Sutherland Sharks
Encyclopedia
Sutherland Sharks Football Club is an Australia
n football (soccer) club based in Sutherland, New South Wales
, Australia
and currently play in the New South Wales Premier League.
The club's home games are played at Seymour Shaw Park
, located in the southern Sydney
suburb of Miranda
.
By 1936, the club had grown markedly leading to a split and formation of the club we know today, albeit under a different moniker - Casuals Soccer Football Club.
With the return of Servicemen following WWII, the population of the area quickly grew and with it the prowess of the Casuals. Up until this point the club had competed in the St George Association but in 1947 the Casuals stepped up to the Metropolitan Soccer League (effectively the Sydney 2nd Division, second in status behind only the old NSW Soccer Association 1st Division).
The club soon earned its stripes in this highly competitive league and to the surprise of many, won the title in just their second year. This success led to promotion to the heady heights of the Association 1st Division but disappointingly, financial constraints forced them to let the opportunity pass. It would be another 24 years before the club would move into the State’s top flight.
This on-field progress was matched by off field success. Along with a name change to the more representative Sutherland Shire Casuals SFC in 1949, the club acquired a long-term lease on the Seymour Shaw field (1950) that they use to this day. However the club did not move permanently to the Miranda ground until 1959, continuing to use Sutherland Oval as their base for the majority of the decade.
In 1955, the club again changed its title – becoming the recognisable Sutherland Shire Soccer Football Club.
Two years later the club thought it had finally been promoted to the top echelon of State Soccer, but it was to prove a false dawn. This was the year that the breakaway NSW Soccer Federation was formed with this rival competition generally considered the stronger and more influential of the two. Sutherland reverted to the Federation 2nd Division in 1959 after the Association finally became extinct. Still Sutherland would have to wait before they could say that they had truly made the top flight!
During the following decade, the club further consolidated its position in the local community. In 1961 it amalgamated with the ailing St George district club (a separate entity to the later St George Budapest) and for a brief period became ‘Sutherland – St George SFC’ before reverting back to its original name a couple of years later. 1961 was also notable for the staging of a curious ‘International’ fixture at Seymour Shaw Park when the locals took on the Fiji National Team. The Fijians ran out 5-3 winners before an estimated 4,000 spectators.
In 1966 the club was granted a liquor license and duly opened a social club on the southern side of the ‘Fiveways’ at Miranda. Following early success the club was forced to shut its doors for the final time in the mid 80’s due to financial constraints.
The Seventies proved a prosperous decade for the club. In 1971, under the tutelage of Mike Johnson (and with a side featuring John Lavin), they won the 2nd Division (now Division 1), thus securing the long awaited promotion to the top league in NSW soccer. Incidentally the club remained in the First Division until the 2001/02 season, relegated for two seasons and then returned to the top flight.
The first few years in Division 1 (now Super League) were tough, with the club finishing near the bottom of the ladder each year until 1977 when they reached the semi finals for the first time. In the following year, they won a major trophy for the first time when they claimed the prestigious Ampol Cup. Just to prove this was no fluke, later that year Sutherland defeated Sydney Croatia 2-1 in a replayed Grand Final at Wentworth Park to clam a remarkable double.
This began a long period of success for the club based almost entirely on homegrown talent, a policy which has been fostered by the club to the present day.
The club were perennial semi finalists throughout the late 70’s and 80’s, during which time they again won the Ampol Cup (1981) and also achieved another Grand Final success memorably coming from behind to secure a 3-1 win against Melita Eagles at St George Stadium (1986).
In 1984, the NSL was to be expanded by the addition of four Sydney clubs, with Sutherland tipped to secure the fourth and final berth. In perhaps the greatest disappointment of this period, the club was edged out of contention by the newly formed Penrith City, who failed to live up to expectations and folded two years later when relegated from the NSL.
In 1988, the Sharks, in what was quite a coup, hosted a friendly with the Socceroos in a warm up for the Bicentennial Gold Cup drawing what is generally considered a ground record of 4,500 spectators.
Whilst the 90’s have seen some disappointing seasons, the club has nevertheless recorded its first ever minor premiership in 1991, and followed this up with a repeat victory in 1996.
1996 also saw major improvements being carried out to Seymour Shaw Park, including the long awaited building of a 600 seat grandstand with all weather protection and modern facilities.
In 2007, local radio station 2SSRFM begun providing live coverage of all the Sharks Home Games. The coverage and live game calls where provided by Sydney based sports presenter, Adam Santarossa. The coverage was expanded in 2008, with Santarossa again at the helm, with the station broadcasting all home games, as well as "special games" such as clashes with Sydney FC
and The Leader Cup clash with St. George Saints Football Club. 2SSRFM provided live coverage of the 2008 Premier League Final, which saw the station win much acclaim.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n football (soccer) club based in Sutherland, New South Wales
Sutherland, New South Wales
Sutherland is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Sutherland is located 26 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Sutherland Shire....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and currently play in the New South Wales Premier League.
The club's home games are played at Seymour Shaw Park
Seymour Shaw Park
Seymour Shaw Park is a football stadium in Miranda, New South Wales, Australia. It is the current home ground of the Sutherland Sharks Football Club who play in the state league, the New South Wales Premier League.-History:...
, located in the southern Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
suburb of Miranda
Miranda, New South Wales
Miranda is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Miranda is located 24 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, in the Sutherland Shire....
.
History
Sutherland Sharks have a longer and more intriguing history than many might imagine. Despite the adversity of a small population base and relative isolation (no direct road access to Sydney), the seeds of the current football club was sown as far back as 1930 with the formation of Sutherland United SFC.By 1936, the club had grown markedly leading to a split and formation of the club we know today, albeit under a different moniker - Casuals Soccer Football Club.
With the return of Servicemen following WWII, the population of the area quickly grew and with it the prowess of the Casuals. Up until this point the club had competed in the St George Association but in 1947 the Casuals stepped up to the Metropolitan Soccer League (effectively the Sydney 2nd Division, second in status behind only the old NSW Soccer Association 1st Division).
The club soon earned its stripes in this highly competitive league and to the surprise of many, won the title in just their second year. This success led to promotion to the heady heights of the Association 1st Division but disappointingly, financial constraints forced them to let the opportunity pass. It would be another 24 years before the club would move into the State’s top flight.
This on-field progress was matched by off field success. Along with a name change to the more representative Sutherland Shire Casuals SFC in 1949, the club acquired a long-term lease on the Seymour Shaw field (1950) that they use to this day. However the club did not move permanently to the Miranda ground until 1959, continuing to use Sutherland Oval as their base for the majority of the decade.
In 1955, the club again changed its title – becoming the recognisable Sutherland Shire Soccer Football Club.
Two years later the club thought it had finally been promoted to the top echelon of State Soccer, but it was to prove a false dawn. This was the year that the breakaway NSW Soccer Federation was formed with this rival competition generally considered the stronger and more influential of the two. Sutherland reverted to the Federation 2nd Division in 1959 after the Association finally became extinct. Still Sutherland would have to wait before they could say that they had truly made the top flight!
During the following decade, the club further consolidated its position in the local community. In 1961 it amalgamated with the ailing St George district club (a separate entity to the later St George Budapest) and for a brief period became ‘Sutherland – St George SFC’ before reverting back to its original name a couple of years later. 1961 was also notable for the staging of a curious ‘International’ fixture at Seymour Shaw Park when the locals took on the Fiji National Team. The Fijians ran out 5-3 winners before an estimated 4,000 spectators.
In 1966 the club was granted a liquor license and duly opened a social club on the southern side of the ‘Fiveways’ at Miranda. Following early success the club was forced to shut its doors for the final time in the mid 80’s due to financial constraints.
The Seventies proved a prosperous decade for the club. In 1971, under the tutelage of Mike Johnson (and with a side featuring John Lavin), they won the 2nd Division (now Division 1), thus securing the long awaited promotion to the top league in NSW soccer. Incidentally the club remained in the First Division until the 2001/02 season, relegated for two seasons and then returned to the top flight.
The first few years in Division 1 (now Super League) were tough, with the club finishing near the bottom of the ladder each year until 1977 when they reached the semi finals for the first time. In the following year, they won a major trophy for the first time when they claimed the prestigious Ampol Cup. Just to prove this was no fluke, later that year Sutherland defeated Sydney Croatia 2-1 in a replayed Grand Final at Wentworth Park to clam a remarkable double.
This began a long period of success for the club based almost entirely on homegrown talent, a policy which has been fostered by the club to the present day.
The club were perennial semi finalists throughout the late 70’s and 80’s, during which time they again won the Ampol Cup (1981) and also achieved another Grand Final success memorably coming from behind to secure a 3-1 win against Melita Eagles at St George Stadium (1986).
In 1984, the NSL was to be expanded by the addition of four Sydney clubs, with Sutherland tipped to secure the fourth and final berth. In perhaps the greatest disappointment of this period, the club was edged out of contention by the newly formed Penrith City, who failed to live up to expectations and folded two years later when relegated from the NSL.
In 1988, the Sharks, in what was quite a coup, hosted a friendly with the Socceroos in a warm up for the Bicentennial Gold Cup drawing what is generally considered a ground record of 4,500 spectators.
Whilst the 90’s have seen some disappointing seasons, the club has nevertheless recorded its first ever minor premiership in 1991, and followed this up with a repeat victory in 1996.
1996 also saw major improvements being carried out to Seymour Shaw Park, including the long awaited building of a 600 seat grandstand with all weather protection and modern facilities.
In 2007, local radio station 2SSRFM begun providing live coverage of all the Sharks Home Games. The coverage and live game calls where provided by Sydney based sports presenter, Adam Santarossa. The coverage was expanded in 2008, with Santarossa again at the helm, with the station broadcasting all home games, as well as "special games" such as clashes with Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
and The Leader Cup clash with St. George Saints Football Club. 2SSRFM provided live coverage of the 2008 Premier League Final, which saw the station win much acclaim.
First Grade
Coach:'Robbie Stanton"Notable former players
- Graham ArnoldGraham ArnoldGraham James Arnold is a former coach of the Australian national football team. He was appointed to work as an assistant to Frank Farina in 2000. The two replaced Raul Blanco, who was the interim coach in charge after Terry Venables decided not to renew his contract with Soccer Australia after...
- Peter Beggs
- Laurence BraudeLaurence BraudeLaurence Braude is an Australian footballer currently playing for MPS Portland Phoenix in the USL Premier Development League.-Early life:...
- Shane Clinch
- Ron Corry
- Vic Dal Forno
- Adam GriffithsAdam GriffithsAdam Griffiths is an Australian professional football player who currently plays for Hangzhou Greentown.-Club career:...
- Joel GriffithsJoel GriffithsJoel Griffiths is an Australian football player who currently plays for Beijing Guoan.-Club career:He played for Sydney United, Parramatta Power and Newcastle United in the now defunct National Soccer League...
- Ryan GriffithsRyan Griffiths (footballer)Ryan Griffiths is an Australian football player who plays for Newcastle United Jets.-Club career:...
- Peter Hall
- Mal Haynes
- Mitchel Hesford
- John KosminaJohn KosminaAlexander John Kosmina , known as John Kosmina, is a former Australian football player and manager of Polish Australian ethnicity. He was most recently the manager of Sydney FC...
- John Lavin
- Steve Meades
- Mark MilliganMark MilliganMark Daniel Milligan is an Australian football player who is currently playing for JEF United Ichihara Chiba. He was also the regular captain of the Australian Under 23 football team and has been capped for the junior Australian National team...
- Scott Preston
- Peter PullicinoPeter PullicinoPeter William Pullicino is a professional footballer currently playing for Maltese Premier League side Marsaxlokk, where he plays as a midfielder, he is also the clubs assistant coach.-Hibernians:...
- Alen StajcicAlen StajcicAlen Stajcic is a former semi-professional football player and now is a full-time Football coach. While a footballer he was a NSW Premier League player and Australian Youth Representative before a career-ending knee injury...
- Johnny WatkissJohnny WatkissJohn "Johnny" Watkiss is a former football defender. He was a member of the Australian 1974 FIFA World Cup squad in West Germany and represented Australia 31 times between 1965 to 1974 scoring 4 times....
- Brendan GanBrendan GanBrendan Gan is an Australian footballer who currently plays for Sabah FA in the Malaysian Super League.-Club career:Gan began playing football for his local club, the Marton Hammers before he signed for the Sutherland Sharks in 2000 when he was twelve years old and came up through their youth...
- Levi StephenLevi StephenLevi Stephen is a Scottish former Professional and Semi Professional footballer who played as a midfielder.-Career:...
Honours
- NSW Premier League:
- Champions (3): 1978, 1986, 2009
- Premiers (2): 1991, 2008