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
20231st of 16
(Premiers & Champions)
WebsiteClub website

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 Australia AUS Ivan Necevski
3 DF Australia AUS Paul Galimi
4 DF Australia AUS Joshua Symons
5 DF Australia AUS Nicholas Azzone
6 DF Australia AUS Anthony Sparacino
7 FW Australia AUS Jack Stewart
8 FW Argentina ARG Diego Celis
14 MF Australia AUS Jack Armson
15 DF Australia AUS Themba Muata-Marlow
16 MF Australia AUS Sean Symons
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 FW Australia AUS Rory Jordan
18 MF Australia AUS Adrian Ucchino
19 MF Australia AUS Fabian Monge
21 DF Australia AUS Michael Kouta
23 MF Australia AUS Dakota Askew
29 Australia AUS Harry Stavris
37 MF Australia AUS Corey Bizco
38 DF Australia AUS Yianni Nicolaou
42 GK Australia AUS Anthony Bouzanis
98 MF Australia AUS Franco Farinella

Seasons

Season League Waratah
Cup
Australia
Cup
[lower-alpha 1]
Other Top scorer
Div P W D L F A Pts Pos Finals Player(s) Goals
1957 Div. 12034133957109th QF2RAMP
1958 Div. 12274114141188th
1959 Div. 12619437233422ndRU
1960 Div. 12618537125412ndSF
1961 Div. 1 2210485543246th
1962 Div. 12213366538293rdSFWQF
1963 Div. 12214357037312ndRUQF
1964 Div. 12214355935311stWRUJohn Watkiss24
1965 Div. 11811075128223rdWRUJohn Giacometti21
1966 Div. 11813415516301stRUW WWAMPJohn Giacometti20
1967 Div. 12217326519371stRURUJohn Giacometti22
1968 Div. 12211474225293rdGSR16
1969 Div. 1229853526264thW3rdAMP
1970 Div. 12291123635197thWAMP
1971 Div. 12265112540178th4thAMP
1972 Div. 12211833318303rdSFUnkAMP
1973 Div. 12210663834265th
1974 Div. 12212464425282ndPFWAMPPaul Ollerton18
1975 Div. 12213543919311stRUWPaul Ollerton17
1976 Div. 12215524917352ndW
1977 Div. 12215614615362ndPF
1978 Div. 12613310364296th1R
1979 NSL26113122937258thN/A R16 Ken Reed7
1980 NSL 2687112735238thN/AR16Phil O’Connor10
1981 NSL 30121173933354thN/AQFMarshall Soper12
1982 NSL 30127114954317thN/AWMarshall Soper14
1983 NSL 30116134236398thN/AR16John Bradley12
1984 NSL/NC[lower-alpha 2] 2812884335324thPFSFPeter Katholos14
1985 NSL/NC[lower-alpha 2] 2272132034169thR16Peter Katholos14
1986 NSL/NC[lower-alpha 2] 229672523247thR32Terry Butler4
1987 NSL 2413923921351st WR16 Rod Brown14
1988 NSL 26871128352311th W Hilton Phillips8
1989 NSL 26791027352310thSFRod Brown7
1989–90 NSL 2611963625316thSFRod Brown10
1990–91 NSL 26771227282111thSFAlex Bundalo6
1991–92 NSL 2671182628258thR16John Gibson8
1993 NSWSLP 26106+283923446th
1994 NSWSLP 2273+752019348th
1995 NSWSLP 26104+572923434th
1996 NSWSL1137332014243rd
NSWSL2134541922178th
1997 NSWSL2012352717392ndPFJohn Buonavoglia6
1998 NSWSL218673232308thJohn Buonavoglia11
1999 NSWSL2211294337357thSteve Karavatakis10
2000 NSWSL2614665339483rdPFSteve Karavatakis14
2000–01 NSWPL188284136265th Steve Karavatakis16
2001–02 NSWPL 2212554029414thEF Steve Karavatakis12
2002–03 NSWPL 2211744425402ndWNot held Zlatko Arambasic17
2003–04 NSWPL 2273122436249thSF Norman Tome6
2004–05 NSWPL 229492529316thSF Norman Tome4
2006 NSWPL 18341116381310thRU Shane McGirr3
2007 NSWPL 188462623285th4R Robert Younis9
2008 NSWPL 229764135346thQF Robert Younis21
2009 NSWPL 22571030382211th4R Robert Younis11
2010 NSWPL 2213373937393rdSF4R Robert Younis14
2011 NSWPL 22651124362310th QF Robert Younis5[17]
2012 NSWPL 229493231316th RU Andrew Bevin7[18]
2013 NPL NSW 22281229481411th W Nikola Taneski7
2014 NPL NSW 22481031512011th 4R DNQ Blake Powell9[19]
2015 NPL NSW 2213635631452ndPF 4R DNQ Blake Powell21
2016 NPL NSW 2275113941268th 6R DNQ Tasuku Sekiya11
2017 NPL NSW2216155018491stRU RU R16 SFNPLF Jordan Murray12
2018 NPL NSW 2214356228452ndRU W QF Jordan Murray24
2019 NPL NSW 2212644228422ndW 6R DNQ Chris Payne22
2020 NPL NSW 112181227712thNot heldNot heldSean Symons4
2021 NPL NSW 17638202121season cancelled QF Franco Parisi5
2022 NPL NSW 2210574133355thSF4RDNQJason Romero11
2023 NPL NSW 3020556435651stNot heldRU R16J. Armson - J. Stewart -14

Correct as of 17th September 2023

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
2023 NPL1 NSW Women2619526426621stNot heldWAsh Crofts24
2022 NPL1 NSW Women2212464825402nd--
2021 NPL1 NSW Women126422316224th--
2020 NPL1 NSW Women115242017178th--
2019 NPL2 NSW Women22174110517551st--
2018 NPL2 NSW Women2213455933434th--
2017 NSW State League Women1814318314451st--
2016 NSW State League Women2114345617451st--
2015 NSW State League Women2182113149266th--
2014 NSW State League Women202018259267th--
2013 NSW State League Women22341521701311th--
2012 NSW Women’s Super League182313235597th--
2011 NSW Women’s Super League1816026914481st--
2010 NSW Women’s Super League168533922294th--

Correct as of 9th October 2023

Honours

Regional

  • Jonny Warren Cup
    • Winners (1): 2007
  • Ampol Cup
    • Winners (3): 1966, 1970, 1974

National

Individual Honours

National

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

  1. FFA Cup/Australia Cup (from 2014). Includes Australia Cup (1962–1968) and NSL Cup (1977–1997)
  2. 1 2 3 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

  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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