APIA Leichhardt FC
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Full name | APIA Leichhardt Football Club | ||
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Nickname(s) | The Tigers, Marronazzuri | ||
Founded | 1954 (as APIA Leichhardt) | ||
Ground | Lambert Park / Leichhardt Oval | ||
Capacity | 5,000 / 22,000 | ||
President | Tony Raciti | ||
Coach | Franco Parisi | ||
League | NPL NSW | ||
2023 | 1st of 16 (Premiers & Champions) | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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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
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Performance_Chart_NSL_API.svg/220px-Performance_Chart_NSL_API.svg.png)
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
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/ff/Lambert_Park%2C_Leichhardt.jpg/250px-Lambert_Park%2C_Leichhardt.jpg)
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] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Seasons
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Season | League | Waratah Cup |
Australia Cup[a] |
Other | Top scorer | ||||||||||
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Div | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Pos | Finals | Player(s) | Goals | ||||
1957 | Div. 1 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 39 | 57 | 10 | 9th | – | QF | 2RAMP | |||
1958 | Div. 1 | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 41 | 41 | 18 | 8th | – | |||||
1959 | Div. 1 | 26 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 72 | 33 | 42 | 2nd | RU | |||||
1960 | Div. 1 | 26 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 71 | 25 | 41 | 2nd | SF | |||||
1961 | Div. 1 | 22 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 55 | 43 | 24 | 6th | – | – | ||||
1962 | Div. 1 | 22 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 65 | 38 | 29 | 3rd | SF | W | QF | |||
1963 | Div. 1 | 22 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 70 | 37 | 31 | 2nd | RU | QF | ||||
1964 | Div. 1 | 22 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 59 | 35 | 31 | 1st | W | RU | John Watkiss | 24 | ||
1965 | Div. 1 | 18 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 51 | 28 | 22 | 3rd | W | RU | John Giacometti | 21 | ||
1966 | Div. 1 | 18 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 55 | 16 | 30 | 1st | RU | W | W | WAMP | John Giacometti | 20 |
1967 | Div. 1 | 22 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 65 | 19 | 37 | 1st | RU | RU | John Giacometti | 22 | ||
1968 | Div. 1 | 22 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 42 | 25 | 29 | 3rd | GS | R16 | ||||
1969 | Div. 1 | 22 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 35 | 26 | 26 | 4th | W | 3rdAMP | ||||
1970 | Div. 1 | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 36 | 35 | 19 | 7th | – | WAMP | ||||
1971 | Div. 1 | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 25 | 40 | 17 | 8th | – | 4thAMP | ||||
1972 | Div. 1 | 22 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 33 | 18 | 30 | 3rd | SF | UnkAMP | ||||
1973 | Div. 1 | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 38 | 34 | 26 | 5th | – | |||||
1974 | Div. 1 | 22 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 44 | 25 | 28 | 2nd | PF | WAMP | Paul Ollerton | 18 | ||
1975 | Div. 1 | 22 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 39 | 19 | 31 | 1st | RU | W | Paul Ollerton | 17 | ||
1976 | Div. 1 | 22 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 49 | 17 | 35 | 2nd | W | |||||
1977 | Div. 1 | 22 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 46 | 15 | 36 | 2nd | PF | |||||
1978 | Div. 1 | 26 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 36 | 4 | 29 | 6th | – | 1R | ||||
1979 | NSL | 26 | 11 | 3 | 12 | 29 | 37 | 25 | 8th | N/A | R16 | Ken Reed | 7 | ||
1980 | NSL | 26 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 27 | 35 | 23 | 8th | N/A | R16 | Phil O’Connor | 10 | ||
1981 | NSL | 30 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 39 | 33 | 35 | 4th | N/A | QF | Marshall Soper | 12 | ||
1982 | NSL | 30 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 49 | 54 | 31 | 7th | N/A | W | Marshall Soper | 14 | ||
1983 | NSL | 30 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 42 | 36 | 39 | 8th | N/A | R16 | John Bradley | 12 | ||
1984 | NSL/NC[b] | 28 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 43 | 35 | 32 | 4th | PF | SF | Peter Katholos | 14 | ||
1985 | NSL/NC[b] | 22 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 20 | 34 | 16 | 9th | – | R16 | Peter Katholos | 14 | ||
1986 | NSL/NC[b] | 22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 7th | – | R32 | Terry Butler | 4 | ||
1987 | NSL | 24 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 39 | 21 | 35 | 1st | W | R16 | Rod Brown | 14 | ||
1988 | NSL | 26 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 28 | 35 | 23 | 11th | – | W | Hilton Phillips | 8 | ||
1989 | NSL | 26 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 27 | 35 | 23 | 10th | – | SF | Rod Brown | 7 | ||
1989–90 | NSL | 26 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 36 | 25 | 31 | 6th | – | SF | Rod Brown | 10 | ||
1990–91 | NSL | 26 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 27 | 28 | 21 | 11th | – | SF | Alex Bundalo | 6 | ||
1991–92 | NSL | 26 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 26 | 28 | 25 | 8th | – | R16 | John Gibson | 8 | ||
1993 | NSWSLP | 26 | 10 | 6+2 | 8 | 39 | 23 | 44 | 6th | – | |||||
1994 | NSWSLP | 22 | 7 | 3+7 | 5 | 20 | 19 | 34 | 8th | – | |||||
1995 | NSWSLP | 26 | 10 | 4+5 | 7 | 29 | 23 | 43 | 4th | – | |||||
1996 | NSWSL1 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 14 | 24 | 3rd | – | |||||
NSWSL2 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 19 | 22 | 17 | 8th | |||||||
1997 | NSWSL | 20 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 27 | 17 | 39 | 2nd | PF | John Buonavoglia | 6 | |||
1998 | NSWSL | 21 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 8th | – | John Buonavoglia | 11 | |||
1999 | NSWSL | 22 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 43 | 37 | 35 | 7th | – | Steve Karavatakis | 10 | |||
2000 | NSWSL | 26 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 53 | 39 | 48 | 3rd | PF | Steve Karavatakis | 14 | |||
2000–01 | NSWPL | 18 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 41 | 36 | 26 | 5th | – | Steve Karavatakis | 16 | |||
2001–02 | NSWPL | 22 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 40 | 29 | 41 | 4th | EF | Steve Karavatakis | 12 | |||
2002–03 | NSWPL | 22 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 44 | 25 | 40 | 2nd | W | Not held | Zlatko Arambasic | 17 | ||
2003–04 | NSWPL | 22 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 24 | 36 | 24 | 9th | – | SF | Norman Tome | 6 | ||
2004–05 | NSWPL | 22 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 25 | 29 | 31 | 6th | – | SF | Norman Tome | 4 | ||
2006 | NSWPL | 18 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 38 | 13 | 10th | – | RU | Shane McGirr | 3 | ||
2007 | NSWPL | 18 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 26 | 23 | 28 | 5th | – | 4R | Robert Younis | 9 | ||
2008 | NSWPL | 22 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 41 | 35 | 34 | 6th | – | QF | Robert Younis | 21 | ||
2009 | NSWPL | 22 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 30 | 38 | 22 | 11th | – | 4R | Robert Younis | 11 | ||
2010 | NSWPL | 22 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 39 | 37 | 39 | 3rd | SF | 4R | Robert Younis | 14 | ||
2011 | NSWPL | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 24 | 36 | 23 | 10th | — | QF | Robert Younis | 5[17] | ||
2012 | NSWPL | 22 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 6th | — | RU | Andrew Bevin | 7[18] | ||
2013 | NPL NSW | 22 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 29 | 48 | 14 | 11th | — | W | Nikola Taneski | 7 | ||
2014 | NPL NSW | 22 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 31 | 51 | 20 | 11th | – | 4R | DNQ | Blake Powell | 9[19] | |
2015 | NPL NSW | 22 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 56 | 31 | 45 | 2nd | PF | 4R | DNQ | Blake Powell | 21 | |
2016 | NPL NSW | 22 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 39 | 41 | 26 | 8th | – | 6R | DNQ | Tasuku Sekiya | 11 | |
2017 | NPL NSW | 22 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 50 | 18 | 49 | 1st | RU | RU | R16 | SFNPLF | Jordan Murray | 12 |
2018 | NPL NSW | 22 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 62 | 28 | 45 | 2nd | RU | W | QF | Jordan Murray | 24 | |
2019 | NPL NSW | 22 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 42 | 28 | 42 | 2nd | W | 6R | DNQ | Chris Payne | 22 | |
2020 | NPL NSW | 11 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 12 | 27 | 7 | 12th | — | Not held | Not held | Sean Symons | 4 | |
2021 | NPL NSW | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 20 | 21 | 21 | season cancelled | QF | Franco Parisi | 5 | |||
2022 | NPL NSW | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 41 | 33 | 35 | 5th | SF | 4R | DNQ | Jason Romero | 11 | |
2023 | NPL NSW | 30 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 64 | 35 | 65 | 1st | Not held | RU | R16 | J. Armson - J. Stewart - | 14 | |
2024 | NPL NSW | 20 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 59 | 28 | 43 |
Correct as of 6th July 2024
Source OzFootball
- APIA Leichhardt FC Women's
Season | League | Sapphire Cup | Top scorer | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Div | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Pos | Finals | Player(s) | Goals | ||
2024 | NPL1 NSW Women | 19 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 44 | 26 | 39 | |||||
2023 | NPL1 NSW Women | 26 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 64 | 26 | 62 | 1st | PF | W | Ash Crofts | 24 |
2022 | NPL1 NSW Women | 22 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 48 | 25 | 40 | 2nd | PF | - | Shea Connors | 16 |
2021 | NPL1 NSW Women | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 16 | 22 | 4th | PF | - | Lisa Devanna | 5 |
2020 | NPL1 NSW Women | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 8th | - | - | Georia Yeoman-Dale | 5 |
2019 | NPL2 NSW Women | 22 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 105 | 17 | 55 | 1st | RU | - | Ash Palombi | 33 |
2018 | NPL2 NSW Women | 22 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 59 | 33 | 43 | 4th | SF | - | Ash Palombi | 17 |
2017 | NSW State League Women | 18 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 83 | 14 | 45 | 1st | RU | - | ||
2016 | NSW State League Women | 21 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 56 | 17 | 45 | 1st | RU | - | ||
2015 | NSW State League Women | 21 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 31 | 49 | 26 | 6th | - | - | ||
2014 | NSW State League Women | 20 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 25 | 92 | 6 | 7th | - | - | ||
2013 | NSW State League Women | 22 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 21 | 70 | 13 | 11th | - | - | ||
2012 | NSW Women’s Super League | 18 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 23 | 55 | 9 | 7th | - | - | ||
2011 | NSW Women’s Super League | 18 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 69 | 14 | 48 | 1st | W | - | ||
2010 | NSW Women’s Super League | 16 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 39 | 22 | 29 | 4th | RU | - |
Correct as of 6th July 2024
Honours
Regional
- National Premier Leagues NSW
- National Premier Leagues NSW Grand Finals
- Championships (6): 1964, 1965, 1969, 1976, 2002–03, 2019
- Runners-Up (7): 1959, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1975, 2017, 2018,
- Waratah Cup
- Johnny Warren Cup
- Winners (1): 2007
- Ampol Cup
- Winners (3): 1966, 1970, 1974
National
- National Soccer League
- Champions (1): 1987
- Premiers (1): 1987 National Soccer League
- Australia Cup
- NSL Cup
Individual Honours
National
- National Soccer League Coach of the Year (1)
- Rale Rasic - 1987
Regional
- NPL NSW Premier League Player of the year (5)
- George Blues - 1970
- Terry Butler - 1978
- Franco Parisi - 2015
- Sean Symons - 2017
- Tasuku Sekiya - 2018
- NPL NSW Premier League Coach of the Year (2)
- Franco Parisi - 2023
- Danial Cummins - 2017
- Robbie Slater Award (1)
- Sean Symons - 2019
- NPL NSW Premier Leagues Golden Boot (9)
- Jordan Murray (23) - 2018
- Blake Powell (21) - 2015
- Robert Younis (21) - 2008
- Paul Ollerton (17) - 1975
- Paul Ollerton (18) - 1974
- John Giacometti (22) - 1967
- John Giacometti (20) - 1966
- John Giacometti (21) - 1965
- John Watkiss (24) - 1964
- NPL NSW Goalkeeper of the Year (1)
- Ivan Necevski- 2023
- NPL NSW Goal of the Year (1)
- Blake Powell - 2015
Notes
- ^ FFA Cup/Australia Cup (from 2014). Includes Australia Cup (1962–1968) and NSL Cup (1977–1997)
- ^ a b c During 1984 to 1986, the league was split into two conferences – APIA played in the Northern Conference and the position in the table reflects position in the conference.
References
- ^ "History". APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ Mossop, Brian (11 March 1974). "Soccer with everything... Apia win 9–1". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 February 2015 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ Cockerill, Michael (16 April 1992). "Liquidator takes over troubled Apia". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ Cockerill, Michael (25 September 1992). "Apia plan legal tilt for NSL re-entry". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ Cooke, Graham (18 December 1992). "Soccer World – Coaching clinic a must for youngsters". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 23 February 2015 – via Trove.
FORMER NATIONAL League giant Apia Leichhardt will resumeits interrupted career, reincarnated as the Leichhardt Tigers in the NSW Superleague.
- ^ "APIA clinch Cup crown in NSW ahead of FFA Cup Round of 32". FFA Cup. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ "Sekiya stars as APIA Leichhardt stun Victory in FFA Cup | The World Game". The World Game. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ "We didn't show up: Victory rue shock FFA Cup exit". NewsComAu. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ NSW, Football (31 August 2019). "Championship finally comes home to APIA Leichhardt Tigers". NPL NSW Men's. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ Historic NPL club APIA goes back to its roots with major re-brand, SBS, 2019-12-12
- ^ "Football Australia announces foundation clubs for National Second Tier". Football Australia. 20 November 2023.
- ^ "Tigers eye historic win". The Village Voice. 29 June 2012. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ "APIA Leichhardt FC v Melbourne Victory - Australia Cup Match Centre". www.australiacup.com.au. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ "WATCH: Mariners hit APIA for six to reach Semi Finals | Australia Cup". www.australiacup.com.au. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ "Men's First Grade". Football NSW. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
- ^ "Statistics for APIA Leichhardt FC playing in 1st - NPL NSW Men's 2021". mygameday. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ "2011 NSWPL goalscorers". SoccerAust. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
- ^ "2012 NSWPL goalscorers". SoccerAust. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
- ^ "2014 NSW NPL1 Leading Scorers". SoccerAust. Retrieved 22 October 2018.