Werribee City FC

Werribee City
Full name Werribee City Football Club
Nickname(s) City, Bees, Wezza
Founded 1969
Ground Galvin Park Reserve
Ground Capacity 1000
Captain Angus Martin
Chairman Giovanni Inserra
Coach Sergio Sabbadini
League National Premier Leagues Victoria 2
2015 13th (relegated)
Website Club home page

Werribee City Football Club is an Australia semi-professional soccer club based in Werribee, Melbourne, currently playing in National Premier Leagues Victoria. The club plays its home games at Galvin Park Reserve, Werribee.

History

The Italian Social Club was originally established in 1960 by a group of Italian immigrants with the main objective of getting together on a weekly basis and participating in sporting activities amongst themselves. Between 1960 and 1971, the membership of the Club flourished through bocce competitions and as a result of donations and other fundraising activities, in 1971, 3.5 acres of land (the present site of the Club) was purchased.

The original club building was built with the substantial use of money borrowed from members and considerable efforts of voluntary labour given by members, and was officially opened on 10 August 1974 by The Honourable Sir Henry Winneke. This original building consisted of 8 bocce lanes, with a mezzanine floor providing a large room overlooking the bocce lanes which was regularly used by the youth group for meetings, movie nights and social occasions.

The building also contained a billiard room containing two tables, kiosk, main dining room with large kitchen and a L shaped bar. Since the completion of the original building other improvements have included:- 1977 Club car park constructed with use of funds raised by the Ladies Auxiliary. With the financial assistance of the Victorian Government, two outdoor tennis courts were constructed. Over the years two squash courts were built. In 1993 construction commenced on the extension of the gaming lounge and bistro with the Club being granted a Gaming Licence on 21 December 1993 to operate machines. In 1997 the front entrance of the Club was changed from Parlands Grove to Heaths Road. During 1998 and 1999 extensive renovations have been carried out to Bar and to the main function room. Whilst most of the Club’s funds are generated from the gaming area, the main objective in establishing the Club has always involved a dominant purpose of the encouragement or promotion of games and sporting activities amongst its members, particularly in the areas of Soccer, Tennis, Squash, Bocce, Billiards and later Darts.

After a poor start to the 2015 season, with the Bees languishing in relegation places, manager Nino Ragusa was replaced and Tony Trifunov took over the reigns.[1] Trifunov's reign last just a few rounds, with the Bees then appointing Domenico Gangemi to finish off the 2015 season. Werribee City was relegated from the top flight of football in Victoria after a 13th-placed finish.[2] In September 2015, Gangemi was confirmed as the coach of Werribee for the 2016 NPL1 season.[1]

Ahead of the 2016 season, the Werribee squad underwent an overhaul, with a large portion of the 2015 squad departing the club upon the conclusion of the campaign. In their place, head coach Gangemi signed Dandenong Thunder, Abdirahman Ahmed and Anthony Saric along with Avondale FC forward Domenico Marafioti and Hume City FC's Reis Aygun. Some of the departed players included Kobbie Boahene, ex-skipper Milan Savic, Franjo Saric, Simon Zappia, Anthony Ragusa and star player Simon Colosimo.[3]

Werribee had a disastrous start to the 2016 season, managing just a single point in their first six games, losing Marafioti to a shoulder injury and bowing out of the 2016 FFA Cup at the first hurdle, losing 3–0 to Dandenong Thunder. All of this led to the departure of Gangemi, who resigned from his post on 6 April 2016.[4] Shortly after, former FC Bulleen Lions manager Serge Sabbadini was appointed as the new Werribee City manager.[5] The Bees then experienced an upturn in form; after picking up just two points in the opening 11 rounds, Werribee then collected five wins and four draws from its next 11 games.[6]

First team

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
12 Australia GK Marko Stevanja
2 Australia DF Tony Stojkovski
38 Australia DF Steven Cudrig
16 Australia DF Angus Martin (captain)
5 Australia DF Nemanja Govedarica
4 Australia MF Zach Ahmad
10 Australia MF Damien Peters
11 Australia DF Bobby Vidanoski
7 Australia FW Domenico Marafioti
23 England FW Shaun Weaver
9 Australia FW Jonathan Voulgaris
99 Australia FW Abdirahman Ahmed
8 Australia MF Rob Naumoski
14 Australia MF Julian Cassano
6 Australia DF Denis Dasoul
1 Australia GK Anthony Saric

Former players

Top goalscorers

Year Name Goals League
2010 Joe Spiteri 14 SL2NW
2011 Marty Collins 12 SL2NW
2012 Simon Zappia 16* SL1
2013 Leigh Minopoulos 15 SL1
2014 Steven Cudrig 5 NPL
2015 Christopher Cristaldo 4 NPL

Honours

Individual honours

References

  1. 1 2 "Gangemi to stay on at Werribee". MFootball.com.au. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  2. ↑ "Ladder for PS4 NPL VIC". Fox Sports Pulse. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  3. ↑ Moran, Shaun. "Bees busy ahead of 2016 NPL 2 campaign". MFootball. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  4. ↑ "Early struggles lead to Gangemi's Werribee departure". The Corner Flag. 2016-04-06. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
  5. ↑ "Sabbadini takes Bees hotseat". The Corner Flag. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  6. ↑ Jenkinson, Lance. "Gus Martin repays faith shown in him by Werribee City". Star Weekly. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
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