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APIA Leichhardt FC

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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.

APIA Leichhardt
Full nameAPIA Leichhardt Football Club
Nickname(s)The Tigers, Marronazzuri
Founded1954 (as APIA Leichhardt)
GroundLambert Park / Leichhardt Oval
Capacity5,000 / 22,000
PresidentTony Raciti
CoachFranco Parisi
LeagueNPL NSW
20243rd of 16
Websitehttps://apialeichhardt.football

History

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Chart of yearly table positions for APIA Leichhardt in NSL

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

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Lambert Park under floodlights with the old turf surface

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

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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.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   AUS Anthony Bouzanis
2 DF   JPN Seiya Kambayashi
4 DF   AUS Joshua Symons
6 DF   AUS Anthony Sparacino
7 FW   AUS Jack Stewart
8 MF   AUS Nick Sullivan
11 FW   AUS Rory Jordan
12 DF   AUS Sebastian Boffa
13 FW   AUS Jared Macerola
14 MF   AUS Jack Armson
15 DF   AUS Themba Muata-Marlow
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF   AUS Sean Symons
17 MF   AUS Jordan Segreto
18 MF   AUS Adrian Ucchino
19 MF   AUS Lui Di Triola
20 GK   AUS Alex Parkes
21 DF   AUS Michael Kouta
22 MF   AUS Eddie Caspers
23 MF   AUS Dakota Askew
27 GK   AUS Evan Davis
29 MF   AUS Maksim Kasalovic
30 FW   AUS Alex Denmead
41 DF   AUS Nick Azzone

Seasons

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Season League Waratah
Cup 		Australia
Cup[a] 		Other Top scorer
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 30 18 3 9 78 48 57 3rd SF W R32 Ben Gibson 18

Correct as of 10th September 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 26 15 6 5 55 37 51 2nd RU QF Ash Crofts 16
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 10th September 2024

Honours

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Regional

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National

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Individual Honours

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National

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Regional

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  • 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

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  1. ^ FFA Cup/Australia Cup (from 2014). Includes Australia Cup (1962–1968) and NSL Cup (1977–1997)
  2. ^ 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

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  1. ^ "History". APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  2. ^ Mossop, Brian (11 March 1974). "Soccer with everything... Apia win 9–1". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 February 2015 – via Google News Archive.
  3. ^ Cockerill, Michael (16 April 1992). "Liquidator takes over troubled Apia". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  4. ^ Cockerill, Michael (25 September 1992). "Apia plan legal tilt for NSL re-entry". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "APIA clinch Cup crown in NSW ahead of FFA Cup Round of 32". FFA Cup. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  7. ^ "Sekiya stars as APIA Leichhardt stun Victory in FFA Cup | The World Game". The World Game. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  8. ^ "We didn't show up: Victory rue shock FFA Cup exit". NewsComAu. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  9. ^ NSW, Football (31 August 2019). "Championship finally comes home to APIA Leichhardt Tigers". NPL NSW Men's. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  10. ^ Historic NPL club APIA goes back to its roots with major re-brand, SBS, 2019-12-12
  11. ^ "Football Australia announces foundation clubs for National Second Tier". Football Australia. 20 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Tigers eye historic win". The Village Voice. 29 June 2012. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  13. ^ "APIA Leichhardt FC v Melbourne Victory - Australia Cup Match Centre". www.australiacup.com.au. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  14. ^ "WATCH: Mariners hit APIA for six to reach Semi Finals | Australia Cup". www.australiacup.com.au. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Men's First Grade". Football NSW. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Statistics for APIA Leichhardt FC playing in 1st - NPL NSW Men's 2021". mygameday. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  17. ^ "2011 NSWPL goalscorers". SoccerAust. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  18. ^ "2012 NSWPL goalscorers". SoccerAust. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  19. ^ "2014 NSW NPL1 Leading Scorers". SoccerAust. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
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Preceded by NSL Champions
1987 		Succeeded by
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