# Sale United FC

Sale United FC is a soccer club based in Sale, Victoria, Australia. The club was originally founded in 1924, before being re-founded in 1954 and again in 1974 and currently competes in Latrobe Valley Soccer League.
Sale's victory in the 1980 LVSL remains their only Men's league championship to date, although they did win the 2013 Grand Final 3–0 against Monash SC. Sale's women's has proven itself as a growing force, winning two LVSL women's titles in 2023 and 2024.
The club is known for being the youth club of former National Soccer League and Major Soccer League player Marcus Stergiopoulos.

## History
### Initial formation and role in soccer's local growth (1925–1933)

While the earliest known soccer competition in Gippsland was the Wonthaggi and District Soccer Association, which began in 1912, it was followed by the North Gippsland Soccer League (featuring Sale United, featuring Yallourn SC and clubs from Maffra, Glenmaggie and Nambrok) beginning in 1926. Although both leagues ceased to exist by the late 1930s as a result of a World War Two.
Sale United originally played their matches at the on a makeshift field on a farm at the rear of the Turf Club Hotel in Sale (site of the current day Sale Showgrounds).
In one match against Sale United on 13 August 1925, former Arsenal and Bolton star and England International John Elvey was hailed for his remarkable play for Yallourn SC, as described by the Gippsland Mercury: "Elvey's footwork was superb, and his technique showed himself a professional, for we are informed that he is an ex-Bolton Wanderers player (one of England's leading first Division teams) and was bought by that club from Luton from the sum of 3,500 pounds."
Despite its early role in growing the game in Gippsland, the club did not appear to take part in the NGSA's successor competition, the Central Gippsland Soccer Football Association.

### First reformation and joining the LVSL (1954–1959)

After football's growth in Gippsland halted during the Second World War, the Latrobe Valley Soccer League was officially formed in 1951 and after a successful first season, the league grew from five to six teams in 1952 – Heyfield leaving and Overseas Construction Company SC and the RAAF SC coming in.
While RAAF Soccer Club was based at the RAAF Base East Sale, its players were typically those belonging to the air force – leaving a void for players from the town of Sale itself.
Sale United officially reformed in 1954, with Mr. L Nerantzis was appointed chair man, with Mr. D. Knight as vice-president and treasurer, and Mr. P. McMahon, of RAAF Base East Sale, as secretary, with players being drawn from the local area and from the RAAF Base. The club was said be very multicultural, with as many as nine different nationalities making up their inaugural squad – with the club determined to stay "strictly amateur".
After a search for a home, the club would eventually begun its second iteration at Friendly Societies Ground.
Sale United claimed a 3–2 victory in their first Sale Derby against the RAAF, held at the RAAF base on May 8, 1954. However, Sale finished the season in last place. They would improve to fifth in 1955, their best season in their early years in the LVSL.
Sale's first major trophy came in the form of the 1955 Battle of Britain Cup, when they defeated Morwell SC before a "large crowd" at Yallourn's No.3 Oval. Captain Ted Speechley was scored a brace, including scoring in both regular and extra time to secure the club's first silverware.
Despite finishing in sixth in 1959 – their second best season since joining the league – Sale pulled out of the LVSL ahead of the 1960 season.

### Second reformation (1974–)

Sale United's third (and current) iteration commenced in 1974, with the club known as Sale City and re-admitted to the Latrobe Valley Soccer League.
While the men's team remained unable to break through for success for many years, they finally won the league title in 1980 – the only time they have finished in the top two placings.
After finishing third at the end of the regular season in 2013, they defeated Monash SC in that season's LVSL grand final.
While the original iteration of Sale United won the Battle of Britain in 1955, the new version of the club is yet to do so – only finishing runner's up in 2013 and 2014.
In 2019, Sale United Football Club coach Anouk Meereboer was named Victoria's Female Coach of the Year by Football Victoria.
In 2021, Meereboer was named as the first female to lead a senior men's team in the history of the LVSL.
Since 1993, Sale United has run a Primary Schools Twilight Tournament, which was awarded the Vicsport Community Event of the Year award in 2023. From 15 teams in 1993 to 67 teams in 2023, nearly 700 kids now play soccer every Monday during Term 4. The club also earned a My Sport Live Community Sporting Event of the Year award and to be named a top-four finalist for the Love the Game Community Sporting Club of the Year.
The club celebrated its 50-year anniversary in 2024.

## Club colors and badge

The club plays in green and white jerseys.

## Stadium

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

## Club achievements

* Latrobe Valley Soccer League
    Champions (1): 1980
    Grand Final Winners (1): 2013
* Battle of Britain Cup
    Winners (1): 1955.
    Runners Up (2): 2013, 2014.
* Latrobe Valley Soccer League Women's
    Champions (4): 2023, 2024.

## Notable former players

* Marcus Stergiopoulos