Highfields Azzurri is a football (soccer)

Football (soccer)

Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...

 club based in Highfields

Highfields, New South Wales

Highfields is a residential suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located west-southwest of Newcastle's central business district near the Charlestown town centre. It is part of the City of Lake Macquarie local government area.-External links:...

 a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales

Newcastle, New South Wales

The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...

. In order to try and meet the requirements of the 2009 NBN State Football League

NBN State Football League

The Northern New South Wales State Football League, or as it is more commonly known as the NBN State Football League for sponsorship purposes, is the premier association football league in the Hunter Valley and Newcastle region. It is governed by Northern New South Wales Football...

 requirements, the club merged with local neighbours Charlestown United, forming a new club called Charlestown Azzurri.

Despite the merger, Highfields Azzurri were relegated to the New FM 1st Division

NewFM Football League

The Northern New South Wales Football League Division Two or the NewFM Football League, NewFM First Division Football League or just the NewFM Division for sponsorship reasons, is an Australian football league in the North of New South Wales. It is the second tier of football in the Northern New...

.

After their relegation, Azzurri lost their entire squad to other NBN League clubs like Broadmeadow Magic

Broadmeadow Magic FC

Broadmeadow Magic is a football club based in Broadmeadow a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales. They currently play in the NBN State Football League in the Australian state of New South Wales.-History:...

, Valentine Phoenix

Valentine Phoenix FC

Valentine Phoenix is part of Valentine Eleebana Football Club, a football club based in Valentine a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales...

 and Hamilton Olympic

Hamilton Olympic Warriors FC

Hamilton Olympic Football Club is a football club based in Hamilton a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in the NBN State Football League, the local league in Newcastle.- Competition Winners :...

, meaning major recruitment was undertaken in order to be ready for the 2009 season.