Yugal
Encyclopedia
S.S.C. Yugal is a defunct association football club from Sydney, Australia. The club, formed by Yugoslav migrants in the mid 1950s was originally known as Dalmatinac and competed initially in the Granville District competition before joining the New South Wales Federation of Soccer Clubs Second Division Competition in 1958, the same year as other former giants of soccer in New South Wales at the time, Pan Hellenic and Polonia.
The Club held fierce rivalries with Croatia Sydney and Avala (now Sydney United and Bonnyrigg White Eagles respectively), due to these club's large Croatian and Serbian supporter bases and Yugal's Yugoslav supporter base. They merged with former Champion Club Prague to be known as Yugal-Prague from the 1973 season until late in the 1970s when they became known as Sydney Soccer Club Yugal. The Yugal-Prague licensed Club was originally located in Pagewood, and later as S.S.C. Yugal the licensed club moved to Haymarket.
The Club struggled to survive once the Former Yugoslav States began to gain Independence, in the late 1980s and early 1990s they attempted mergers with Auburn and Liverpool before ultimately disbanding in 1992.
The Club soon attracted the interest of some local compatriots. Anton Curac, George and Maurice Posa, Peter Pecotich, Frank Stanich and Morrie Kastelin were active committee members in the early days.
Dalmatinac entered the Granville District Junior competition in 1957 and won the Robinson Cup. The following year they were granted admission to the NSW Federation of Soccer Clubs and won their way to Second Division where they met with moderate success.
During 1960, the club strengthened its committee, Mick Alagich was elected Secretary and Dr. Lintner was elected President and the club was successful in securing the use of Concord Oval. It was then decided to change the name of the club to Yugal, the aim to become representative of the whole Yugoslav community in Sydney.
In 1960 Yugal added three top class players imports from Yugoslavia – Boris Krstulovich, captain-coach and centre-half, Sam Ivanisevic, a clever inside forward, and Tony Nincevich, a prolific goal-scoring centre-forward.
Other additions to the side in 1960 were Kurt Spiegel, goalkeeper and Frank Aranyi, wing-half, both from Hakoah, Johnny Mucillo, winger from Auburn, and Brian Robinson, winger from Manly.
These seven players together with Jakov Fiajmenco, Luci Bogdanovich, Steve Lorik, Peter Grbavac, Mike Petkovich and Andy Novak, formed the squad that for most of the season kept Yugal on top of the second division competition.
A notable addition to this squad was Tihomir Yelisavcich, a brilliant inside-forward who played and toured the world with top Yugoslav club Partizan and who was flown to Sydney just in time to help Yugal win the all-important game against Balgownie and win promotion to the First Division.
Yugal's first match in the top flight took place at Lambert Park against APIA Leichhardt on Saturday April 7th 1962, and recorded a tragic 1-5 loss before a crowd of 2,400. The Club's first success in the First Division came at the expense of future long-time rivals St. George Budapest (then known solely as Budapest), at Macarthur Park (now F.S. Garside Park), 4-3 before a crowd of 2,676. Yugal's goal scorers that day were T. Jelisavcic 3 and M. Stojanovic.
The Club held fierce rivalries with Croatia Sydney and Avala (now Sydney United and Bonnyrigg White Eagles respectively), due to these club's large Croatian and Serbian supporter bases and Yugal's Yugoslav supporter base. They merged with former Champion Club Prague to be known as Yugal-Prague from the 1973 season until late in the 1970s when they became known as Sydney Soccer Club Yugal. The Yugal-Prague licensed Club was originally located in Pagewood, and later as S.S.C. Yugal the licensed club moved to Haymarket.
The Club struggled to survive once the Former Yugoslav States began to gain Independence, in the late 1980s and early 1990s they attempted mergers with Auburn and Liverpool before ultimately disbanding in 1992.
History
Yugal, formerly called Dalmatinac, came into being in 1956 when several young Yugoslavs immigrants got together to kick a football around a park in Liverpool. Martin Batistic first thought of forming a club and as a player and an organiser he did much to help put the club on its feet. It was one of life’s tragedies that Martin died in 1959 so did not live to see the fulfillment of his ambitions for the club. Another tireless worker for the club was Ivan Pudarich, who was first a player, then became President in 1958.The Club soon attracted the interest of some local compatriots. Anton Curac, George and Maurice Posa, Peter Pecotich, Frank Stanich and Morrie Kastelin were active committee members in the early days.
Dalmatinac entered the Granville District Junior competition in 1957 and won the Robinson Cup. The following year they were granted admission to the NSW Federation of Soccer Clubs and won their way to Second Division where they met with moderate success.
During 1960, the club strengthened its committee, Mick Alagich was elected Secretary and Dr. Lintner was elected President and the club was successful in securing the use of Concord Oval. It was then decided to change the name of the club to Yugal, the aim to become representative of the whole Yugoslav community in Sydney.
In 1960 Yugal added three top class players imports from Yugoslavia – Boris Krstulovich, captain-coach and centre-half, Sam Ivanisevic, a clever inside forward, and Tony Nincevich, a prolific goal-scoring centre-forward.
Other additions to the side in 1960 were Kurt Spiegel, goalkeeper and Frank Aranyi, wing-half, both from Hakoah, Johnny Mucillo, winger from Auburn, and Brian Robinson, winger from Manly.
These seven players together with Jakov Fiajmenco, Luci Bogdanovich, Steve Lorik, Peter Grbavac, Mike Petkovich and Andy Novak, formed the squad that for most of the season kept Yugal on top of the second division competition.
A notable addition to this squad was Tihomir Yelisavcich, a brilliant inside-forward who played and toured the world with top Yugoslav club Partizan and who was flown to Sydney just in time to help Yugal win the all-important game against Balgownie and win promotion to the First Division.
Yugal's first match in the top flight took place at Lambert Park against APIA Leichhardt on Saturday April 7th 1962, and recorded a tragic 1-5 loss before a crowd of 2,400. The Club's first success in the First Division came at the expense of future long-time rivals St. George Budapest (then known solely as Budapest), at Macarthur Park (now F.S. Garside Park), 4-3 before a crowd of 2,676. Yugal's goal scorers that day were T. Jelisavcic 3 and M. Stojanovic.
1958 Season
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Score | Attendance | Goal Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday April 5 1958 | Drummoyne | Liverpool Showground | ||||
| Saturday April 12 1958 | Guildford | Guildford Park | ||||
| Saturday April 19 1958 | Lidcombe-Clyde | Liverpool Showground | W | 3 - 2 | ||
| Saturday April 26 1958 | Condell Park | Bankstown Showground | W | 5 - 3 | ||
| Sunday May 4 1958 | Fairfield | Liverpool Showground | L | 0 - 1 | ||
| Sunday May 11 1958 | Blacktown | Liverpool Showground | ||||
| Saturday May 17 1958 | Regents Park | Jenson Park | W | 1 - 0 | ||
| Sunday May 25 1958 | Concordia | Jenson Park | W | 5 - 1 | ||
| Saturday May 31 1958 | Polonia | Concord Oval | L | 2 - 3 | ||
| Saturday June 7 1958 | Pan Hellenic | Liverpool Showground | W | 2 - 1 | ||
| Saturday June 14 1958 | Nova | Waratah Park | W | 7 - 1 | ||
| Saturday June 21 1958 | Drummoyne | Drummoyne Oval | W | 4 - 1 | ||
| Saturday June 28 1958 | Guildford | Liverpool Showground | W | 5 - 3 | ||
| Saturday July 5 1958 | Lidcombe-Clyde | Mona Park | L | 2 - 3 | ||
| Saturday July 12 1958 | Condell Park | Liverpool Showground | D | 1 - 1 | ||
| Saturday July 19 1958 | Fairfield | Knight Park | L | 0 - 3 | ||
| Saturday July 26 1958 | Blacktown | Francis Park | L | 0 - 2 | ||
| Saturday August 2 1958 | Regents Park | Liverpool Showground | W | 2 - 1 | ||
| Saturday August 9 1958 | Concordia | Liverpool Showground | W | 3 - 1 | ||
| Saturday August 16 1958 | Polonia | Liverpool Showground | W | 5 - 1 | ||
| Sunday August 24 1958 | Pan Hellenic | Jubilee Park | L | 1 - 5 | ||
| Saturday August 30 1958 | Nova | Liverpool Showground | W | 4 - 2 |
Honours
- NSW State League First Division Grand Final Winners: 1970
- NSW State League First Division Semi-Finalists: 1962, 1965, 1971
- NSW State League Second Division Champions: 1961, 1981
- NSW State League Third Division: Champions: 1986
- NSW Ampol Cup Winners: 1963
- NSW Ampol Cup Runners-Up: 1965
- NSW Ampol Cup Semi-Finalists: 1962, 1966, 1971, 1973
- NSW Federation Cup Semi-Finalists: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972
- Australian Cup (football)Australian Cup (football)The Australian Cup is a defunct football competition organised by the Australian Soccer Federation. It was held between 1962 and 1968. It was the first nationwide club tournament held in Australia.-Champions and runners up:...
Winners: 1962