APIA Leichhardt

Full name	APIA Leichhardt Football Club
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
Home colours Away colours

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

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

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

Updated June 2023.^[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 Ivan Necevski 3 DF  AUS Paul Galimi 4 DF  AUS Joshua Symons 5 DF  AUS Nicholas Azzone 6 DF  AUS Anthony Sparacino 7 FW  AUS Jack Stewart 8 FW  ARG Diego Celis 14 MF  AUS Jack Armson 15 DF  AUS Themba Muata-Marlow 16 MF  AUS Sean Symons

No. Pos. Nation Player 17 FW  AUS Rory Jordan 18 MF  AUS Adrian Ucchino 19 MF  AUS Fabian Monge 21 DF  AUS Michael Kouta 23 MF  AUS Dakota Askew 29  AUS Harry Stavris 37 MF  AUS Corey Bizco 38 DF  AUS Yianni Nicolaou 42 GK  AUS Anthony Bouzanis 98 MF  AUS Franco Farinella

Seasons

Correct as of 17th September 2023

Source OzFootball

• APIA Leichhardt FC Women's

Correct as of 9th October 2023

Honours

Individual Honours

Notes

References

External links

• Official website
• Oz Football Profile
• NPL NSW Fixtures & Results