Cracovia White Eagles

Cracovia White Eagles

Full name	Cracovia White Eagles Soccer Club
Founded	1955
Ground	Cracovia Club
League	Football West Social League North Division 2
2009	5th

Cracovia Whites Eagles Soccer Club, is a football (soccer) team based in Beechboro, Western Australia and is the footballing arm of the Cracovia Club, a Polish Australian community organisation.

History

The club was formed in 1950 at St Brigid's Parish Hall by members of the Perth Polish Australian community. The club was named Polish Sport Club Cracovia after the city of Kraków in Poland. It is a name shared by Polish team Cracovia. The club was initially based in Perth before moving to premises in Barlee Street, Highgate in 1972. The club was based in Highgate until 1990 when it moved to its current location in Beechboro.^[1][2][3]

Success

In 1965, after a number of seasons in the lower divisions of the Western Australia State League, Cracovia with the assistance of the Polish Olympic Committee recruited a number of seasoned Polish footballers including Władysław Musiał, Paweł Sobek, Zygmunt Pieda and Henryk Lukoszek.^[2][4] Success was immediate with Cracovia winning the first division in 1965 and the State League in 1966.^[5][6]

Decline

After a decade near the top of the State League Cracovia were relegated in 1974. From that point the club's success was limited to brief spells in the top flight before leaving the semi-professional competition in the mid-90s to compete in the state amateur competition.^[7]

During the early 1980s Bobby Moore played one match as a guest for Cracovia.^[8][9]

Due to regulations of the state soccer federation the club was known as Beechboro White Eagles in the 1990s.^[2]

Current

The club now plays in the Football West Social Division 1.^[10]

References

1. ^ Szunejko, Halina T. (12 May 2007). "Polish Connection To Northbridge". Northbridge History Project. Department of the Premier and Cabinet. http://www.northbridgehistory.wa.gov.au/index.cfm?event=document&documentName=nbhdc-0421.doc. Retrieved 2009-11-02. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "History". Cracovia Club. http://cracoviaclub.com.au/cracovia/modules.php?name=History. Retrieved 2009-11-02. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ Cracovia 1950-1975 - 25 Years of Cracovia Club Inc in Perth, Western Australia. Cracovia Club. 1975. 
4. ^ A Century of Champions. WA Soccer Hall of Fame. pp. 9. 
5. ^ "1966 Competition Review". footballwa.net. http://members.iinet.net.au/~jacob/wasoccer/1966Review.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-02. 
6. ^ Krieder, Richard (1996). A Soccer Century. SportsWest Media. pp. 52. ISBN 0646293761. 
7. ^ "Cracovia - Divisional History". ozfootball.net. http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Clubs/C/CracoviaDH.html. Retrieved 2009-11-02. 
8. ^ "A Genuine Passion for the Game". The Fame Game. Football Hall of Fame Western Australia. Autumn 2008. pp. 2. http://www.arach.net.au/~jacoba/wasoccer/TheFameGame06.pdf. Retrieved 2009-11-02. ^{[dead link]}
9. ^ Greenwood, Barrie (2000). Soccer: West Australia 1960 to 2000. Perth: Perth Advertising Services. pp. 156. 
10. ^ "Football - Cracovia White Eagles". Cracovia Club. http://cracoviaclub.com.au/cracovia/modules.php?name=Soccer. Retrieved 2009-11-02. ^{[dead link]}