APIA Leichhardt FC explained

Clubname:APIA Leichhardt
Upright:0.8
Fullname:APIA Leichhardt Football Club
Nickname:The Tigers, Marronazzuri
Founded:1954 (as APIA Leichhardt)
Ground:Lambert Park / Leichhardt Oval
Capacity:5,000 / 22,000
Chrtitle:President
Chairman:Tony Raciti
Mgrtitle:Coach
Manager:Franco Parisi
Website:https://apialeichhardt.football
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APIA Leichhardt Football Club, also known simply as APIA (Associazione Poli-sportiva Italo Australiana), is a semi-professional soccer club based in the suburb of Leichhardt in Sydney, Australia. The club was formed in 1954 as APIA Leichhardt, by Italian Australians. APIA, winner of the national Australian championship of 1987, is currently a member of the NPL NSW. APIA Leichhardt are one of just three winners of the 1960s Australia Cup that are still active, the other being Caroline Springs George Cross FC and Hakoah Sydney City East FC.

History

The club was founded as the Associazione Poli-sportiva Italo Australiana ("APIA") in 1954 by members of the Italian-Australian community in Sydney's Inner West. After several years in the Canterbury District competition, the club joined the NSW Federation's state league.[1]

In the 1960s APIA became one of the foremost soccer clubs in Australia and won the Premiership of NSW of the years 1964, 1966, 1967 and 1975, which was the highest level of achievement in the absence of a national competition. Between 1966 and 1974 APIA also won three times the State Cup of NSW, then named after a sponsor Ampol Cup. The 1974 final was considered "one of the most incredible finals" of the history of the club when skipper Jimmy Rooney and centreforward Peter Ollerton, who scored five goals, won 9–1 against Auburn in front of a crowd of 5210 at Wentworth Park, the highest finals result ever.[2]

Rooney and Ollerton were also in the team that represented Australia a few months later in its first World Cup participation in Germany.

In 1979 APIA was given access to the National Soccer League, the top tier of Australian soccer since 1977. In 1987 APIA won the national championship, six points ahead of the Preston Makedonia Soccer Club from Melbourne, with then only two points awarded per win. The coach in that season was Rale Rasic. Charlie Yankos and Peter Katholos are probably the best known players from that side. The main cast of that year consisted of Tony Pezzano; Charlie Yankos, Arno Bertogna, Mark Brown, Jean-Paul de Marigny, Peter Tredinnick, Peter Katholos, Edward Lorens, Hilton Phillips, Gary Ward, Rod Brown and Tony Parison. In 1988 APIA won the National Soccer League Cup. By 1992 the APIA Leichhardt was overwhelmed by financial difficulties. The club was somewhat restructured and forthwith played on state level with the moniker "Tigers."[3] [4] [5]

In 2017, APIA won the National Premier Leagues NSW premiership, but lost the grand final to Manly United FC on penalties. APIA also made the grand final of the 2017 Waratah Cup, but lost 3–1 to Hakoah Sydney City East FC.

In 2018, APIA won the 2018 Waratah Cup.[6] On 21 August 2018, APIA defeated reigning A-League champions Melbourne Victory FC in the Round of 16 of the 2018 FFA Cup, becoming the seventh state-league side to beat a top-tier team in the knockout tournament.[7] The result was billed as one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history.[8]

APIA won the National Premier Leagues NSW Grand Final with a 2–1 victory over Sydney United in 2019.[9] This was the first final ever played at Bankwest Stadium.

When the Football Federation Australia repealed its controversial National Club Identification Policy, which effectively banned clubs from having ethnic identities APIA dropped the "Tigers" moniker and reverted to its original badge.[10]

The club was announced on 20 November 2023, as one of the eight foundation teams for the National Second Division, due to start either March or April 2025. They will continue to play in the NPL NSW for the 2024 season, before transitioning to the new league.[11]

Venues

Lambert Park in Leichhardt is the club's traditional home ground. It was opened in 1954 and has, over the years, been used for most of the club's home games. It is still APIA's main ground and hosts all of the club's NPL matches. APIA has also hosted home games at a number of other venues, including Wentworth Park, Henson Park[12] and, most notably, Leichhardt Oval, where Australia Cup ties against high-profile teams have typically been hosted.[13] [14]

Current squad

Updated February 2024.[15] [16]

Seasons

Key to league competitions

P Draws went to penalty shoot-outs during the 1993–1995 seasons (2 points for win, 1 point for loss).

1 Stage 1 of 1996 NSW Super League

2 Stage 1 of 1996 NSW Super League

Key to position colours and symbols:
1st or W Winners
2nd or RU Runners-up
3rd Third
♦ Top scorer in division
Key to cup competitions
Key to cup and finals results
SeasonLeagueWaratah
Cup		Australia
Cup		OtherTop scorer
Player(s)Goals
195720 3413 3957109th–
1958Div. 1 22 741141 41 188th–
1959Div. 1 26 19 437233 42bgcolor=silver2nd bgcolor=silverRU
1960Div. 1 26 1853 7125 41 bgcolor=silver2nd SF
1961Div. 122 10 4 8 55 43 24 6th – –
1962Div. 1 22 13366538 293rdSF bgcolor=goldW QF
1963Div. 1 221435703731bgcolor=silver2ndbgcolor=silverRUQF
1964Div. 1 221435593531bgcolor=gold1stbgcolor=goldWbgcolor=silverRUJohn Watkiss24
1965Div. 1 1811075128223rdbgcolor=goldWbgcolor=silverJohn Giacometti 21
1966Div. 1 181341551630bgcolor=gold1stbgcolor=silverRUbgcolor=goldW bgcolor=gold W bgcolor=goldWJohn Giacometti20
1967Div. 1 221732651937bgcolor=gold1stbgcolor=silverRUbgcolor=silverJohn Giacometti 22
1968Div. 1 2211474225293rdGSR16
1969Div. 1 229853526264thbgcolor=goldW3rd
1970Div. 1 2291123635197th–bgcolor=goldW
1971Div. 1 2265112540178th–4th
1972Div. 1 2211833318303rdSF
1973Div. 1 2210663834265th–
1974Div. 1 221246442528bgcolor=silver2ndPFbgcolor=goldW Paul Ollerton 18
1975Div. 1 221354391931bgcolor=gold1stbgcolor=silverRUbgcolor=goldW Paul Ollerton 17
1976Div. 1 221552491735bgcolor=silver2ndbgcolor=goldW
1977Div. 1 221561461536bgcolor=silver2ndPF
1978Div. 1 2613310364296th–
197926113122937258thN/AKen Reed7
1980268711 2735238thN/A Phil O’Connor10
198130121173933354thN/A QFMarshall Soper 12
198230127114954317thN/A bgcolor=goldW Marshall Soper14
198330116134236398thN/A John Bradley 12
1984NSL/NC2812884335324thPFPeter Katholos14
1985 NSL/NC 2272132034169th–Peter Katholos14
1986NSL/NC 229672523247th–Terry Butler4
1987NSL241392392135bgcolor=gold1stbgcolor=goldWRod Brown14
198826871128352311th–bgcolor=goldW Hilton Phillips 8
1989NSL 26791027352310th–Rod Brown7
1989–902611963625316th–Rod Brown 10
1990–9126771227282111th–Alex Bundalo 6
1991–922671182628258th–John Gibson8
1993NSWSLP 26106+283923446th–
1994NSWSLP 2273+752019348th–
1995NSWSLP 26104+572923434th–
1996NSWSL1 137332014243rd–
NSWSL2 134541922178th
1997 NSWSL 20 1235271739bgcolor=silver2ndPFJohn Buonavoglia 6
1998 NSWSL 218673232308th–John Buonavoglia 11
1999 2211294337357th–Steve Karavatakis 10
20002614665339483rdPFSteve Karavatakis 14
2000–01188284136 265th – 16
2001–022212554029 414thEF 12
2002–03221174442540bgcolor=silver2ndbgcolor=goldW Not held 17
2003–042273122436249th– SF 6
2004–05229492529316th– SF 4
200618341116381310th– bgcolor=silverRU3
2007NSWPL188462623285th– 4R 9
2008229764135346th– QF 21
2009NSWPL22571030382211th– 4R 11
2010NSWPL2213373937393rd14
2011NSWPL22651124362310th5[17]
2012NSWPL229493231316thbgcolor=silver7[18]
2013NPL NSW22281229481411thbgcolor=gold7
201422481031512011th–4RDNQ9[19]
2015221363563145bgcolor=silver2ndPF DNQ21
20162275113941268th– DNQ11
2017221615501849bgcolor=gold1stbgcolor=silverRU RU12
2018221435622845bgcolor=silver2ndbgcolor=silverRU bgcolor=gold24
2019NPL NSW221264422842bgcolor=silver2nd bgcolor=goldW6RDNQ22
2020NPL NSW112181227712th Not heldNot held Sean Symons4
2021NPL NSW17638202121season cancelled 5
2022NPL NSW2210574133355th SF4RDNQ Jason Romero11
2023NPL NSW302055643565bgcolor=gold1stNot held bgcolor=SilverJ. Armson - J. Stewart -14
2024NPL NSW2917397748543rd bgcolor=gold

Correct as of 3rd August 2024

Source OzFootball

SeasonLeagueSapphire CupTop scorer
Player(s)Goals
2024NPL1 NSW Women221363473045
2023NPL1 NSW Women261952642662bgcolor=gold1stPF bgcolor=GoldAsh Crofts 24
2022NPL1 NSW Women221246482540bgcolor=Silver2ndPF - Shea Connors16
2021NPL1 NSW Women126422316224thPF- Lisa Devanna 5
2020NPL1 NSW Women115242017178th-- Georia Yeoman-Dale 5
2019NPL2 NSW Women2217411051755bgcolor=gold1st bgcolor=silverRU- Ash Palombi33
2018NPL2 NSW Women2213455933434thSF- Ash Palombi17
2017NSW State League Women181431831445bgcolor=gold1st bgcolor=silverRU-
2016NSW State League Women211434561745bgcolor=gold1st bgcolor=silverRU-
2015NSW State League Women2182113149266th--
2014NSW State League Women202018259267th--
2013NSW State League Women22341521701311th--
2012NSW Women’s Super League182313235597th--
2011NSW Women’s Super League 181602691448bgcolor=gold1st bgcolor=goldW-
2010NSW Women’s Super League 168533922294thbgcolor=silverRU-

Correct as of 3rd August 2024

Honours

Regional

National

Individual Honours

National

Regional

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History . APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC . 23 February 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150223061257/http://apiatigers.com/history.html . 23 February 2015.
  2. News: Soccer with everything... Apia win 9–1 . The Sydney Morning Herald . 11 March 1974 . 23 February 2015 . Mossop, Brian . Google News Archive.
  3. News: Liquidator takes over troubled Apia . The Sydney Morning Herald . 16 April 1992 . 23 February 2015 . Cockerill, Michael.
  4. News: Apia plan legal tilt for NSL re-entry . The Sydney Morning Herald . 25 September 1992 . 23 February 2015 . Cockerill, Michael.
  5. News: Soccer World – Coaching clinic a must for youngsters . The Canberra Times . 18 December 1992 . 23 February 2015 . Cooke, Graham . Trove . FORMER NATIONAL League giant Apia Leichhardt will resumeits interrupted career, reincarnated as the Leichhardt Tigers in the NSW Superleague..
  6. Web site: APIA clinch Cup crown in NSW ahead of FFA Cup Round of 32. FFA Cup. 16 July 2018 . en. 2018-08-22.
  7. News: Sekiya stars as APIA Leichhardt stun Victory in FFA Cup The World Game. The World Game. 2018-08-22. en-GB.
  8. News: We didn't show up: Victory rue shock FFA Cup exit. NewsComAu. 2018-08-22.
  9. Web site: NSW . Football . 2019-08-31 . Championship finally comes home to APIA Leichhardt Tigers . 2023-06-19 . NPL NSW Men's . en-AU.
  10. Historic NPL club APIA goes back to its roots with major re-brand, SBS, 2019-12-12
  11. Web site: Football Australia announces foundation clubs for National Second Tier . Football Australia . 2023-11-20.
  12. Web site: Tigers eye historic win . The Village Voice. 29 June 2012 . 23 February 2015 . dead . https://archive.today/20121230205051/http://balmain-village-voice.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/apia-leichhardt-tigers-eye-historic-win/ . 30 December 2012.
  13. Web site: 2018-08-07 . APIA Leichhardt FC v Melbourne Victory - Australia Cup Match Centre . 2023-07-30 . www.australiacup.com.au . en.
  14. Web site: 2021-12-21 . WATCH: Mariners hit APIA for six to reach Semi Finals Australia Cup . 2023-07-30 . www.australiacup.com.au . en.
  15. Web site: Men's First Grade. Football NSW. 25 February 2021.
  16. Web site: Statistics for APIA Leichhardt FC playing in 1st - NPL NSW Men's 2021. mygameday. 2 October 2021.
  17. Web site: 2011 NSWPL goalscorers. SoccerAust. 22 October 2018.
  18. Web site: 2012 NSWPL goalscorers. SoccerAust. 22 October 2018.
  19. Web site: 2014 NSW NPL1 Leading Scorers. SoccerAust. 22 October 2018.

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