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APIA Leichhardt FC

Soccer club based in Sydney, New South Wales

APIA Leichhardt FC

Summary

Soccer club based in Sydney, New South Wales

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imageAPIA Leichhardt FC.png
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nicknameTigers, Marronazzuri
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chrtitlePresident
chairmanTony Raciti
mgrtitleCoach
managerFranco Parisi (men's)
league(men's)
season
position
website
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APIA Leichhardt FC ( ), also known simply as APIA (, ), is a semi-professional soccer club based in the suburb of Leichhardt in Sydney, New South Wales (NSW). Its senior men's and women's teams play in the National Premier Leagues NSW (NPL) and NSW Women's, in the second tier of the Australian league system. It plays its home games at both Lambert Park and Leichhardt Oval. With Wests Ashfield, the club also co-owns Wests APIA FC, a foundation club in the Australian Championship.

Founded in 1954 by the Italian Australian community in Sydney's Inner West, APIA was one of the charter members of Football NSW, and competed in its first division, where it won four NSW titles. On the national stage, the club appeared in four straight Australia Cup finals from 1964 to 1967, winning one, and subsequently joined the burgeoning National Soccer League (NSL) in 1979. It played fourteen seasons in the league, during which it won a championship, and two NSL Cups. Facing financial troubles, APIA exited following the 1991–92 season, and returned to NSW's first division, where it has remained since. Its women's team suffered a relegation in 2013, though eventually regained promotion to the first division in 2020.

APIA's honours include seven NSW men's titles, one women's title, six Waratah Cups, and two Sapphire Cups. Its best performances in the modern-day Australia Cup are quarter-final appearances in 2018 and 2021. It also reached the NPL's national semi-finals in 2017.

History

NSL

The club was founded as the Associazione Poli-sportiva Italo Australiana ("APIA") in 1954 by members of the Italian-Australian community in Sydney's Inner West. After several years in the Canterbury District competition, the club joined the NSW Federation's state league.

In the 1960s APIA became one of the foremost soccer clubs in Australia and won the Premiership of NSW of the years 1964, 1966, 1967 and 1975, which was the highest level of achievement in the absence of a national competition. Between 1966 and 1974 APIA also won three times the State Cup of NSW, then named after a sponsor Ampol Cup. The 1974 final was considered "one of the most incredible finals" of the history of the club when skipper Jimmy Rooney and centreforward Peter Ollerton, who scored five goals, won 9–1 against Auburn in front of a crowd of 5210 at Wentworth Park, the highest finals result ever.

Rooney and Ollerton were also in the team that represented Australia a few months later in its first World Cup participation in Germany.

In 1979 APIA was given access to the National Soccer League, the top tier of Australian soccer since 1977. In 1987 APIA won the national championship, six points ahead of the Preston Makedonia Soccer Club from Melbourne, with then only two points awarded per win. The coach in that season was Rale Rasic. Charlie Yankos and Peter Katholos are probably the best known players from that side. The main cast of that year consisted of Tony Pezzano; Charlie Yankos, Arno Bertogna, Mark Brown, Jean-Paul de Marigny, Peter Tredinnick, Peter Katholos, Edward Lorens, Hilton Phillips, Gary Ward, Rod Brown and Tony Parison. In 1988 APIA won the National Soccer League Cup. By 1992 the APIA Leichhardt was overwhelmed by financial difficulties. The club was somewhat restructured and forthwith played on state level with the moniker "Tigers."

In 2017, APIA won the National Premier Leagues NSW premiership, but lost the grand final to Manly United FC on penalties. APIA also made the grand final of the 2017 Waratah Cup, but lost 3–1 to Hakoah Sydney City East FC.

In 2018, APIA won the 2018 Waratah Cup. On 21 August 2018, APIA defeated reigning A-League champions Melbourne Victory FC in the Round of 16 of the 2018 FFA Cup, becoming the seventh state-league side to beat a top-tier team in the knockout tournament. The result was billed as one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history.

APIA won the National Premier Leagues NSW Grand Final with a 2–1 victory over Sydney United in 2019. This was the first final ever played at Bankwest Stadium.

When the Football Federation Australia repealed its controversial National Club Identification Policy, which effectively banned clubs from having ethnic identities APIA dropped the "Tigers" moniker and reverted to its original badge.

The club was announced on 20 November 2023, as one of the eight foundation teams for the Australian Championship, due to start October 2025. They will continue to play in the NPL NSW for the 2024 & 2025 season, before transitioning to the new league.

Venues

Lambert Park under floodlights with the old turf surface

Lambert Park in Leichhardt is the club's traditional home ground. It was opened in 1954 and has, over the years, been used for most of the club's home games. It is still APIA's main ground and hosts all of the club's NPL matches. APIA has also hosted home games at a number of other venues, including Wentworth Park, Henson Park and, most notably, Leichhardt Oval, where Australia Cup ties against high-profile teams have typically been hosted.

Current squad

Updated October 2025.

Seasons

; Key to league competitions

  • Div. 1 = Division One
  • NSL = National Soccer League
  • AC = Australian Championship
  • NSWSL = NSW Super League
  • NSWPL = NSW Premier League
  • NPL NSW = National Premier Leagues NSW
  • P Draws went to penalty shoot-outs during the 1993–1995 seasons (2 points for win, 1 point for loss).
  • 1 Stage 1 of 1996 NSW Super League
  • 2 Stage 1 of 1996 NSW Super League

;Key to position colours and symbols:

Top scorer in division

; Key to cup competitions

  • AMP = Ampol Cup
  • NPLF = National Premier Leagues Finals

; Key to cup and finals results

  • 1R, 2R, 3R...7R = 1st Round, 2nd Round, 3rd Round...7th Round
  • GS = Group Stage
  • EF = Elimination Final
  • PF = Preliminary Final
  • PO = Playoff Final
  • R32 = Round of 32
  • R16 = Round of 16
  • QF = Quarterfinals
  • SF = Semifinals
  • RU = Runners-Up
  • W = Winners
  • Unk = Result unknown
SeasonLeagueWaratah
CupAustralia
CupOtherTop scorerDivPWDLFAPtsPosFinalsPlayer(s)Goals1957195819591960196119621963196419651966196719681969197019711972197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891989–901990–911991–92199319941995199619971998199920002000–012001–022002–032003–042004–0520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Div. 12034133957109thQF2R
Div. 12274114141188th
Div. 12619437233422ndRU
Div. 12618537125412ndSF
Div. 12210485543246th
Div. 12213366538293rdSFWQF
Div. 12214357037312ndRUQF
Div. 12214355935311stWRUJohn Watkiss24
Div. 11811075128223rdWRUJohn Giacometti21
Div. 11813415516301stRUW WWJohn Giacometti20
Div. 12217326519371stRURUJohn Giacometti22
Div. 12211474225293rdGSR16
Div. 1229853526264thW3rd
Div. 12291123635197thW
Div. 12265112540178th4th
Div. 12211833318303rdSF
Div. 12210663834265th
Div. 12212464425282ndPFWPaul Ollerton18
Div. 12213543919311stRUWPaul Ollerton17
Div. 12215524917352ndW
Div. 12215614615362ndPF
Div. 12613310364296th1R
NSL26113122937258thN/AR16Ken Reed7
NSL2687112735238thN/AR16Phil O’Connor10
NSL30121173933354thN/AQFMarshall Soper12
NSL30127114954317thN/AWMarshall Soper14
NSL30116134236398thN/AR16John Bradley12
NSL/NC2812884335324thPFSFPeter Katholos14
NSL/NC2272132034169thR16Peter Katholos14
NSL/NC229672523247thR32Terry Butler4
NSL2413923921351stWR16Rod Brown14
NSL26871128352311thWHilton Phillips8
NSL26791027352310thSFRod Brown7
NSL2611963625316thSFRod Brown10
NSL26771227282111thSFAlex Bundalo6
NSL2671182628258thR16John Gibson8
NSWSLP26106+283923446th
NSWSLP2273+752019348th
NSWSLP26104+572923434th
NSWSL1137332014243rd
NSWSL2134541922178th
NSWSL2012352717392ndPFJohn Buonavoglia6
NSWSL218673232308thJohn Buonavoglia11
NSWSL2211294337357thSteve Karavatakis10
NSWSL2614665339483rdPFSteve Karavatakis14
NSWPL188284136265th16
NSWPL2212554029414thEF12
NSWPL2211744425402ndWNot held17
NSWPL2273122436249thSF6
NSWPL229492529316thSF4
NSWPL18341116381310thRU3
NSWPL188462623285th4R9
NSWPL229764135346thQF21
NSWPL22571030382211th4R11
NSWPL2213373937393rdSF4R14
NSWPL22651124362310thQF5
NSWPL229493231316thRU7
NPL NSW22281229481411th**W**7
NPL NSW22481031512011th4RDNQ9
NPL NSW2213635631452ndPF4RDNQ21
NPL NSW2275113941268th6RDNQ11
NPL NSW2216155018491stRURUR16SF12
NPL NSW2214356228452ndRU**W**QF24
NPL NSW2212644228422ndW6RDNQ22
NPL NSW112181227712thNot heldNot heldSean Symons4
NPL NSW17638202121season cancelledQF5
NPL NSW2210574133355thSF4RDNQJason Romero11
NPL NSW3020556435651stNot held**RU**R16J. Armson - J. Stewart -14
NPL NSW3018397848573rdSF**W**R32Ben Gibson18
NPL NSW3020467535552ndWSFR16Presley Ortiz15
AC6411124131stQF---Dredon Kelly3

Correct as of 14th August 2025

Source OzFootball

  • APIA Leichhardt FC Women's
SeasonLeagueSapphire CupTop scorerDivPWDLFAPtsPosFinalsPlayer(s)Goals2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010
NPL1 NSW Women231436462845**W**Ash Crofts12
NPL1 NSW Women2615655537512ndRUQFAsh Crofts16
NPL1 NSW Women2619526426621stPF**W**Ash Crofts24
NPL1 NSW Women2212464825402ndPF-Shea Connors16
NPL1 NSW Women126422316224thPF-Lisa Devanna5
NPL1 NSW Women115242017178th--Georia Yeoman-Dale5
NPL2 NSW Women22174110517551stRU-Ash Palombi33
NPL2 NSW Women2213455933434thSF-Ash Palombi17
NSW State League Women1814318314451stRU-
NSW State League Women2114345617451stRU-
NSW State League Women2182113149266th--
NSW State League Women202018259267th--
NSW State League Women22341521701311th--
NSW Women’s Super League182313235597th--
NSW Women’s Super League1816026914481stW-
NSW Women’s Super League168533922294thRU-

Correct as of 10th August 2025

Honours

Regional

  • National Premier Leagues NSW
    • Premiers (6): 1964, 1966, 1967, 1975, 2017, 2023
    • Runners-Up (11): 1959, 1960, 1963, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1997, 2002–03, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2025
  • National Premier Leagues NSW Grand Finals
    • Championships (7): 1964, 1965, 1969, 1976, 2002–03, 2019, 2025
    • Runners-Up (7): 1959, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1975, 2017, 2018,
  • Waratah Cup
  • Johnny Warren Cup
    • Winners (1): 2007
  • Ampol Cup
    • Winners (3): 1966, 1970, 1974

National

Individual honours

National

  • **National Soccer League Coach of the Year ** (1)
    • Rale Rasic - 1987
  • Australian Championship MVP (1)
    • Dredon Kelly

Regional

  • ** NPL NSW Premier League Player of the year ** (5)
    • George Blues - 1970
    • Terry Butler - 1978
    • Franco Parisi - 2015
    • Sean Symons - 2017
    • Tasuku Sekiya - 2018
  • ** NPL NSW Premier League Coach of the Year ** (3)
    • Franco Parisi - 2025
    • Franco Parisi - 2023
    • Danial Cummins - 2017
  • **Robbie Slater Award ** (2)
    • Michael Kouta - 2025
    • Sean Symons - 2019
  • ** NPL NSW Premier Leagues Golden Boot ** (9)
    • Jordan Murray (23) - 2018
    • Blake Powell (21) - 2015
    • Robert Younis (21) - 2008
    • Paul Ollerton (17) - 1975
    • Paul Ollerton (18) - 1974
    • John Giacometti (22) - 1967
    • John Giacometti (20) - 1966
    • John Giacometti (21) - 1965
    • John Watkiss (24) - 1964
  • ** NPL NSW Goalkeeper of the Year ** (2)
    • Matthew Nash - 2008
    • Ivan Necevski - 2023
    • Anthony Bouzanis - 2024
  • ** NPL NSW Goal of the Year ** (2)
    • Adrian Ucchino - 2025
    • Blake Powell - 2015

Notes

References

References

  1. "History". APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC.
  2. Mossop, Brian. (11 March 1974). "Soccer with everything... Apia win 9–1". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  3. Cockerill, Michael. (16 April 1992). "Liquidator takes over troubled Apia". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  4. Cockerill, Michael. (25 September 1992). "Apia plan legal tilt for NSL re-entry". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  5. Cooke, Graham. (18 December 1992). "Soccer World – Coaching clinic a must for youngsters". The Canberra Times.
  6. (16 July 2018). "APIA clinch Cup crown in NSW ahead of FFA Cup Round of 32".
  7. "Sekiya stars as APIA Leichhardt stun Victory in FFA Cup {{!}} The World Game". The World Game.
  8. "We didn't show up: Victory rue shock FFA Cup exit". NewsComAu.
  9. NSW, Football. (2019-08-31). "Championship finally comes home to APIA Leichhardt Tigers".
  10. ''[http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/historic-npl-club-apia-goes-back-to-its-roots-with-major-re-brand Historic NPL club APIA goes back to its roots with major re-brand]'', SBS, 2019-12-12
  11. (2023-11-20). "Football Australia announces foundation clubs for National Second Tier".
  12. (29 June 2012). "Tigers eye historic win". The Village Voice.
  13. (2018-08-07). "APIA Leichhardt FC v Melbourne Victory - Australia Cup Match Centre".
  14. (2021-12-21). "WATCH: Mariners hit APIA for six to reach Semi Finals {{!}} Australia Cup".
  15. "Men's First Grade". Football NSW.
  16. "Statistics for APIA Leichhardt FC playing in 1st - NPL NSW Men's 2021". mygameday.
  17. "2011 NSWPL goalscorers". SoccerAust.
  18. "2012 NSWPL goalscorers". SoccerAust.
  19. "2014 NSW NPL1 Leading Scorers". SoccerAust.
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