# East Gippsland United FC

East Gippsland United FC is a soccer club based in Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia. The club was founded in 2009 and currently competes in Latrobe Valley Soccer League and are often to referred to as the Eagles.
The club was formed in order to bring high level competitive football to East Gippsland, and it focuses on representing the towns of the region, including Bairnsdale, Lakes Entrance, Paynesville, Eastwood, Wy Yung and Orbost.
The club is yet to win a senior men's or women's LVSL title but did claim the LVSL Second Division and the Nan Bosma Cup in 2023.

## History
### Efforts to start football in the region (1953–2008)

Attempts to bring football to East Gippsland were a stop-start affair in the 20th century, with the first recorded team in Bairnsdale being formed in 1953. They made their debut in a game against the RAAF Soccer Club, based at the East Sale Air Force base, on November 8, 1953, at the Lucknow Recreation Reserve, on Bairnsdale's eastern edge.
Bairnsdale's strength was immediately obvious, as they defeated the Airmen 7-1 - despite the RAAF featuring Australian international Ralph Walker at centre-half. Bairnsdale wore Australian Rules football jerseys, loaned from the Lucknow Football Club.
However, it wasn't until 1970 that Bairnsdale Soccer Club entered the Latrobe Valley Soccer League that East Gippsland was fully represented at the highest level. The club struggled in their early years, finishing third last in the first season.
In 1989, Bairnsdale Soccer Club became the name of the local Futsal club, representing East Gippsland in the indoor version of the game.

### EGUFC commences, facility upgraded (2008-)

East Gippsland United's genesis can be found in its first 'unofficial team' - an under-14 team which actually drew its representatives from Bairnsdale but was forced represent Sale United FC, located some 65 kilometres away.
The team that was administrated, coached and managed by the founders of EGUFC, who formally moved to start their own club as a result.
EGUFC officially began in February 2009 and the club entered 3 teams (2 junior and 1 senior) in the Gippsland Soccer League (GSL).
These were teams largely assembled from participants in a 2008 summer competition, which was largely devised as a 'test event' to gauge the demand for outdoor football in the area.
Some 382 players registered for the event, far exceeding expectations and it was decided to launch an official club - East Gippsland United FC - to play home and away games in the Gippsland Soccer League a year earlier than planned.
In 2009, EGUFC finished the year with 395 registered players and it was recognised that the club had already outgrown the facilities it had been allowed to use by the East Gippsland Shire.
The club soon grew to have a Women's team and multiple teams across nearly all available age groups.
In 2024, EGUFC coach Dave Claridge was awarded the LVSL's senior men's coach of the year.
The club is also host to the "East Gippsland Soccer League", which sees numerous junior teams play in a competition where team names are derived from the surrounding areas.
The popularity of EGUFC meant that the club's Howitt Park facility - now known as The WORLD Sporting Precinct - has required significant upgrades to cater for demand, with approval for the upgrades due to be approved in mid-2025.

## Club colours and badge

The club plays in blue and yellow jerseys.

## Stadium

The club plays its home matches at Howitt Park, which has a capacity of 500 (with a seating capacity of 100).

## Club achievements

* Latrobe Valley Soccer League 2nd Division
    Champions (1): 2023
* Nan Bosma Cup
    Champions (1): 2023