APIA Leichhardt FC

APIA Leichhardt FC
APIA Leichhardt Football Club, also known simply as APIA (Associazione Poli-sportiva Italo Australiana), is a semi-professional football 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.
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.
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."
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. 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. The result was billed as one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history.
APIA won the National Premier Leagues NSW Grand Final with a 2-1 victory over Sydney United in 2019. 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.
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 and, most notably, Leichhardt Oval, where Australia Cup ties against high-profile teams have typically been hosted.
Current squad
Updated June 2023.
Seasons
Key to league competitions
Div. 1 = Division One
NSL = National Soccer League
NSWSL = NSW Super League
NSWPL = NSW Premier League
NPL NSW = National Premier Leagues NSW
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
Key to cup competitions
AMP = Ampol Cup
NPLF = National Premier Leagues Finals
Key to cup and finals results
1R, 2R, 3R...7R = 1st Round, 2nd Round, 3rd Round...7th Round
GS = Group Stage
EF = Elimination Final
PF = Preliminary Final
PO = Playoff Final
R32 = Round of 32
R16 = Round of 16
QF = Quarterfinals
SF = Semifinals
RU = Runners-Up
W = Winners
Unk = Result unknown
Correct as of 17th September 2023
Source OzFootball
APIA Leichhardt FC Women's
Correct as of 9th October 2023
Honours
Regional
National Premier Leagues NSW
Premiers (6): 1964, 1966, 1967, 1975, 2017, 2023
Runners-Up (11): 1959, 1960, 1963, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1997, 2002–03, 2015, 2018, 2019
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
Winners (5): 1962, 1966, 1975, 2013, 2018
Runners-Up (4): 2006, 2012, 2017, 2023
Jonny 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
Winners (1): 1966
Runners-Up (3): 1964, 1965, 1967
NSL Cup
Winners (2): 1982, 1988
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 Perisi - 2015
Sean Symons - 2017
Tasuku Sekiya - 2018
NPL NSW Premier League Coach of the Year (2)
Franco Perisi - 2023
Daniel 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
References
External links
Oz Football Profile
NPL NSW Fixtures & Results
National Premier Leagues clubs
National Soccer League (Australia) teams
New South Wales Premier League teams
Association football clubs established in 1954
1954 establishments in Australia
Italian-Australian backed sports clubs of New South Wales