Westgate Sindjelic

Football club infobox
clubname = Westgate Sindjelic


fullname = Westgate Sindjelic
Football Club
nickname = Sindjelic
founded = 1985
ground = Ardeer Reserve
capacity = - 1,500
chairman = Steve Arbutovic
manager = -
league = Victorian Division 1
season = 2007
position = Div 1 7th (30 points)
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Westgate Sindjelic (Serbian Cyrillic: "Синђелић"), is a Serbian-backed football (soccer) club based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The club competes in Victorian State League Division 1.

History

The club was formed in 1985 and was originally known as Royal Richmond and played out of Burnley Oval in Richmond. In 1986 the club played its home games out of the historic Yarraville Oval and in 1987 it became Westgate FC.

In 1987 Westgate were champions of Victorian League Division 2. It was a memorable year for the club as it made a clean sweep of the end of season awards. Former NSL player and Socceroo Joe Piciaone won the Leagues Best and Fairest award and star striker Pedro Gasco was the leagues top scorer with 18 goals. In a brilliant individual performance, club stalwart Tony Marchett scored 6 goals in one game, when the club defeated Mornington 7-2 in round 26.

The clubs inaugural success didn't come easy. It was involved in a 3 way tussle all season long for the 2 promotion spots available, with Mooroolbark and Sandringham City. In round 20, Westgate were 2-0 down at mid-table Altona City after only 20 minutes of play. A rash challenge on a Westgate player caused a melee between the players that eventually involved the crowd. The referee had no choice but to call off the game due to safety concerns. The matter went before the VSF tribunal who decelared that the game was to be replayed at the end of the season. Going into the game, Westgate were 3rd on the table but knew that they needed only a draw to guarantee promotion to Division 1. A win would see them crowned champions. There was a huge build up to the game with speculation rife that the Altona City players were offered incentives by both Mooroolbark and Sandringham City. Altona City took the lead early in the game, but in an exciting finish Wesgate ran out deserved 3-1 winners in front of a parochial crowd in Altona. In only the clubs 3rd year of existence they had been crowned Champions.

From 1988 to 2002 (15 seasons) they competed in Victorian State League Division 1. In 2002 Wesgate finished 10th, and had to go into a play-off to remain in the division. In a game of two halves, Westgate were defeated 4-2 by North Coburg United and were subsequently relegated for the first time in their history. Westgate had to wait till 2006 when they became champions so they could re-enter Division 1 for the 2007 season.

The clubs second championship was a litte less dramatic but just as celebrated. With a young talented team, coached by club legend Milorad Gelic, a player in the 1987 success, Westgate swept all before them and won the league with 3 games to spare. Many club records were broken during the season including winning 6 consecutive league games and going on an 11 week unbeaten run.

Westgate have been winners of the State League Cup twice in their history. In 1988, the club defeated Mooroolbark at Dandenong 1-0. The goal coming from former South Melbourne striker Chris Andriotis. In 2001 the club won the State League Cup beating Cranbourne Comets 1-0. Dusko Delic scored the only goal in the match in the 67th minute.

The club also made an appearance in the final of the Harry Armstrong (Reserves) Cup in 1993. The game was played as a curtain raiser to the Dockerty Cup final between Heidelberg United and South Melbourne at Olympic Park.

Achievements

League

Cup

Top club goal scorers

*2007 - Michael Maljanek 5, Robert Trajanovski 5
*2006 - Dominic Murdaca 11 (Also Div 2 NW top goal scorer)
*2005 - Dejan Tosic 6
*2004 - Ivan Filiposki 14
*2003 - Dino Grillo 7
*2002 - Jim Gacovski 5, Kwabena Adomako 5
*2001 - Tony Lingurovski 14
*2000 - Darryl Spiteri 12
*1999 - David Maglovski 12
*1998 - David Maglovski 18
*1997 - Milorad Gelic 6
*1996 - Robert Georgievski 22 (Also Div 1 top goal scorer)
*1995 - Zoran Todorovski 21 (Also Div 1 top goal scorer)
*1994 - Zoran Todorovski 8
*1993 - Zoran Tasevski 5
*1992 - Srdjan Jankovic 12
*1991 - Danny Gnjidic 14
*1990 - Srdjan Jankovic 10
*1989 - Nick Gameras 7
*1988 - Chris Andriotis 10
*1987 - Pedro Gasco 18 (also division 2 top scorer)
*1986 - Dragan Vasic 22 (also division 2 top scorer)
*1985 - Dragan Vasic 16

External links

* [http://www.footballfedvic.com.au/ Football Federation Victoria Official website]
* [http://www.westgatefc.tk/ Supporters of Westgate "Sinđelić" FC forum]
*http://www.westgate1985.webs.com/ Official website of Westgate F.C