,000. The main stand is the Boka stand, Boka being the main sponsor of the project. Within the Boka stand there is the Senator's Club. This is for life time members of the club. Inside the senator's club is the Kalac Bar, in recognition of Željko Kalac's transfer to Leicester City in the English Premeir League, which also went a long way in paying for the Boka stand.
[edit] NSL Years
In 1984 the club entered the National Soccer League. During its time in the NSL, the club along with Marconi and Melbourne Croatia, were forced to change its name and club badge, to remove its ethnic ties. While in the NSL the club went on to win many honours. The first coming in 1987, when they won the League Cup.
The club were minor premiers in 1986, 1996, 1996/97 (by a record margin) and 1998/99. They were also NSL Champion runners-up on three occasions. The first was when the lost to Marconi on penalties in 1988. In 1996/97, the club lost to the Brisbane Strikers 2-0, and in 1998/99, the team lost the Grand Final for the third time going down to South Melbourne 3-2.
[edit] Youth and Development
When the club arrived in Edensor Park they organised the formation of a junior and youth football club to cater for the many children of United supporters that also wanted to wear the club’s colours.The Club is a professional sporting organisation that employs coaches, administrators and groundsmen. Apart from the first grade and under 20's team, the club has the Juniors, who have 26 teams that play in the Southern Districts Soccer Football Association whilst the Youth (Under 13 to U18) consists of 5 teams that play in the NSW Soccer Premier Youth League competition.
Sydney United Football Club has a pedigree second to none in producing players that have played professionally overseas and represented Australia at youth and full international level. During the club’s golden period in the 1990’s when they dominated the National Soccer League, the majority of the first grade players had come through the Club’s own junior ranks. Many of these players now ply their trade in some of the best football leagues around the world and are still an integral part of the Australian national squad.
[edit] Back to State League
With the death of the NSL, the club once again plays in the New South Wales Premier League. Since returining to the State league the club has continued to challenge for the title. Sydney United are currently the premiers of the Vodafone NSW Premier League, after beating Blacktown City Demons 4-0 in the 2006 Grand Final. The hero of the day was Luka Glavas as he scored all four goals in the game.
The club is also a regular participant in the Australian-Croatian Soccer Tournament. A tournament for clubs of Croatian origin to play against each other. The club is the current holders of the title. United hosted the tournament on 2006, and won the final against Sydney United All-Age, in one sided final 4-0.
[edit] Honours
- Rothmans Cup Winner: 1974
- NSL Minor Premiers: 1986 (Northern Division), 1996/97, 1998/99
- NSL Runners Up: 1988, 1996/97, 1998/99
- NSL Cup Winners: 1987
- NSL Finalists: 1985-88, 1993/94-1998/99
- NSW State League Champions: 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 2006
- Continental Cup Winners: 2005
[edit] Notable Former Players
- Graham Arnold
- Aljoša Asanović
- Francis Awaritefe
- Mark Babic
- Mark Bosnich
- Jason Čulina
- Craig Foster (footballer)
- Tony Franken
- Joel Griffiths
- Alan Hunter
- Željko Kalac
- Troy Halpin
- Eddie Krncevic
- Manis Lamond
- Commins Menapi
- Ante Milicic
- Tom Pondeljak
- Tony Popović
- Liam Reddy
- Mark Rudan
- Wally Savor
- David Seal
- Robbie Slater
- Mile Sterjovski
- David Zdrilić
- Ned Zelic
- Tim Cahill
- Luka Glavas
Sydney United has also produced the most amount of Australian International players to come from one club. That record now stands at 34 players. See Also: Category:Sydney United players
[edit] Club Records
- Best Result: W 7-0 v Collingwood(h) 8.12.96
- Worst Result: L 0-5 v Olympic(h) 28.3.93
- Best Crowd: 11 614 v Marconi 23.2.97
- Coaches-Most Games: Branko Culina 133 Games W62-D32-L39
- Most Games Played: 250 Velimir Kupresak 89/90-00/01
- Most Goals Scored: 67 Graham Arnold 178 Games
- Most Goals in Season: 21 David Zdrillic 96/97
- Best Games to Goal Ratio: 0.58 David Seal 18 goals/31 games
- Youngest Player: 16yr 90d Jason Culina 3.11.96
[edit] Current Squad
Goalkeepers
- 1.
Justin Pasfield - 20. Michael Turnbull
Defenders
- 3. Simon Bell
- 4. Milan Bosnar
- 5. Ricky Perenich
- 6. Joe Vrkić (C)
- 8. Mason Palieri
- 28. Ante Jurić
Midfielders
- 7. Todd Brodie
- 14. Petar Marković
- 15. Mile Jedinak
- 18. Jason Trifiro
- 19. Mitchell Thompson
- 21. Steven Tresoglavic
- 22. Peter Zorbas
Strikers
- 9. Jim Bakis
- 10. Anthony Doumanis
- 13. Benjamin Vidaić
- 27. James Kovas
[edit] External links
- Official Website of the Sydney United FC
- Sydney Croatia.net - Supporters Site
- United Legion - Supporters Forum
- six to ten - A Story About Football and Dreams
