Western Eagles FC

Western Eagles F.C.
Full name Western Eagles Football Club
Nickname(s) Polonia, Eagles
Founded 13 August 1950 as Polonia S.C.
Ground Polish Club, 19 Carrington Drive
Albion, Victoria
Ground Capacity 2,000
Chairman Wojciech Laskowski
League Victorian State League Division 3
2015 6th
Website Club home page

Western Eagles FC is an Australian soccer club based in the western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria.

The club's foundation meeting was held on 13 August 1950, at 93 Brighton Road, St.Kilda. The meeting decided that the Club would be known as "Polonia Soccer Club".

KS Polonia was one of the powerhouses of Victorian and Australian soccer in the 1950s and 1960s, before making a brief revival in the 1980s. The club has since fallen to the lower reaches of the Victorian system, and currently participates in the Victorian State League Division 3 North-West.

Club foundation

With the conclusion of the Second World War, many Poles were unable to, or did not want to return to their homeland for various reasons and as such made the decision to emigrate to Australia and begin a new life for themselves and their families. They were ex-servicemen and women, displaced persons, etc.

As Poles have done for countless generations, they began to form various organizations to uphold their old traditions and their identities, to elevate their homesickness, finding solace with their own kind in a strange and at times inhospitable new land. Sport has always been a major enjoyment to Poles and as such a Polish Soccer Club was inevitable.

The foundation meeting was held on 13 August 1950 at 93 Brighton Road St Kilda. The Meeting was an initiative of Jacek Wyszogrodzki, Honorable Secretary of Polish Association in Victoria. The first committee was elected on 27 August 1950 and consisted of Wladyslaw Kowalik - President, Wiktor Kwiatkowski - Hon. Secretary, Franek Skowronski - Treasurer, Kazimierz Zielinski - Team Manager, Boleslaw Mlewski - Coach, Mieczyslaw Terlikowski - Team Manager. The meeting decided that the Club would be named Polonia Soccer Club.

Club Presidents 1950–1970

The early years

“Polonia” being Latin for Poland and the colours of red and white adopted. Polonia played its first game in 1950, against JUST(holders of the World Cup) and defeated them 4:3. It was the beginning of a meteoric climb and the beginning of the golden fifties and sixties for the Club. Polonia became 4th Division Champions in their first season of existence 1951, 3rd Division Champions 1952 winning the league without dropping a single point ! In 1953 Polonia finished Division 2 Runners-up winning promotion to Division 1, and becoming World Cup Champions . Destroying all opposition. Players, who starred in these early days and will be remembered by many were Stefan Czauderna and Robert Zablocki, pivot for the Victorian team that played the touring England team in 1952. Stasek Galecki was the best left wing in the State at the time and Augus Dziura, a fine goal scoring center forward. By 1954 Polonia had climbed into the First Division, losing just one league game in 3 years. It had taken only four years to get from the bottom to the top of the Victorian soccer pyramid structure.

During its early years the club was fortunate to secure services of Zdzislaw Zabuski, an engineer and businessmen, who provided employment for many of the Polonia players. His knowledge of local conditions proved extremely useful. Mr Zabuski was elected club President in 1951.

Julian Chrzanowski was one of the clubs first committee members and players. Mr Chrzanowski was a member of the Polish Resistance in World War II, before he was captured and send to Auschwitz concentration camp. He barely survived and was offered the chance to migrate to Australia or the United States. He arrived to Australia in 1949. He became the foundation member of Polonia. He played in the clubs first game, and was a member of the championship teams of 1951 and 1952.

W.R.Thomas, President of Victorian Soccer Football Association was Polonia's most influential and noteworthy supporters. He recalls in 1951, prior of taking the Victoria State team on tour of New Zealand, arranging with Polonia club President Zdzislaw Zabuski, to play a trail game against the newly formed Polonia Soccer Club. He was shocked when the lowly and newly formed fourth Division team soundly beat his Touring team. He then became one of the clubs great followers, even with his son, Brian, was a playing member of Polonia first team, representing the club in the 1954 season, debuting in Division One.

In 1956, the year of the Melbourne Olympic Games, Polonia officials took the opportunity to approach visiting membersof the Polish Olympic Committee who agreed to allow some of Poland's best players to come to Melbourne. Polonia was fortunate to have amongst its ranks, the dynamic figure of Ted Lezon, a person gifted with explosive energy and controversial temperament which gave the Club plenty of drive and lift and who to this day is still an influence to the present. In 1956, Ted Lezon was entertaining officials of the Polish Olympic Teams and jokingly said "What about Polonia getting some top class players from Poland", that remark set the ball rolling, Dr Charles Walker, who was Club president at the time, had influential connections in Poland and the joke became reality.

Dr. Charles Walker was a Polish doctor born in Lviv, Poland. Dr Walker arrived in Australia just before the Second World War, and as a doctor was part of the Australian Army Force that combat against the Japanese in Papua New Guinea. Dr Walker began his work with the club in 1950 as a medical volunteer. By 1952 he was elected club President, role he fulfilled in the following years ; 1953, 1955-1956, 1958-1963.

On the 13 June 1959, the first five of a long line of Polish stars arrived in Melbourne. They were Roch Dronia, Ryszard Szczepanski, Kaz Szygalski, Marian Gasior and Wieslaw Janczyk.

The highlight era in the club's history, were the early 1960s. In the season of 1960 and 1961 Polonia won back to back State League Championship, as well becoming 1961 Dockerty Cup Winners beating George Cross 4:2 in the Final at Olimpic Park, and winning the World Cup. Some of the most influential players of that time were ; Mieczyslaw Jurecki, Wieslaw Janczyk, Wladyslaw Gamaj, Zdzislaw Maruszkiewicz, Jerzy Dudon, Charlie Morks, Marian Gasior, Remo Guardiani, Ryszard Szczepanski, Roch Dronia, Kazimierz Szyglarski, Zygmunt Gross, Henryk Gronowski, Ference Voros. President of Polonia SC at that time was Dr.Charles Walker. Our club also had representatives at international level. Players that had the honor to represent the Australian National Team were George Pittoni, Robert Wemyss, Mieczyslaw Jurecki and Kazimierz Kowalec. There was a number of players that were Poland's National Team representatives ; Wieslaw Janczyk, Kazimierz Kowalec, Edward Jankowski, Edmond Zientara, Henryk Gronowski, Zygmunt Gadecki, Robert Gajda, Robert Gronowski, Mieczyslaw Jurecki.

Photograph of the 1960 State League Championship team

In 1963 Polonia finished Runners-up in three competitions. In the Victorian State League, two points behind JUST, taking just 3 points in their final four games. The State League Leading Goalscorer that season was Edward Jankowski with 21 goals. Same year Polonia lost in the Final of the Dockerty Cup to ... JUST, losing 2:4 at Olimpic Park, and in the Final of Australia Cup, which was the first national club tournament in the country initiated in 1962. The 1963 final was contested by two Melbourne clubs, with Slavia Melbourne beating Polonia 3:2 in a replay, after a scoreless draw in the first game. In the final, Des Palmer scored a hat-trick for the winners. Polonia did manage to win the 1963 Ampol Cup, pre-season competition, beating South Melbourne Hellas in the Final.

In 1981, 20 years after winning their last league title, Polonia finally topped the Victorian Metropolitan League Division 1, clinching a place back into the State League after a 4 years absence. The outstanding players of that team were Leszek Dzielakowski, Ricky Lipiarski, Marian Jaworski, John Wallace, Greg Gamanski, Brendon Lakic, Tadeusz Krysinski, Peter Chapnik, Richard Sekulski, Stan Klain, Micheal Pichner and Alex Marshall. In charge of the team was Kaz Kowalec, a former great player himself.

Stefan Mila was awarded the 1983 Victorian State League Gold Medal - Player of the Year Award. The 1984 season Polonia finished Runners-up in the State League ending the season three points behind Morwell Falcons, and reaching the Dockerty Cup Final, losing to Fawkner 3:2 after extra time. Same year Janusz Przybyla was the State League's top Goalscorer netting 23 goals, despite been out injured for 5 games.

In 1987 Maribyrnong Polonia won its third Victorian State Championship. The team finished on top of the league with 42 points, three point ahead of Green Gully.The Club's woes began the following season. Due to poor management of the Club's finances and by overpaying most of its players, the club had no choice but to start selling it's best players. From 1989 to 1992 Polonia suffered successive relegations.

Polonia has been gifted with having some of the most influential people in Polish circles amongst its ranks, the likes of Ted Lezon, who has served in every capacity within the Club and is accredited with single handedly, saving the Club from extinction, soon after its glorious 1987 State League Championship Win. He has been a mentor to many of the present committee and still casts his long shadow today.The late Tomasz Ostrowski, gifted writer, journalist, philosopher extraordinary and Champion of Polish causes. Polonia secured approval to play its matches at Maribyrnong at the old Tracy Speedway venue and in an effort to assimilate with the local community renamed themselves "Polonia Maribyrnong Soccer Club". They remained at this venue until 1991, at which time they moved to the Polish Sports & Recreation Centre Albion where facilities were created for their permanent stay.

Polonia has always been a force to contend with in Victorian Soccer circles and has won countless titles. Polonia won the Victorian Championship on three occasions, in the seasons of 1960, 1961 and 1987.

1998-2016

Since 1998 Polonia is known as Western Eagles Football Club, changing club name from Sunshine Heights, which the club has been known as from 1991, after the move to the club's new home at Albion. The "Polonia" being dropped as a requirement of the Victorian Soccer Federation to shed their ethnic appeal in 1992.

One of the darkest chapters in the club's history was the disastrous merger venture with Melbourne City. For reasons not known or understood to this day by many supporters, the club’s committee made a decision to merge with and compete as Melbourne City in the Victorian State League Division 1 in the 1999 season. In the 2000 season due to the legacy of that merger Western Eagles found themselves in the Victorian Provisional League Division 3. With new club President Darren Bednarski, who embed new life to the club and with the appointment of Leszek Dzielakowski as head coach, the club started a brief revival with three promotions in five years, rising from Provisional League Division 3 to Victorian State League Division 3, where the club finished in 8th position in the 2005 season, coached by Milorad Gelic. In this period the Club won its first league Championship in 16 years, topping the Victorian Provisional League Division 2 in 2003 on 46 points - 5 points ahead of Ballarat. This was the first year the Club was in charge by the new Club President – Tadeusz Zigler. Players who were most involved in that period were ; Darren Bednarski, Ivan Devcic, Paul Dzielakowski, Wojciech Galon, Kamil Gamanski, Andrew Gurman, Konrad Leski, Lukasz Lewinski, Adam Mostowski, Alex Samayoa, Marek Szczepanski and Slawomir Zientara.

The 2006 season was disastrous. The club was hit by crisis after crisis, coaching changes and a player walkout, which saw the club relegated back to Provisional League.

Wojciech Laskowski was elected Club President in 2010, the year the club was celebrating its 60th year of existence. The team coached by Sinisa Opacic became Provisional League 2 champions, topping the league table with 44 points. On August 6, 2011 the club organized a 60th Anniversary Gala where the Eagles had over 200 supporters gather, with former greats and the current team members at the Polish Sport and Recreation Centre. They spoke about legends of years past, relived the glory years and discuss the current club situation.

The club's Head coach for the 2013 and 2014 season was Srecko Baresic-Nikic, a former professional player himself in Europe. He holds a FFA ”B” License with Football Federation Australia and with his 26 years International Coaching Experience from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Germany and Australia, he together with the club committee and players planned to bring Western Eagles back on the Victorian football map. The 2013 season Eagles finished 5th on the table with 32 points, and still manage to win promotion to Division 3 due to the new competition format for state level football in Victoria. The team also had a solid run in the 2013 edition of the FFV State Knockout Cup were the club reached Round 5, going down to Preston Lions 1:2, after an entertaining game at Albion. The team played throughout the 2013 season facing many injury problems, giving a chance to play many of the club's youth players, one of them been Thomas Deng, who in 2014 signed with the A-League Club Melbourne Victory and made his first international appearance for Australia Under-20 side. Deng made his senior football debut for Western Eagles against Williamstown. Kacper Hubiak became the club's top goalscorer for the fourth consecutive season, with 15 goals, first player to do so in the Club's 63-year history. Despite a solid start to the 2014 season where Eagles were sitting in second position in the table after Round 8 with 16 points, the team had a disappointing end to the year losing the last 4 games, including a crushing 8:1 defeat in round 20 to the league champions Essendon Royals. It was the third biggest league defeat in the club's history.

For over 15 years, since the 2000 season, the club is fortunate to have a dynamic, hard working and controversial figure amongst its ranks, a former player himself, Mark Szpakolski, who gives the club plenty of drive and passion. Also the likes of Joe Gorczynski, Janusz Przybyla and Wladyslaw Pejko who are supporting the Club by providing constructive and positive influence to others involved. The supportive role of Steve Janus, who is one of the club's major sponsors for the last 15 years.

At the beginning of the 2016 season the club committee and it's junior players, was presented with a cheque from Hyundai Australia as part of the "Goals For Grassroots" program. The presentation took place at Etihad Stadium before the A-League fixture between Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney Wanderers.


Despite many hardships, "Polonia", the club with great history in Australian football, club that was represented by Australian and Poland international players, continues to exist today and currently compete in the Victorian State League Division 3.

Club name changes

Honours

Individual honours

Victorian State League Gold Medal - Player of the Year

Victorian State League Leading Goal Scorer

Bill Fleming Medal

Sporting Globe Medal

International Representatives (*Players with games at international level)

Coaches with International Club Experience

Club Presidents

Western Eagles Divisional history

 Season  League                                  Pos     P     W     D     L     F     A     PTS
 1951    Victorian Division 4                      1    14    13     1     0    70     5      27
 1952    Victorian Division 3                      1    18    18     0     0    89     8      36
 1953    Victorian Division 2                      2    18    13     4     1    66    16      30
 1954    Victorian Division 1                      3    18     8     6     4    36    24      22
 1955    Victorian Division 1                      2    18    12     5     1    45    22      29
 1956    Victorian Division 1                      4    18     9     5     4    55    22      23
 1957    Victorian Division 1                      8    18     8     2     8    36    32      18
 1958    Victorian State League                    6    22    10     4     8    45    36      24
 1959    Victorian State League                    6    22     8     7     7    37    31      23
 1960    Victorian State League                    1    22    16     5     1    54    20      37
 1961    Victorian State League                    1    22    16     3     3    51    19      35
 1962    Victorian State League                    8    22     9     3    10    30    29      21
 1963    Victorian State League                    2    22    13     6     3    63    21      32
 1964    Victorian State League                    6    22    10     6     6    46    25      26
 1965    Victorian State League                    8    22     7     7     8    19    24      21
 1966    Victorian State League                    8    22     7     5    10    24    26      19
 1967    Victorian State League                    9    22     7     2    13    41    45      16
 1968    Victorian State League                    2    22     9     8     5    29    25      26
 1969    Victorian State League                    8    22     8     4    10    22    37      20
 1970    Victorian State League                    8    22     8     4    10    34    43      20
 1971    Victorian State League                    7    22     9     4     9    21    26      22
 1972    Victorian State League                    9    22     7     3    12    26    38      17
 1973    Victorian State League                    8    22     7     4    11    16    28      18
 1974    Victorian State League                   10    22     7     3    12    24    27      17
 1975    Victorian State League                   10    22     5     6    11    16    36      16
 1976    Victorian State League                   12    22     2     5    15    20    44       9
 1977    Victorian State League                   12    22     2     4    16    21    47       8
 1978    Victorian Metropolitan League Div 1       3    22    11     4     7    24    19      26
 1979    Victorian Metropolitan League Div 1       2    22    11     7     4    39    19      29
 1980    Victorian Metropolitan League Div 1       3    22    11     4     7    27    18      26
 1981    Victorian Metropolitan League Div 1       1    22    16     3     3    53    23      35
 1982    Victorian State League                    5    26    11     7     8    47    37      29
 1983    Victorian State League                    6    26    10     6    10    38    35      26
 1984    Victorian State League                    2    26    15     7     4    64    37      37
 1985    Victorian State League                    6    26    10     7     9    35    29      27
 1986    Victorian State League                   12    26     6     7    13    23    30      19
 1987    Victorian State League                    1    28    18     6     4    43    23      42
 1988    Victorian State League                   12    30    10     6    14    41    42      26
 1989    Victorian State League                   16    30     3     4    23    19    76      10
 1990    Victorian State League Division 1        12    26     4    12    10    33    41      20
 1991    Victorian State League Division 2        15    30     7     6    17    23    64      20
 1992    Victorian State League Division 3        13    28     8     6    14    33    50      22
 1993    Victorian State League Division 4         7    28    12     5    11    32    32      29
 1994    Victorian State League Division 4         8    28    11     5    12    42    41      27
 1995    Victorian State League Division 4         7    26    11     7     8    39    31      37
 1996    Victorian State League Division 4         4    26    15     3     8    55    27      48
 1997    Victorian State League Division 4         4    26    15     5     6    58    30      50
 1998    Victorian State League Division 4        10    26     7     8    11    40    48      29
 1999     'merged with and competed as Melbourne City
 2000    Victorian Provisional League Div 3 N/W    2    22    14     7     1    61    32      49
 2001    Victorian Provisional League Div 2 N/W    3    22    12     6     4    46    18      42
 2002    Victorian Provisional League Div 2 N/W    4    22    10     8     4    53    29      38
 2003    Victorian Provisional League Div 2 N/W    1    22    13     7     2    44    16      46
 2004    Victorian Provisional League Div 1 N/W    3    22    10     8     4    44    31      38
 2005    Victorian State League Division 3 N/W     8    22     8     6     8    37    37      30
 2006    Victorian State League Division 3 N/W    12    22     3     1    18    13    55      10
 2007    Victorian Provisional League Div 1 N/W    7    22     8     6     8    31    32      30
 2008    Victorian Provisional League Div 1 N/W    8    22     8     5     9    38    33      29
 2009    Victorian Provisional League Div 1 N/W   11    22     5     4    13    23    35      18
 2010    Victorian Provisional League Div 2 N/W    1    22    14     5     3    41    19      44
 2011    Victorian Provisional League Div 1 N/W   11    22     6     3    13    32    39      21
 2012    Victorian Provisional League Div 2 N/W    8    22     8     5     9    33    39      28
 2013    Victorian State League Division 4 W       5    22     9     5     8    35    27      32
 2014    Victorian State League Division 3 N/W     6    21     7     5     9    30    32      26
 2015    Victorian State League Division 3 N/W     6    22     8     5     9    28    35      29 
 
 * Total games played 1463 - W 613 - D 327 - L 523  goals F 2433 A 2017 in 64 seasons 

All-time table

League number of seasons total games Win Draw Loss GF GA
State League* 32 730 287 161 282 1121 1036
State/Division 1 5 114 53 30 31 176 120
State/Division 2 2 48 20 10 18 89 80
State/Division 3 6 133 52 23 58 230 217
State/Division 4 8 196 93 39 64 371 241
Provisional League 1 5 110 37 26 47 168 170
Provisional League 2 5 110 57 31 22 217 121
Provisional League 3 1 22 14 7 1 61 32
TOTAL 64 1463 613 327 523 2433 2017


*Level 1 on the Victorian league system was the Victorian Division 1 from 1909 to 1957, Victorian State League from 1958 to 1990, Victorian Premier League from 1991 to 2013, National Premier League from 2014.

Records

Biggest victories in the League
Score vs Date
11:0 Monbulk 7 June 1997
10:0 Heidelberg 1951
9:0 Heidelberg 1951
9:0 Woodlands 28 June 1952
9:1 Footscray City 21 July 1956
8:0 White Eagles 14 April 1952
8:0 Fairfield 2 August 1952
8:0 Box Hill 7 April 1956
8:0 Brighton 29 March 1958
8:0 South Melbourne 21 May 1983

Biggest losses in the League
Score Vs Date
0:9 Green Gully 27 August 1989
0:7 Sandringham City 25 May 1991
1:8 Essendon Royals 30 August 2014
0:6 Hakoah 29 May 1971
0:6 Bentleigh Greens 11 March 1991
0:6 Clifton Hill 27 April 1991
1:7 Surf Coast 11 September 2010

Highest scoring League games
Goals vs Date Score
11 Monbulk 7 June 1997 11:0
10 Heidelberg 1951 10:0
10 Footscray City 21 July 1956 9:1
10 West Preston 9 July 2000 8:2
9 Heidelberg 1951 9:0
9 Royal Caledonians 17 May 1952 8:1
9 Woodlands 28 June 1952 9:0
9 Moreland 14 June 1958 2:7
9 Green Gully 27 August 1989 0:9
9 Frankston Pines 3 September 1989 5:4
9 Westgate 10 June 1990 4:5
9 Corio 14 May 2005 6:3
9 Essendon Royals 30 August 2014 1:8

Biggest victories in FFA/State/Dockerty Cup
Score vs Date
12:2 Pucka Rovers 30 August 1952
11:1 Warrnambool Wolves 9 March 2013
9:1 Bayswater 17 July 1954
8:1 Williamstown 18 July 1953
8:1 Prahran 4 August 1956

Biggest losses in FFA/State/Dockerty Cup
Score Vs Date
0:7 Frankston Pines 12 February 1995
0:5 Prahran Slavia 1 April 1979
0:4 St Albans Saints 11 March 1996
0:4 Westvale 8 March 2014
1:5 Morwell Falcons 26 June 1983

Biggest winning streak
Games From To
28 Round 7 1951 Round 2 1953
7 Round 11 1961 Round 17 1961
6 Round 13 1960 Round 18 1960
6 Round 20 1960 Round 3 1961
6 Round 16 1981 Round 21 1981

Biggest losing streak
Games From To
8 Round 7 1986 Round 14 1986
8 Round 15 2006 Round 22 2006
7 Round 14 1967 Round 20 1967
7 Round 3 1977 Round 9 1977
7 Round 6 1989 Round 12 1989

Biggest unbeaten streak
Games From To
40 Round 1 1951 Round 8 1953
18 Round 8 1960 Round 3 1961
17 Round 13 2000 Round 7 2001
16 Round 11 1961 Round 4 1962
15 Round 4 1955 Round 18 1955

Western Eagles - Polonia - Championship Teams

Year Players used
1951 1. Stefan Czauderna, 2. Jan Mazurek, 3. Boleslaw Zablocki, 4. Augustyn Dziura, 5. Stanislaw Galecki, 6. Henryk Jakubowski, 7. Tadeusz Koszanski, 8. Tadeusz Bialek, 9. Emanuel Wolany, 10. Ludwik Cebula, 11. Jan Garcarczyk, 12. Mieczyslaw Terlikowski, 13. Julian Chrzanowski, 14. Stanislaw Bialas, 15. Stanislaw Grabski, 16. Jozef Kopacz, 17. Bronislaw Langiewicz, 18. Mikolaj Pavlov Coach Boleslaw Mlewski
1952 1. Stefan Czauderna, 2.Jan Mazurek, 3. Boleslaw Zablocki, 4. Augustyn Dziura, 5. Stanislaw Galecki, 6. Henryk Jakubowski 7. Julian Chrzanowski, 8. Czerkiewicz, 9. Palka, 10. Zdenek, 11. J. Zuraszek Coach Boleslaw Mlewski
1960 1. John Morks, 2. Mieczyslaw Jurecki, 3. Kazimierz Szygalski, 4. Roch Dronia, 5. Jerzy Dudon, 6. Wladyslaw Gamaj, 7. Ryszard Szczepanski, 8. Wieslaw Janczyk, 9. Zdzislaw Maruszkiewicz, 10. Remo Guardiani, 11. Marian Gasior, 12. Bruno Rueter, 13. Harry Capobus, 14. Anton Brkic, 15. Vince Parlatoni, 16. Henryk Jakubowski, 17. Bernard Biro Coach Wieslaw Janczyk
1961 1. John Morks, 2. Mieczyslaw Jurecki, 3. Kazimierz Szygalski, 4. Roch Dronia, 5. Jerzy Dudon, 6. Wladyslaw Gamaj, 7. Ryszard Szczepanski, 8. Wieslaw Janczyk, 9. Zdzislaw Maruszkiewicz, 10. Remo Guardiani, 11. Marian Gasior, 12. Henryk Gronowski, 13. Robert Gronowski, 14. Ference Voros, 15. Zygmunt Gross, 16.Mike Terlikowski, 17.Bruno Reuter, 18 Anton Brkic Coach Wieslaw Janczyk
1981 1. Leszek Dzielakowski (22/0), 2. Richard Lipiarski (22/0), 3. Marian Jaworski (22/0), 4. Joe Herman (9/0), 5. John Wallace (22/5), 6. Greg Gamanski (19/1), 7. Andrew Czapnik (4/1), 8. Chris Gerick (11/0), 9. Brendan Lakic (22/14), 10. Tadeusz Krysinski (20/14), 11. Peter Chapnik (22/7), 12. Richard Sekulski (19/4),13. Stan Klain (15/0), 14. Micheal Pichner (17/1), 15. Tad Rachwalski (2/0), 16. Alex Marshall (12/5) Coach Kazimierz Kowalec
1987 1. Barney Kostrzewa (12/0), 2. Richard Lipiarski (28/0), 3. Gerry Bennett (28/0), 4. Aki Kotzamichaelis (28/3), 5. Greg Warszawski (17/9), 6. Peter Chapnik (25/4), 7. Jan Wycislik (27/5), 8. Gordan Flavell (24/0), 9. Brendan Lakic (26/3), 10. Kees Storm (28/11), 11. Miroslaw Smolarek (22/0), 12. Joe Kiss (16/0), 13. Rob Nelson (28/0), 14. Alex Marshall (17/4), 15 Janusz Baran (12/0), 16 Steve Chetcuti (5/0), 17 Paul Drinoczky (3/0), 18 Leszek Gregorczuk (3/0), 19 Janusz Przybyla (1/0), 20 Bobby Stojcevski (1/0), 21 Luke Ognenovski (1/0) Coach Miron Bleiberg (15), Rob Nelson (13) (Matches played / Goals scored )
2003 1. Slawomir Zientara (18/0), 2. Andrew Jezard (13/0), 3. Marek Szczepanski (16/2), 4. Lukasz Lewinski (19/0), 5. Eric Zsembrey (17/1), 6. Alex Samayoa (22/4), 7. Andrew Gurman (8/2), 8. Kamil Gamanski (17/5), 9. Ivan Devcic (20/13) 10. Wojciech Galon (22/2), 11. Konrad Leski (17/10), 12. Adam Dachs (4/0), 13. Krzysztof Grabowski (3/0), 14. Milton Lopez (7/0), 15. Mark Tassone (14/0), 16. Fortunato Lariccia (11/0), 17. Piotr Marmura (8/1), 18. Tomasz Wierzbicki (17/1), 19. Andrew Mottram (5/0), 20. Ante Lanzaneo (13/1), 21. Andrew Najda (9/0), 22. Mateusz Kowalski (3/0), 23. Krzysztof Slodyczka (1/0) Coach Nino Comegna
2010 1. Marek Klek, 2. Lukasz Galon, 3. Charles Mizzi, 4. Adam Melideo, 5. Darko Dukic, 6. Adrian Purganic, 7. Andrew Donato, 8. Mateusz Kowalski, 9. Kacper Hubiak, 10. Wojciech Galon, 11. Robert Chelchowski, 12. John Strycharski, 13. Owen Sacco, 14. Robert Rubinich, 15. Adrian Kozulin, 16. Lukasz Lewinski, 17. Maciej Slodyczka, 18. Phillip Mucha, 19. Konrad Leski Coach Sinisa Opacic

Cup Competition

Season Competition Round Club Score
1951 Dockerty Cup R2 International Harvesters 3:1
R3 JUST 1:3
1952 Dockerty Cup R2 Melbourne University w/o
R3 Pucka Rovers 12:2
QF JUST 3:1
SF Juventus 2:6
1953 Dockerty Cup R2 APM Maryvale 5:3
R3 Williamstown 8:1
QF Northcote 5:0
SF Hakoah 1:2
1954 Dockerty Cup R2 Park Rangers 6:3
R3 Bayswater 9:1
QF JUST 0:1
1955 Dockerty Cup R2 Park Rangers 1:0
R3 Prahran 7:1
QF Box Hill 2:2, 3:0
SF Wilhelmina 1:1, 4:2
Final Hakoah 1:1, 0:2
1956 Dockerty Cup R2 Geelong 5:0
R3 Prahran 8:1
QF Wilhelmina 4:2
SF Brighton 1:1, 1:2
1957 Dockerty Cup R2 Yallourn 3:2
R3 Brighton 1:0
QF Hakoah 2:1
SF Moreland 1:2
1958 Dockerty Cup R5 Brighton 4:1
QF Juventus 1:2
1959 Dockerty Cup R5 Juventus 2:4
1960 Dockerty Cup R5 Slavia Port Melbourne 1:0
QF Box Hill 5:0
SF Juventus 2:3
1961 Dockerty Cup R5 Footscray Capri 2:2, 5:0
QF JUST 6:3
SF Wilhelmia 1:0
Final George Cross 4:2
1962 Dockerty Cup R1 Croatia 2:1
GR Juventus 2:1
GR Hakoah 0:2
GR JUST 1:0
SF George Cross 0:2
1963 Dockerty Cup R1 Austria 6:1
GR Slavia Port Melbourne 3:2
GR Juventus 3:3
GR South Melbourne Hellas 2:1
SF Croatia 2:0
Final JUST 2:4
1964 Dockerty Cup R5 Lions 4:0
QF South Melbourne Hellas 1:3
1965 Dockerty Cup R5 Makedonia 0:2
1966 Dockerty Cup R5 Lions 4:2
QF Juventus 0:0, 3:1
SF Hakoah 2:3
1967 Dockerty Cup R5 St Albans 7:0
QF Slavia Port Melbourne 1:1, 0:2
1968 Dockerty Cup R5 Dandenong City 1:2
1969 Dockerty Cup R5 Ringwood City Wilhelmina 2:3
1970 Dockerty Cup R5 South Melbourne 1:2
1971 Dockerty Cup R5 Box Hill 2:2, 0:0, 1:1, 2:1
R6 Keilor City 0:2
1972 Dockerty Cup R1 George Cross 1:2
1973 Dockerty Cup R1 Box Hill 0:1
1974 Dockerty Cup R1 Mooroolbark 0:3
1975 Dockerty Cup R1 Fitzroy United Alexander 2:2, 1:3
1976 Dockerty Cup R1 Keilor Austria 2:0
R2 Juventus 1:0
QF Box Hill 4:0
SF Essendon Lions 1:0
Final Footscray JUST 0:2
1977 Dockerty Cup R1 Port Melbourne 6:0
R2 Frankston City 2:1
QF Preston 2:3
1978 Dockerty Cup R1 Geelong 2:3
1979 Dockerty Cup R1 Footscray JUST 3:0
R2 Prahran Slavia 0:5
1980 Dockerty Cup R1 Park Rangers 2:1
R2 Green Gully 1:1, pen.
1981 Dockerty Cup R1 Couburg 2:0
R2 Green Gully 1:2
1982 Dockerty Cup R1 Port Melbourne 5:1
R2 Albions Rovers 1:2
1983 Dockerty Cup R1 Morwell Falcons 1:5
1984 Dockerty Cup R1 Altona City 5:0
R2 South Oakleigh 2:1
QF Box Hill 3:2
SF Thomastown 5:4
Final Fawkner 2:3
1985 Dockerty Cup R1 Broadmeadows 3:2
R2 Morwell Falcons 0:3
1986 Dockerty Cup R1 North Dandenong 1:2
1987 Dockerty Cup R1 Northcote City 0:2
1988 Dockerty Cup R1 Mordialloc 1:0
R2 Fawkner 4:1
R3 Heidelberg United 1:2
1989 Dockerty Cup R1 Heidelberg City 2:1
R2 Morwell Falcons 1:3
1990 Dockerty Cup R1 Melbourne JUST 0:3
1991 Dockerty Cup R1 Bulleen 0:2
1992 Dockerty Cup R1 Corio 2:3
1995 Dockerty Cup GR Derebin United 1:2
GR Frankston Pines 0:7
GR Nunawanding City 2:2
1996 Dockerty Cup GR Glenroy 5:0
GR Altona East 0:2
GR St Albans Saints 0:4

Season Competition Round Club Score
2004 Dockerty Cup R1 Caulfield United 2:2, p. 4:3
R2 Brimbank 0:1
2011 Mirabella Cup R1 Werribee City 0:3
2012 FFV State Knockout Cup R1 Altona North 2:3
2013 FFV State Knockout Cup R2 Warrambool Wolves 11:1
R3 Sebastopol Vikings 4:2
R4 Hoppers Crossing 1:1, p. 4:2
R5 Preston Lions 1:2
2014 Dockerty Cup R2 Westvale 0:4
2015 FFA Cup R2 Middle Park 1:0
R3 Corio 0:3
2016 FFA Cup R2 St Kevin's Old Boys 0:2

Dockerty Cup Finals

Year Champion Runner up Score Goal Scorer Polonia Lineup Venue Crowd
1955 Hakoah Polonia 2:0 J.Gottesman 60,

R.Piercy 85

Steve Czauderna, Harry Capobus, Henryk Jakubowski; Bob Wemyss, Bill Lawrie, Stanislaw Plekan, Andrew Czerkaski, Robert Strahan, Peter Schipperheyn, John Backley, Jim Johnson Showgrounds, Ascot Vale 6500
1961 Maribyrnong Polonia George Cross 4:2 M.Jurecki (2)

Z.Gross Z.Maruszkiewicz (Polonia) SG: B.Copeland (2) (George Cross)

Henryk Gronowski, Robert Gronowski, Marian Gasior, Wieslaw Janczyk, Zdzislaw Maruszkiewicz, Richard Szczepanski, Jerzy Dudon, Zygmunt Gross, Mieczyslaw Jurecki, Wieslaw Gamaj, Roch Dronia Olimpic Park 5000
1963 Footscray JUST Maribyrnong Polonia 4:2 I.Pikl (2)

T.Stankovic M.Pejovic (JUST) M.Jurecki E.Jankowski (Polonia)

Bruno Putkowski, Marian Gasior, Richard Szczepanski, Wieslaw Janczyk, Zygmunt Gross, Jackie Dudon, Micheal Mroczkowski (Sent off), Edward Jankowski, Mieczyslaw Jurecki, Edmund Zientara, Roch Dronia Olimpic Park 6000
1976 Footscray JUST Maribyrnong Polonia 2:0 Palinkas 2, Buljevic 80 Larry Ostrowsky, Stan Klain, Marian Jaworski, Eddie Marmur, Barney Klimecki, Andrew Czapnik, George Nierobicz, Ricky Lipiarski (John Dykun 71’), Michael Borucinski (Ralph Esposito 56’), Joe Herman, Hugh Humphrey.Coach: John Grimsey. Olimpic Park
1984 Fawkner Maribyrnong Polonia 3:2 a.e.t. N.Garvey 13, P.Boyle 32, F.MacLeod 93 (Fawkner)

C.Fattore 40og, D.McCluskey 79 (Polonia)

Mike Fryszer, Ricky Lipiarski, Mirek Smolarek, John Gardiner, Danny McCluskey, Nick Kolaric (Leszek Gregorczuk 99), Carl Gilder, Dave Gibson, George Petrov, Joe Tront, Noel Mitten. Coach: John Gardiner. Olimpic Park

Top Goal Scorers

  • 1951
  • 1952
  • 1953
  • 1954
  • 1955 Peter Schipperheyn 14
  • 1956 George Pittoni 18
  • 1957 N. von Nagy 8
  • 1958
  • 1959 Enzo Bottari/Roch Dronia 5
  • 1960 Mieczyslaw Jurecki 12
  • 1961 Mieczyslaw Jurecki 17
  • 1962 Robert Gronowski 6
  • 1963 Edward Jankowski 21
  • 1964 Kazimierz Kowalec 13
  • 1965 Kazimierz Kowalec/Czeslaw Plaskota 4
  • 1966 Stefan Katolik 7
  • 1967 Bernard Przybylski 9
  • 1968 Zygmund Gadecki/Jerzy Swoboda 7
  • 1969 Henryk Siwka 9

  • 1970 Edward Widera 7
  • 1971 Czeslaw Plaskota/Henryk Siwka 6
  • 1972 Czeslaw Plaskota/Edward Widera 5
  • 1973 Ron Horfiniak 5
  • 1974 Andrew Czapnik/Marian Jaworski 5
  • 1975 Eugeniusz Lerch 5
  • 1976 Hugh Humphrey 5
  • 1977 Tomasz Koter 4
  • 1978 Ralph Esposito 5
  • 1979 Richard Sekulski 15
  • 1980 Tadeusz Krysinski 13
  • 1981 Tadeusz Krysinski/Brendan Lakic 14
  • 1982 Alex Marshall 12
  • 1983 Alex Marshall 12
  • 1984 Janusz Przybyla 23
  • 1985 Greg Warszawski 11
  • 1986 Janusz Przybyla/Alex Marshall 3
  • 1987 Kees Storm 11
  • 1988 Greg Warszawski 11
  • 1989 Bogdan Bonk 8

  • 1990 Bogdan Bonk/Danny Ward 8
  • 1991 Husein Latif 5
  • 1992 Husein Latif 7
  • 1993 Husein Latif 11
  • 1994 Zlate Bogoevski 9
  • 1995 Kamil Gamanski 9
  • 1996 David Beattie 12
  • 1997 Michael Calandrella 14
  • 1998 Kamil Gamanski 8
  • 1999
  • 2000 Paul Dzielakowski 16
  • 2001 Paul Dzielakowski 11
  • 2002 Ivan Devcic 12
  • 2003 Ivan Devcic 13
  • 2004 Konrad Leski 7
  • 2005 Dominic Murdaca 13
  • 2006 Wojciech Galon 3
  • 2007 Konrad Leski 14
  • 2008 Marcin Goralczyk/Mark Grixti 8
  • 2009 John Strycharski 7

  • 2010 Kacper Hubiak 10
  • 2011 Kacper Hubiak 13
  • 2012 Kacper Hubiak 9
  • 2013 Kacper Hubiak 15
  • 2014 Robert Chelchowski 9
  • 2015 Robert Chelchowski 8

Club All Time Leading Goal Scorers 1951-2015
  • (*No record of scorers from season 1951-1954 and 1958)
Name Years League Goals
Kacper Hubiak 2009-2015 63
Mieczyslaw Jurecki 1960-1965 57
Janusz Przybyla 1982-1989 56
Ivan Devcic 1991-1992, 2000-2003 56
Robert Chelchowski 2009-2015 50
Brendan Lakic 1978-83, 1987–89, 1994–95 47
Kamil Gamanski 1993-1998, 2001-2005 44
Tadeusz Krysinski 1980-1983, 2000 40
Konrad Leski 2003-2008, 2010 38
Paul Dzielakowski 1991-1992, 1995, 2000-2002 37
Alex Marshall 1981-1983, 1986-1987 36
Kazimierz Kowalec 1964-1971 35
Michael Calandrella 1996-1998, 2001 34
Greg Warszawski 1985-1988 33
Edward Jankowski 1963-1964 31
George Pittoni 1954-1956 30*

Longest Serving Players (First Team Appearances)

16 seasons

15 seasons

14 seasons

13 seasons

12 seasons

11 seasons

10 seasons

Notable former players

1950s

Anton Brkic, Harry Capobus, Stefan Czauderna, Julian Chrzanowski, Augustyn Dziura, Stanislaw Galecki, Henryk Jakubowski, Jan Mazurek, George Pittoni, Peter Shipperheyn, Robert Wemyss, Bob Zablocki

1960s

Jerzy Dudon, Roch Dronia, Zygmunt Gross, Remo Guardiani, Wieslaw Janczyk, Edward Jankowski, Mieczyslaw Jurecki, Stefan Katolik, Kazimierz Kowalec, Zdzislaw Maruszkiewicz, John Morks, Edmund Zientara

1970s

Andrew Chapnik, Ralph Esposito, Ron Horfiniak, Eugeniusz Lerch, Marian Jaworski, Edward Marmur, Micheal Olinowski, Czeslaw Plaskota, Richard Sekulski, Henry Siwka, Ziggy Szalinski, Edward Widera

1980s

Peter Chapnik, Leszek Dzielakowski, Zdzislaw "Barney" Kostrzewa, Tadeusz Krysinski, Brendon Lakic, Ricky Lipiarski, Alex Marshall, Stefan Mila, Rob Nelson, Janusz Przybyla, Kees Storm, Greg Warszawski

1990s

Henry Blicharz, Zlate Bogoevski, Bogdan Bonk, Michael Calandrella, Mark Chomaniuk, Paul Dzielakowski, Paul DeBono, Kamil Gamanski, Husein Latif, Adam Mostowski, Daniel Kwiatkowski, Danny Tiatto

2000s

Ivan Devcic, Wojciech Galon, Marcin Goralczyk, Andrew Gurman, Mateusz Kowalski, Konrad Leski, Lukasz Lewinski, Dominic Murdaca, Alex Samayoa, Mark Szczepanski, Robert Zadworny, Slawomir Zientara

External links

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