Marconi Stallions FC

"Stallions Football Club" redirects here. For United Football League club, see Stallion FC.
Marconi Stallions
Full name Marconi Stallions Football Club
Nickname(s) The Stallions
Founded 1958
Ground Marconi Stadium
Bossley Park, Sydney
New South Wales, Australia
Ground Capacity 10,000
Chairman Vince Foti
Head Coach Jeff Suzor
League National Premier Leagues NSW 2
Website Club home page

The Marconi Stallions Football Club is an Australian semi-professional (formerly professional until 2004) football club based in Fairfield, Sydney, New South Wales. The club won the National Soccer League title a record four times, along with South Melbourne and Sydney City SC. The club is one of only two clubs to have competed in every season of the NSL.

Over the years, the club has been known as; Club Marconi, Marconi-Fairfield and Marconi Stallions.

The club is currently a member of the National Premier Leagues NSW 2, effectivley the NSW 2nd Division, and plays their home games out of Marconi Stadium, in Bossley Park.

History

Club Marconi was founded in 1956[1] by 106 foundation members of the Italian community in the Western Suburbs of Sydney to play Bocce. It is named after Guglielmo Marconi, who was highly regarded in sending the first direct wireless message from Great Britain to Australia. The football (soccer) club first appeared in 1958 as a youth team, and the first senior side competed in the 1961 NSW amateur championship that it won by 8 points.[2]

The club gradually moved up the ranks in the NSW soccer system, eventually gaining promotion to the NSW 1st Division in 1970. By this point the club had come of age and the aura of being feared was well on its way to being cemented. Marconi would become back-to-back champions of the NSW 1st Division in 1972 and 1973. The club would continue to challenge for honours up until 1976. The next year, 1977, would change Australian soccer and Australian sport forever. Together with 13 other clubs Marconi would form the basis of the first ever truly National Sports League in Australia, the PSL (Philips Soccer League)

National Soccer League (1977-2004)

In the National Soccer League (NSL), Marconi quickly became a force to be reckoned with. In the first season of 1977, Marconi, finished second on goal difference to Eastern Suburbs (Sydney City). It did not take long for the club to taste success at national level. In 1979, Marconi were crowned Australian champions. Marconi added to this success adding the NSL Cup to the trophy cabinet in 1980.

What is generally described as the club's "golden era" started in the late 1980s, where some of the finest players in Australia made their way to what was then known as "the Palace". The club would make three consecutive Grand Final appearances in 1988, 1989 and 1989-90. Marconi won the 1988 and 1989 Grand Finals, but in search of a historic 3-peat they would go down in the 1989-90 decider. Marconi were also minor premiers in 1989 and 1989-90. Marconi did not have to wait long to clinch another NSL Championship winning the 1992-93 Grand Final.

In 1995-96 under Socceroos legend, Manfred Schaefer, Marconi clinched another Minor Premiership finishing 1 point ahead of Melbourne Knights and Sydney Olympic. In the finals series, Marconi made it to yet another Grand Final, this time going down 2-1 to Melbourne Knights at Olympic Park in Melbourne.

Marconi for the next five years in a row, would make the Finals, before experiencing two poor seasons. In the final season of the NSL in 2003-04, Marconi would again make the Finals, but 1995-96 minor premiership ended up being the final trophy winning year of the club's NSL run.

NSW Premier League/National Premier Leagues NSW 1 (2004-2015)

After the 2003-04 NSL season the competition was ceased. Marconi entered the NSW Premier League for the 2004-05 season. Between 2004 and 2011 in the NSW Premier League the club had mixed results, with their best season in 2009 when they finished second.[3]

In 2012 the club rebounded and the Marconi Stallions were the Champions of the NSW Premier League.[4] After a third placed league finish, Marconi beat Sydney Olympic 2-0 in the Qualifying Final, then lost to Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 2-0 in the Major Semi-Final. In the Preliminary Final they faced Blacktown City Demons who led 2-1 at half time, but Marconi scored 3 unanswered goals in the second half to win 4-2. In the Grand Final, they came up against the minor premiers and favourites Bonnyrigg at their ground. Bonnyrigg had won the league by 15 points and had already beaten Marconi in the finals series. Marconi won the Championship with two second half goals to win 2-0.[5]

In late 2013 the Marconi Stallions were accepted into the newly formed National Premier Leagues NSW. The NPL NSW replaced the previous NSW Premier League. In their first season in the NPL NSW, Marconi finished in 8th place in the 12 team division.

Marconi was relegated to the NPL NSW 2 on 16 August 2015, after enduring the worst season in their history. The Stallions earned just seven points all season and after a mass player exodus, ended the season with ten consecutive defeats.[6]

National Premier Leagues NSW 2 (2016-Current)

The Stallions began their rebuilding campaign in October, 2015, with the aim of getting straight back in the top NSW division. They signed Oakleigh Cannons FC duo Sean Rooney and Mirjan Pavlović, along with Rockdale City Suns attacker Marko Ješić.[7] All three players have former A-League experience with Newcastle Jets FC. The club released a statement on November 6 confirming the three aforementioned signings, along with announcing that former Sydney Olympic captain Petar Markovic and Emmanuel Giannaros have also joined the Stallions cause for 2016.[8] The Stallions also confirmed that they have signed marquee goalkeeper Chad Taylor known for his slow goal kicks.

Rivalries

Sydney Olympic

Marconi vs Olympic has always been one of the biggest rivalries in Australian football, constantly involved in big and important matches multiplied by the fact that both clubs were backed by large migrant populations of Italians (Marconi) and Greeks (Olympic).

Sydney United

Marconi has a rivalry with Sydney United due to closeness of the two clubs. Sydney United is located in Edensor Park and play out of King Tomislav Club which is only 1 km south of Club Marconi. The Croatian club have been rivals of the Stallions since 1971 when Marconi were promoted to the State League.

APIA Leichhardt

The Stallions and the Tigers have a friendly rivalry. These two clubs are the two Italian backed clubs in New South Wales. The two clubs compete every season in the Italian Derby.

Honours

Divisional History

Notable players

References

  1. ↑ Alic, Dijana (July 3, 2013). "Shifting Grounds: Identity Politics and Sydney's Ethnic Clubs" (PDF). Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  2. ↑ "History of Marconi". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  3. ↑ "Marconi Stallions - PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men's 1". www.nswpl.com.au. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  4. ↑ "NSW Premier League 2012 Index". www.socceraust.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  5. ↑ "NSW Premier League 2012 - Fixtures/Results". www.socceraust.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  6. ↑ "Fixtures/Results - PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men's 1". www.nswpl.com.au. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  7. ↑ http://www.cornerflag.com.au/pavlovic-rooney-depart-oakleigh/
  8. ↑ http://www.clubmarconi.com.au/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/21_PRESS_RELEASE_-_VAUGHAN_PROFILIO.PDF

External links

Preceded by
West Adelaide		 NSL Champions
1979 		Succeeded by
Sydney City
Preceded by
APIA Leichhardt		 NSL Champions
1988–1989 		Succeeded by
Sydney Olympic
Preceded by
Adelaide City		 NSL Champions
1992/93 		Succeeded by
Adelaide City
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