The
South Coast Wolves Football Club (formerly
Wollongong Community Football Club and the
Wollongong Wolves) is an Australian Association football club based in the
IllawarraIllawarra is a region in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is a coastal region situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the Shoalhaven or South Coast region. It encompasses the cities of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and the town of Kiama. The central region contains Lake...
region of
New South WalesNew South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
,
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
currently playing in the NSW Premier League.
The club was formed in 2009 as a not for profit organisation, run and owned by the community since the financial demise of the Wollongong Wolves.
History
The
Wollongong Wolves were founded in 1980 and competed in the
National Soccer LeagueThe National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
from 1981 until its demise in 2004. The one exception to this was in 1987, when the Wolves competed in the second tier competition, the NSW First Division, where they were crowned both Premiers and Champions in that season. It would be the best part of two decades before the Wolves had success in the Grand Final of the NSL.
2000 Grand Final
The Wolves first Grand Final win came in the 1999/2000 season, when the Wolves beat Perth Glory in a penalty shootout. Perth were up 3-0 at halftime, but goals from
Scott ChipperfieldScott Kenneth Chipperfield is an Australian international football player who currently plays as a midfielder for FC Basel in the Swiss Super League.-Personal life:...
, captain Matt Horsley and a last minute equaliser from
Paul ReidPaul James Reid is a professional football player who last played for A-League club Adelaide United. Reid previously played for Wollongong Wolves during their championship winning seasons before moving to England where he played for six years with Bradford City and Brighton & Hove Albion before...
put the game into extra time-Golden Goal. after no goals in extra time it went to penalties. Wollongong goalkeeper Les Pogliacomi was the hero saving vital penalties. The Wollongong Wolves won 7-6 on penalties.
2001 Grand final
The Wolves won their second NSL title in 2001. They beat
South MelbourneSouth Melbourne FC is a football club based in South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Considered the most successful association football club in Australia, they have won four national championships, a string of Victorian State League titles, and represented Oceania in the 2000 FIFA Club World...
2-1
Stuart YoungStuart Young is an English footballer.-Career:Young’s senior football career began at Arsenal FC in 1990, before moving to his home town of Hull City in 1991. He spent two seasons at the Tigers, before spells at Northampton Town in 1993, Scarborough FC 1994, Scunthorpe United between 1994 to 1996,...
and
Sasho PetrovskiSasho Petrovski is an Australian football player. He is a striker who last played for the Newcastle Jets in the Hyundai A-League. Petrovski has two caps for the Australian national team...
scored the goals.
NSL demise
After the demise of the former national competition, the National Soccer League (NSL), the Wolves moved onto the top state competition, the NSW Premier League. A memorable Grand Final win would be of the
2008 Premier LeagueThe 2008 TeleChoice Premier League season was the eighth season of the revamped NSW Premier League. This season also marked the promotion of two new teams, in the West Sydney Berries and the Macarthur Rams from the Super League ....
when the Wolves won the Championship to only be in financial debt later in the year.
2009 "Wolves" demise and name changes
After winning the 2008 NSW Premier League Championship, the club had showed many financial losses including
A$The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
240,000 in debts and losses of players and coaches. It was later announced that the current club would cease to exist and a new community organization would be formed which would ensure money problems would not plague the new club in the future.
After a dismal 2009 season, the Wollongong Community Football Club requested a name change back to the former "Wolves" moniker, with the formal request being approved in November 2009.
In 2010, the team adopted the name the South Coast Wolves.
Colours and emblem
Like many other teams from the region, the Wolves play in red and white. Their alternate jersey since adopting the South Coast name, uses yellow and blue, symbolic of the beach and the ocean, similar to national sides, Gold Coast United FC and
Central Coast Mariners FCCentral Coast Mariners Football Club is a professional football club based on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. They participate in the A-League and are one of three teams from the state of New South Wales playing in the competition...
.
Stadiums
For most of the Wolves history, the team played out of Brandon Park, North Wollongong. The ground had a capacity of 15,000. The site however was demolished in 2003 to make way for the new Wollongong Innovation Campus for the
University of WollongongThe University of Wollongong is a public university located in the coastal city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, approximately 80 kilometres south of Sydney...
. The Wolves have now settled on
John Crehan ParkJohn Crehan Park is a multi-use stadium in the southern part of Wollongong, Australia. The stadium is on Merret Avenue, Cringila. It is currently used mostly for football matches. It is the home of New South Wales Premier League side Wollongong FC and Illawarra Premier League side Cringila Lions...
in
CringilaCringila is a densely populated southern suburb in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, about 4 km along Springhill Road. The suburb is bounded by Berkeley, Unanderra, Lake Heights and Warrawong....
as their homeground. The ground has a capacity of 7,500 and to play games out of the 20,000 capacity stadium of
WIN StadiumWollongong Showground is a rectangular multi-purpose stadium located in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. The stadium was officially opened in 1911. From 1982 until 1998 it played host to every home match for the Illawarra Steelers NRL team...
would not be economically viable for the club.
Current squad
South Coast Wolves NSW Premier League Squad
Former players
Alvin CeccoliAlvin Warren Ceccoli is an Australian football player of Sammarinese heritage who played for three A-League clubs and was capped internationally for Australia.-Club career:Alvin started his National Soccer League career at Wollongong Wolves in 1995 as a 21 year old...
Scott ChipperfieldScott Kenneth Chipperfield is an Australian international football player who currently plays as a midfielder for FC Basel in the Swiss Super League.-Personal life:...
Dean HeffernanDean James Heffernan is an Australian professional football player who currently plays as a left back for Chinese Super League club Liaoning Whowin.-Club career:...
Stephen Laybutt Matt HorsleyMatt Horsley is a retired Australian football player.-Club career:He last played as a right full back for the Australian A-League club Perth Glory in 2005, which he joined in 2001. Horsley had previously captained the Wollongong Wolves, with whom he played from 1990-2001...
Lloyd Fermino
Stuart McLarenStuart McLaren is an Australian football player who last played for in the A-League.-Biography: coach, Miron Bleiberg signed McLaren on a short-term contract in early November 2005. He was signed due to Josh McCloughlan's injury, playing as a defender as he did when he was a former player-coach...
Robbie MiddlebyRobert Middleby is a former Australian football player who is the CEO for the Newcastle Jets in the A-League.-Club career:...
Sasho PetrovskiSasho Petrovski is an Australian football player. He is a striker who last played for the Newcastle Jets in the Hyundai A-League. Petrovski has two caps for the Australian national team...
Paul ReidPaul Reid may refer to:* Paul Reid , Australian football player* Paul Reid , English football player* Paul Reid , English football player...
Scott Whalan
Naum SekulovskiNaum Sekulovski is an Australian football player. He last played as a left winger for the A-League club Perth Glory.- A-League career statistics :...
Dean AnastasiadisDean Anastasiadis is a Greek Australian football player. A goalkeeper, he played for many years at a variety of clubs in the National Soccer League. This included being part of the 2000–01 championship side at Wollongong Wolves, and the 1997–98 Grand Final runner up Carlton SC side,...
Dustin WellsDustin Wells is a football player who last played as a midfielder for the New Zealand Knights in the Hyundai A-League.-Club career:...
Ruben ZadkovichRuben Zadkovich is an Australian football player who attended Woonona High School in Wollongong NSW and currently plays for the Newcastle United Jets in the Hyundai A-League.-Club career:...
Vaughan CovenyVaughan Coveny is a former football player, who frequently represented New Zealand from 1992 onwards. Coveny's senior club career spanned 20 years, with his most notable stint being at South Melbourne during their National Soccer League era. He was primarily a striker although he also played as a...
Stuart YoungStuart Young is an English footballer.-Career:Young’s senior football career began at Arsenal FC in 1990, before moving to his home town of Hull City in 1991. He spent two seasons at the Tigers, before spells at Northampton Town in 1993, Scarborough FC 1994, Scunthorpe United between 1994 to 1996,...
Trevor FrancisTrevor John Francis , is a former footballer who won the European Cup with Nottingham Forest and played for England 52 times. He was England's first £1 million player...
Stewart PetrieStewart Petrie is a former Scottish football player who is currently assistant manager of Arbroath F.C. who compete in the Irn Bru Scottish Third Division.-Career:...
Ballamodou CondeBallamodou "Balla" Conde is a retired Guinean footballer, who played as a midfielder.Most of his professional career was spent in Australia.-Club career:...
Noel SpencerNoel Spencer was an Australian football player.-NSL:Noel played for his hometown of Wollongong from 1996–2000 and was part of Wollongong Wolves championship-winning team of the 1999/2000 season. After the championship win Noel left for Northern Spirit which he played for and later captained until...
Mile SterjovskiMile Sterjovski is an Australian football player, who currently plays for Perth Glory and played for the Australian national team from 2000 to 2010, before he retired from international football after his non-selection for the 2010 FIFA World Cup...
Jacob TimpanoJacob Timpano in Wollongong, Australia) is an Australian football player who currently plays for NSW Premier League club South Coast Wolves FC.-Club career:...
Gary van EgmondGary van Egmond is an Australian football manager of Dutch heritage who is currently the manager of Newcastle Jets in the A-League.-Playing career:Van Egmond began his playing career with APIA Leichhardt in 1982...
Mark RobertsonMark Robertson is a former football player who earned one Socceroo caps in 2001.-Club career:...
Luke WilkshireLuke Wilkshire is an Australian football player who plays for Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Premier League...
Grant Barlow
Les PogliacomiLes Pogliacomi currently plays for Campbelltown City SC in the FFSA Super League.-Club career:He was dropped for Chris Day by Ronnie Moore in the 2005-2006 season, and went to Blackpool FC. However, John Sheridan brought him back to Oldham in the 2006/2007 season...
Daniel BeltrameDaniel Beltrame is a former Australian football goalkeeper who last played for Adelaide United in the A-League.-Club career:...
Adam CaseyAdam Casey is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for Dandaloo FC in the Illawarra Premier League.-Club career:...
Paul KohlerPaul Kohler is an Australian football player of German and Italian Origin. He is a central defender who most recently played for the Sutherland Sharks.- Honours :...
Andrew CrewsAndrew Crews, born 18 August 1973 in Sydney, Australia, was a professional Australian Football goalkeeper, who last played for the Marconi Stallions before retiring in 2006....
Tallan MartinTallan Martin is an Australian football player currently playing for Bankstown City Lions in the NSW Premier League. Usually playing in an attacking midfield role...
Dino MennilloDino Mennillo is an Australia football player who can play as a striker or midfielder.He represented his country at the under 20 level....
Paul O'GradyPaul O'Grady is a football player, currently playing for APIA Leichhardt Tigers in the NSW Premier League.-Biography:...
Lee BullenLee Bullen is a Scottish football player and coach. In a career that has spanned more than 20 years, Bullen has played football professionally in Scotland, England, Australia, Greece and Hong Kong...
Esala MasiEsala Masi is a Fijian football striker, currently playing for Mitchelton in the Brisbane Second Division in Australia.Masi is regarded as the best Fijian football player of all time, since he has played in Australia for over 10 years Esala Masi (born 9 March 1974) is a Fijian football striker,...
Daniel Aliffi
Coaching staff
Seasons
| Season | Division | P | W | D | L | Pts | Position | Finals Position | Topscorer |
| 2000/01 |
NSL The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
|
30 |
16 |
9 |
5 |
57 |
2nd |
Champions |
Sasho PetrovskiSasho Petrovski is an Australian football player. He is a striker who last played for the Newcastle Jets in the Hyundai A-League. Petrovski has two caps for the Australian national team...
(21) |
| 2001/02 |
24 |
6 |
7 |
11 |
25 |
10th |
DNQ |
Stuart Young Stuart Young is an English footballer.-Career:Young’s senior football career began at Arsenal FC in 1990, before moving to his home town of Hull City in 1991. He spent two seasons at the Tigers, before spells at Northampton Town in 1993, Scarborough FC 1994, Scunthorpe United between 1994 to 1996,...
(9) |
| 2002/03 |
24 |
5 |
8 |
11 |
23 |
13th |
DNQ |
Stuart Young (9) |
| 2003/04 |
24 |
8 |
5 |
11 |
29 |
9th |
DNQ |
Chimaobi Nwaogazi (11) |
| 2004/05 |
NSWPL |
15 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
16 |
12th |
DNQ |
Shane McGirr (18) |
| 2006 |
18 |
5 |
1 |
12 |
16 |
9th |
DNQ |
Adam Casey Adam Casey is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for Dandaloo FC in the Illawarra Premier League.-Club career:...
(6) |
| 2007 |
18 |
6 |
4 |
8 |
22 |
7th |
DNQ |
Daniel Aliffi (12) |
| 2008 |
22 |
13 |
5 |
4 |
44 |
2nd |
Champions |
Ilija Prenzoki (12) |
| 2009 |
22 |
1 |
2 |
19 |
5 |
12th |
DNQ |
Ilija Prenzoki (7) |
| 2010 The 2010 NSW Premier League season was the 10th season of the revamped NSW Premier League. This season also marked the addition of a new team, in the Rockdale City Suns Football Club from the Super League ....
|
22 |
6 |
4 |
12 |
22 |
10th |
DNQ |
Mark Picciolini (10) |
| 2011 |
22 |
9 |
3 |
10 |
30 |
7th |
DNQ |
|
- P = Played
- W = Win
- D = Draw
- L = Loss
- Pts = Points
- = Champions
- = Runners-Up (Premiership)
Honours
- Oceania Club Champions: 2001
- NSL Champions: 1999/2000, 2000/2001
- NSL Minor Premiers: 1988
- NSW Premier League Champions: 1987, 2008
- NSW Premier League Minor Premiers: 1987
- Tiger Turf Cup winners: 2007
The Oceania Club title however, did not lead to them playing in the FIFA Club World Championship it had qualified them to play in, as
FIFAThe Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
had cancelled the World Club Championship due to financial reasons.
External links