Charlestown United

Infobox Football club
clubname = Charlestown United S.F.C.
" [http://www.isport.com.au/soccer/intdis/hgthome.cl?ZUY9UFQ9JkM9Q0hUJlRJPTYmRz1JRDMmRD0xU1Qg 2008 Season] "


fullname = Charlestown United Senior Football Club
nickname = "The Hammers,
Charlie United,
The Irons"
shortname = Charlestown United
founded = 1900
ground = Charlestown Oval (Under Redevelopment)
capacity = 55,000
President = flagicon|Australia
mgrtitle = Manager
manager = flagicon|England Johnny O
league = Northern NSW ID3
season = 2008
position = Northern NSW ID3, 1st (Minor and Major Premiers)
pattern_b1=_skyblue_charlie|pattern_ra1=|leftarm1=800000|body1=800000|rightarm1=800000|shorts1=800000|socks1=87CEEB
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=_maroon_charlie|pattern_ra2=|leftarm2=87CEEB|body2=87CEEB|rightarm2=87CEEB|shorts2=800000|socks2=87CEEB

Charlestown United Senior Football Club are an amateur football team based in Charlestown, New South Wales. Known as 'The Hammers', they currently compete in the Northern New South Wales Football Interdistrict 3rd Division. The club was formed in 1900, and has given birth to some of football's finest names. They play their home games at Charlestown Oval, a.k.a. 'Hammers Stadium'.

While their club history is sketchy, scholars maintain that the club is nicknamed 'The Hammers' as they have played in maroon and sky blue club colours like their namesake in England, West Ham United, since 1973.

In the 2008 season, Charlestown United achieved their best season in recent years by winning both the 1st Grade and Reserve Grade Grand Finals, while also being crowned Minor Premiers in 1st Grade, thus gaining promotion to the NNSW Interdistrict 2nd Division for the 2009 season. They were also crowned 2008 Interdistrict 3rd Division Club Championship Winners.

Current Squad

2008 Season

After the disappointment of the 2007 season season, 'The Hammers' once again recruited wisely and compiled a squad that seemed destined to be there or there abouts come the season's end.
In 1st grade, things got off to a rocky start with Charlestown slmping to an opening day defeat at the hands of Cessnock, who would turn out to be Charlestown's major rivals for the Premiership over the course of the season. The title race went down to the wire, but Charlestown managed to keep their noses in front for the majority of the season and showed that it doesn't matter how you start, but how you finish, and claimed the Interdistrict 3rd Division Minor Premiership, achieving promotion to the Interdistrict 2nd Division in the process.
In Reserve Grade, Charlestown were pipped at the post by Tenambit, who claimed the Reserve Grade title, 2 points ahead of Charlestown. There was to be revenge though for Reserve Grade, who also lost to Tenambit in the Major Semi Final, only to overcome Woodbery United in the Preliminary Final before beating Tenambit 1-0 in the Reserve Grade Grand Final, to successfully defend their 2007 Reserve Grade Crown.
1st Grade also suffered a loss in the Major Semi Final to Cessnock, but managed to overcome a spirited Cardiff side in the Preliminary Final to setup a rematch with Cessnock in the 1st Grade Grand Final. In an even contest, Charlestown eventually prevailed 2-0 to claim the Major Premiers title, as well as the Club Championship.
It has also been a successful season off the field for 'The Hammers', with the announcement of a merger with former NBN State League side Azzurri FC, from the 2009 season onwards.

Past Seasons

2007 Season

In the 2007 season, Charlestown United finished 2nd in the league in 1st grade, but were knocked out in the Preliminary Final of the finals series, whilst their Reserve grade side also finished 2nd in the league, but were crowned Major Premiers are defeating University 4-2 in the Grand Final at Edgeworth Oval.

After the disappointment of being relegated in the 2006 season, "The Hammers" recruited smartly by signing a new coach, new sponsors and some smashing new players.As a result of this, Charlestown United experienced a change in fortunes this season, and at the midway point of the 2007 season, both 1st Grade and Reserve Grade sat proudly atop the table.Due to a turn in form, some bad luck, and some controversy, Charlestown United eventually finished 2nd in both Grades, 1 point behind Newcastle University in both grades.In the final series, both grades faced University in the Major Semi-Finals.1st Grade suffered a 4-2 loss, while Reserve Grade triumphed 3-0 over University.Unfortunately, Charlestown United lost 1-0 to Valentine in the 1st Grade Preliminary Final on Sunday, September 2, 2007.Charlestown United tackled University in the Reserve Grade Grand Final on Saturday September 8 at Edgeworth Oval, and came away with a resounding 4-2 victory.

First Grade

Charlestown United's 1st Grade side started the season in scintillating fashion, topping the league after winning 11 from their first 12 fixtures. The only loss in that period, a 6-1 drubbing, came at the hands of University, and when the teams met for a second time, an understrength Charlestown United succumbed 5-0. With only 3 games to play, "The Hammers" sat comfortably 2 points in front of University, but controversy and drama ensued, and the season ended in disgrace. After an 'error' by the Football Association led to University gaining 3 extra points for reasons unknown, it rendered the final games of the season meaningless, as University had subsequently been gifted the league title, and thus handed promotion.
Despite this unfortunate political situation, "The Hammers" have enjoyed a highly successful 2007 season, playing some high quality football worthy of being crowned Champions. They also possessed the deadliest strikeforce in the League, with forwards Christopher Matthews and Dogukan Canli both setting the league alight, each contributing over 20 goals to the team's cause.

ID3 2007 First Grade Final League Table

Reserve Grade

After winning 9 of their first 10 fixtures, Reserve Grade were sitting pretty on top of the table with only 8 games left to play. Tragically, their form dipped, and they dropped points in 5 out of the remaining 8 games, suffering 3 losses and 2 draws, including a heart-breaking 4-2 loss on home soil to hand the Minor Premiership, on the final day of the season, to University.Despite their end of season slump, Reserve Grade produced another fine season with a mixture of some very good, and some very average football. Up front, Phil Dean contributed 14 goals, propelling him to second in the league's top scorer charts.

ID3 2007 Reserve Grade Final League Table

Finals Campaign

After the disappointment of finishing second in both grades, Charlestown United took on University in both the 1st Grade and Reserve Grade Major Semi-Finals, played at Ray Watt Oval on Saturday, August 25th.
In 1st Grade, Charlestown United held their own for large periods of the game, but missing a penalty didn't help their cause, while University made the most of their chances, but the 4-2 scoreline flattered University in the end.
After this loss, Charlestown United would played Valentine in the Preliminary Final, who beat Weston in the Minor Semi-Final. Despite having beaten Valentine 4-3 (A) and 2-0 (H), Charlestown United never really lived up to their billing, and a late goal to Valentine was enough to settle the match, Valentine prevailing 1-0 in a dull match, ending 1st Grade's 2007 season.
In the Reserve Grade Major Semi-Final, Charlestown United produced a professional performance as they dispatched of University 3-0, to progress straight to the Grand Final, where they again faced off against a University side determined to make up for their previous loss. The sides went into the break at 1-1 before an inspired second half performance saw Charlestown walk away with a 4-2 victory, and the Reserve Grade Major Premiership.

Past Players (Good, Bad & Ugly)

*flagicon|AUS Shane Phillips
*flagicon|AUS Justin Carlier
*flagicon|Wales Robert Wilson
*flagicon|AUS Daniel Milne
*flagicon|AUS Ben Archibald
*flagicon|Jordan Yazan Othman
*flagicon|AUS Dane Cook
*flagicon|South Africa Brendan Botha
*flagicon|Serbia Peter Boskovic
*flagicon|AUS Phil Gilmore
*flagicon|AUS Steven Brown
*flagicon|AUS Daniel Hanson
*flagicon|AUS Craig Mason
*flagicon|Macedonia Zoran Illievski
*flagicon|AUS Peter Knight
*flagicon|AUS Jason Sinclair
*flagicon|AUS Terry Aspinall
*flagicon|AUS Glen Convery
*flagicon|AUS Stephen Coles

External links

[http://www.charlestownunited.com.au Charlestown United Soccer Football Club]

[http://www.isport.com.au/soccer/intdis/ Northern NSW Interdistrict Website]

[http://www.isport.com.au/soccer/intdis/hgthome.cl?ZUY9UFQ9JkM9Q0hUJlRJPTYmRz1JRDMmRD0xU1Qg Charlestown United 1st Grade]

[http://www.isport.com.au/soccer/intdis/hgthome.cl?qBs9UFQ9JkM9Q0hUJlRJPTE2Jkc9SUQzJkQ9UkVT Charlestown United Reserve Grade]

[http://www.youtube.com/charlieunited Charlestown United YouTube Channel]

[http://www.northernnswsoccer.com.au/nnswsf/ Northern NSW Football Association]