Essendon Royals

Football club infobox
clubname = Essendon Royals


fullname = Essendon Royals Football Club
nickname = Royals
founded = 1959
ground = Veneto Club Bulleen,
Essendon, Victoria
capacity =
chairman = Michael Catalano Snr
mgrtitle = Head Coach
manager = Gary Groenwald
league = Victorian Premier League
season = VPL 2007 | position = 13 |

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pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=ffffff|body2=ffffff|rightarm2=ffffff|shorts2=ffffff|socks2=ffffff

Essendon Royals FC are an Australian football (soccer) club from Essendon, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

The team currently play in the Victorian Premier League.

History

The club was established in 1959 by the local Italian community as Unione Sportiva Triestina, "Sporting Union Triestina", or Triestina, and competed in the provisional Victorian leagues in the early 1960s. Early successes allowed the club to gain promotion to the Victorian State League under Lino Tribuzio in 1963, but not even a merger with Fiorentina SC that same year could prevent a string of average performances and growing financial problems.

Dropping to the Fourth Division in the late 1960s, the club amalgamated with Roma Soccer Club in 1970. This move, however, did not improve Triestina's fortunes. Languishing in the lower divisions, another merger in 1983, this time with Moonee Ponds Soccer Club, saw a steady improvement in team performances and promotion to the First Division by the late 1980s.

Triestina continued its relegation battles in the 1990s much as it did throughout its history. In 1994, the club amalgamated with East Brunswick-Ivanhoe SC and became Essendon-Brunswick Royals SC. Concentrating on developing their youth, the club eventually gained promotion to the Victorian Premier League in 2000. Experiencing another drop to the First Division, the Essendon Royals FC gained promotion to the Victorian Premier League again in 2002. In 2004, the club recruited former South Melbourne FC player David Clarkson as player/coach, and strengthened the side with striker Michael Curcija, defender Steve Iosifidis, and goalkeeper Dean Anastasiadis. A mass exodus of players (including Curcija and Iosifidis) the in 2006 saw the club struggle in the relegation zone, but a series of wins late in the season guaranteed their survival in the Victorian top-flight. Following the clubs long term use of the Veneto Club as their home ground, 2008 saw the State League 1 club change their name to Bulleen Royals, to suit their home ground location.

SEASONAL HISTORY.

1959.Foundation of the ‘Unione Sportiva Triestina’ (Sporting union Triestina) on 08 December 59. The provisional headquarters were situated at 64 Pentland Parade Yarraville. During the historic first meeting it was decided to seek affiliation to the Victorian Soccer Amateur Football Association. It was also agreed that the club would organise various activities, sporting and social events like Basketball, athletics, bocce, chess, dinner dances, excursions and general social activities.

1960.The soccer section of the club was quickly established and the team adopted the colours of the Italian Triestina soccer team: White and Red with the lance emblem (alabarda) on the shirts. The club was admitted to the fourth division of the Victorian Soccer Association. The team finished in second place and won promotion.

1961.The team played in the provisional league and finish in eighth place. 8/12

1962.Triestina wins its first premiership in second division and is promoted to the first division. 1/12

1963.A fourth triumph in as many years. The team wins its second premiership and is promoted to the State League, the highest division in Victorian soccer losing only the one game for the season. 1/12

1964.Triestina amalgamates with Fiorentina and on a short preparation against the elite of Victorian Soccer, they manage to survive their first season in the State League. 11/12

1965.The first set back for the club sees the team finish in last place and is relegated back to the first division. 12/12

1966.Despite the influx of new players to the club from Juventus, the team struggles to finish in the bottom half of the standings. 9/12

1967.A further three players are recruited from Juventus, helping the team to finish in fifth place and raising the hopes of the members that the team will soon return to the top flight. 5/12

1968.The club is hit with pay demands by key players, unable to meet their demands the players leave and the team struggles to finish in tenth place. 10/12

1969.Triestina experiences financial problems which sees the team finish twelfth and relegated to the second division; the club faces extinction! 12/12

1970.Triestina amalgamates with the Roma Soccer Club but can only finish in eleventh place and is relegated for a second consecutive season to the third division on goal difference. 11/12

1971.Another disastrous season sees Triestina relegated to where they started, in the fourth Division, despite another influx of talented Juventus reserve players. 11/12

1972.More Juventus players join Triestina to help the club finish in third place. The team mixed with youth and experience lay the foundation for a successful comeback, after a slippery slide which saw the club reach the top echelon of Victorian soccer before falling to its lowest mark. 3/12

1973.The club returns to its former Glory winning the fourth division, with goal scoring duo Gerry Tribuzio and Domenic Parisi scoring 40 plus goals between them for the season. 1/12

1974.Despite coaching problems Triestina gain their composure and finish the season well despite missing out on promotion on goal difference. Professional coach Luciano Napolitano resigns after just five games because of work commitments, former coach Mario Spina takes over. 3/12

1975.Another bad season for the club as a combination of injuries, work commitments for players and a less than adequate committee, Triestina is relegated back to the fourth division. 11/12

1976.They started the season with the merger of their Social Club, a new coach (former player Sergio Zamola) and ended it with second place and promotion to the third division. 2/12

1977.The team finishes in sixth place, changing coach mid season. 6/12

1978.Coach Andy Doig is sacked and replaced in July by former player Aldo Vesnaver, who was unable to save the team from yet another relegation back to the fourth division. 11/12

1979.The lowest point of Triestina’s history is realised when they are relegated to the Provisional League. U16’S coach Gildo Biasol is appointed to coach a very young squad, and despite having Weinstein Gold Medallist Robert Trafficante in the team they prove to be to inexperienced to survive. Gerry Tribuzio finished the season as coach and the recruitment of players including George Maikousis was to no avail. 11/12

1980.Triestina retain Gerry Tribuzio as the coach and the team finishes in fourth place. 4/12

1981.George Maikousis takes over as coach and the team finishes in eighth place. 8/12

1982.Triestina is promoted to the fourth division after the V.S.F. increases the number of teams in all leagues. Frank Simonovich is appointed coach followed by Mario Zavattiero who succeeds Simonovich to finish the season off. The team finishes in sixth place. 6/14

1983.The club merges with Moonee Ponds on the 18.01.1983 and appoints Mario Zavattiero as the coach, who moulds a new team to finish third and promoted up to the third division. 3/14

1984.The year is special for the club being its 25th Anniversary. Luciano Napolitano and Frank Pieramati coach half the season before being replaced with former Australian player Billy Vojtek. The team finishes in third place and qualifies for the VSF Centennial Cup Competition, which it wins. 3/14

1985.With the potent strike force of Mick Giacomi, Dario Zavattiero, Mick Klarin and the experienced backline of Billy Vojtek, Frank Mussel, Tony Mainenti; the team finishes in second place and is promoted to the second division. 2/14

1986.The long awaited club room facilities are opened with much pomp and ceremony. The club acquires the services of striker Keiran Coyle from Thomastown who scores eighteen goals in his first season. The club finishes in second place and is promoted to the first division, despite the mid-season turmoil which saw the coach replaced by Thomastown’s Joe Wilson. 2/14

1987.The team manages to survive in division one despite the retirement of players Keiran Coyle and Frank Mussel through injuries. 8/14

1988.It was a difficult season with the death of foundation club member Giordano De Marchi and player changes at the club. Coach Joe Wilson resigned and was replaced by Aldo Vesnaver who led the club into eleventh place. 11/14

1989.It is the clubs 30th Anniversary but they keep turning over the coaches. Harry Petras lasts only a few games before being replaced with former player coach Aldo Vesnaver. 11/14

1990.The coaching merry-go-round continues with Billy Vojtek resigning and another former player in Frank Fragale sees out the season, in which the club finish in eleventh place. 11/14

1991.John Colangeli is appointed coach but is unable to steer the young side away from relegation. 14/15

1992.Yet another bad season for Triestina with another drop. Coach John Colangeli is sacked late into the season, who is replaced by care-taker David Breslin. 17/18

1993.David Breslin is appointed coach and the club resorts to a youth policy, they finished in fifth place. 5/15

1994.The team finishes in the lower half of the league but moves up to the second division following its amalgamation with East Brunswick-Ivanhoe. 13/16

1995.The merged teams playing as Essendon/Brunswick Royals have a very successful year and offer supporters hope of bigger things to come. The juniors are playing at Ormond Park and the seniors at the Reggio Calabria Club. Bobby McGuiness was appointed the coach but because of work commitments he resigned before the season started. 3/14

1996.The club finished in fifth place in a season which the club was intent on developing and promoting youth. 5/14

1997.The young team is not producing the results that the club hoped they would, they finish in tenth place. 10/14

1998.Mick Giacomi takes over as coach and with an influx of experienced players the team finishes in seventh place. 7/14

1999.The club celebrates its 40th Anniversary losing just the one game, but finish in second place and are promoted to the first division. 2/14

2000.Another great season for the club wining promotion to the Premier League in second place, one point behind South Dandenong and eighteen points clear of the third placed team. 2/12

2001.The Royals fail to win a game in the top flight and are relegated back to division one. 12/12

2002.The Royals secured second spot in division one on the last day of the season, to gain promotion back to the Premier League. You could not have scripted this dramatic finish any better than in the way it transpired. The Essendon Royals looked dead and buried against Knox City into stoppage time, which saw Dandenong Thunder constituents leaving the match to prepare for their promotion celebrations and disappointed Royal fans heading back home. But the Royals were not done yet and late goals by Frank Catalano and David Turkovic spoiled the Thunders party celebrations, the remaining fans were sent into a state of delirium. 2/12

2003.Under the guidance of Kenny Murphy the Royals challenged for a finals berth only to miss out after faltering in the last few games of the season. In the end a seventh place finish was respectable in their first season back in the top flight. 7/12

2004.Former South Melbourne and Australian player David Clarkson is appointed the player/coach of the Royals. After a slow start the club recruits former NSL players Michael Curcija and Dean Anastasiadis. Curcija finished the season as the leagues top scorer with 17 goals from 16 games played, but the team failed again in the run home to secure a finals birth. 8/12

2005.David Clarkson is appointed the assistant Australian U20’S coach which paves the way for Michael Michalakopoulos to take up his first VPL appointment. Michalakopoulos is sacked after making comments in the press, and Dave Winton is appointed coach until the end of the season. 8/14

2006.The Royals lost star players Curcija, Iosifides and Harbinson to other clubs, replaced by Pilic, Fitzsimmons and Fa'Arodo. Former player Luciano Trani was appointed coach until he resigned after a string of poor performances, replaced by David Winton. The team struggled to break clear of the relegation zone but they finished the season off with two wins to steer them out of danger; in the end on goal difference from the Knights and Sunshine. 11/14

2007.The turn over of senior players for young and inexperience ones cost the club dearly with their place in the Premier League, sending them back to the 1st Division after five years in the premier league. 13/16, four Teams Relegated

Honours

*Victorian State League Division 1 Champions 1963
*Victorian State League Division 2 Champions 1962
*Victorian Metropolitan League Division 4 Champions 1973
*Victorian Soccer Federation Centernary Cup Winners 1984"'
*Coppa Italia Winners 2004

Current squad

"As of May 12, 2007

Nationality given from place of birth

External links

* [http://www.essendonroyalsfc.com/ Essendon Royals Official website]
* [http://www.footballfedvic.com.au/competitions/vodafonecup/CPEssendonRoyals.php Essendon Royals at the Football Federation Victoria website]