State League One 2013 Season Preview
Recommendations from last year’s thorough end of season Review has seen a number of structural changes to the Football NSW competitions in 2013, a decision fully backed by Football Federation Australia.
An extensive audit of each and every club, including ground facilities, finances, and performances, has resulted in a revamped State League One competition, although it still remains a 12 team, home-and-away league.
Of the twelve teams, only five that contested the 2012 competition have remained to do battle, with seven new clubs making this an unpredictable and yet exciting season to look forward to.
2012 Premiership and Championship victors, Gladesville Ryde Magic, return once again, aiming to go back to back, although they will be without some of their previous influential artillery, namely the McKie brothers (Andrew and Alistair) and Lachlan Harte, who have made the short move to Christie Park and will turn out for Spirit FC in the NPL NSW Mens 2 competition.
Captain and former Greek star Kiriakos Tohouroglou will don the gloves once more, backed up by the experience of former Australian youth international Cristian Care who will be pulling the strings in the midfield. Throw in names such as Brett Townley-Jones, Scott Tonkin, Aaron Khan, Alex Morris, and fan favourite and Club President Tommy Nastoulis, amongst those backing up, and all now boasting the experience of a championship under their belt – you can ill afford to write the Magic off as they attempt successive titles.
An astute signing and one player who has dominated the middle of the park in this league in previous seasons is Yavuz Ekinci, a goal scoring playmaker who has made the off season move from Fairfield City Lions and prove a valuable asset.
In fact, along with Magic, a total of four teams that contested the 2012 State League One semi finals have retained their position in the league for 2013.
Inter Lions, Northbridge FC and Balmain Tigers FC will, like the Magic no doubt, all look to at least maintain consistency with another showing in this year’s finals at the very minimum. Camden Tigers, who missed out on semi final football on the very last day of last season, are the other side who will once again front up to State League One football.
Inter Lions have Nick Tarquinio heading into his third consecutive year of coaching the first team, and they will be looking to, at the very least, replicate their efforts of 2012 after finishing third in the season proper.
The Di Mento brothers, Jacob and Domenic, will be back to taunt opposition defences, whilst the experience of club stalwart, Adrian Vizzari, will be invaluable during the season. Daniele Chiandotto will again ply his trade in the centre of the park, and fans will once again looking forward to the wizardry of Miguel Martinez on the wings.
New players added to the roster at Inter include Josh De Kelly (Spirit FC), Ali al Waeli (Southern Bulls), Bradley Ryan (ex-Blacktown City Youth), and none other than Steve Biviano (Stanmore), one of the most prolific goalscorers this division has ever seen.
Balmain Tigers FC have undergone a facelift of sorts, with changes in the coaching ranks, players roster, and even home ground venue.
Successful head coach for the past few years, Alex Kaltenegger, has stepped back into an assistant’s type role, and Joe Di Giulio has been elevated to the first team job after some great work in the U20s last season.
Club favourite, Johhny Buonavoglia, and captain and goal keeper, Daniel Conway, are just two names who will be missing from the Balmain line up in 2013, but club captain, Tommy Hyde, Liam Cole (Shannon Cole’s brother), Joel Cook, and Will Donato are amongst those who will once again don the black and gold.
The club has managed to acquire the historic venue of Wentworth Park to play it’s home games, and with plenty of talent coming through in the youth squads, 2013 is looking very promising for Balmain Tigers.
Northbridge FC proved an entertaining yet formidable force in 2012, and will be looking to at least mirror their semi finals appearance this time around, if not go one better.
Under the astute leadership of Larry Bates as the club’s Director of Coaching, Joe Hayward will once again take the reins of the first team, hoping to play attractive football that will reap rewards.
Most of the 2012 squad has been retained, with effective midfielders Paul Orgad and captain Ricky Woodward leading the way across the middle of the park, whilst top goalscorer, Ry Hardy, will once again spearhead the attack.
The club have enlisted Wentworth Park and Homebush to play some matches this season, but local fans will be content to see most games back at Northbridge Oval where the local contingent hope to make a positive difference to the scoreline.
Camden Tigers just missed out on finals football in 2012 on the final day of the season proper, so no doubt the club would still be hurting and looking to rectify that this time around come September.
But there has been a changing of the guard in many aspects at Ron Dine Reserve, with the McKechnie brothers and Adam Smutek amongst those who have made way for a younger brigade.
A couple of players to look out for this season are Michael Wood, a midfielder who has played at Blacktown City previously, striker John Cagny, signed from Picton Rangers, and midfielder, James Keane, the latter leading the side with the arm band. Much promise is expected by the lightning fast 19 year-old, Thomas Finochiaro, a graduate from last year’s U20s side, now lining up alongside his brother, Vinnie.
The new face taking over the coaching reins is Andrew Montgomery, joining after coaching Luddenham United in 2012, and he is keen to for the Tigers to put their own mark on the league, consolidating their position in mid table at the very least as they ‘turn over a new leaf’ and blood some local talent.
Two famous names have joined the SL1 competition from the old ‘Super League’ – now known as the NPL NSW Mens 2 – namely, Granville Rage and Dulwich Hill.
Granville Rage were no doubt disappointed not to retain their spot in the Mens 2 competition, but have regrouped, and will look to consolidate and grow immediately with a good showing in 2013.
Mauricio Islas is the first team coach, and with the experienced Nick Parreca taking on the reins of the club’s Director of Coaching, the players at Rage are definitely in good hands.
Even though the club has retained some of their experienced players, namely Dave Harding, Nenos Bobo, and Phillip Pyliotis, an influx of youngsters has given the team a rejuvenation of sorts as it looks forward to stamping its mark in State League One in 2013 at Garside Park, a ground steeped in tradition when it comes to football in NSW.
Dulwich Hill SC are a proud Inner West club who play out of Arlington Oval, another ground steeped in tradition, and will be looking to make their presence felt under the astute guidance of former Premier League coach and ex-Socceroo, Wally Savor.
Savor brings plenty of experience to the table, and has always been a promoter of youth, as well as fluent attractive football.
Robert Morrison and Anthony Musumeci have proven to be speedy flankers previously with other clubs, and will be hard to contain for any side. The Dully squad, in fact, as a whole, has an abundance of energy and talent, with a few youngsters that have grown up playing at the highest level in Youth football, so no doubt the team will provide a test for any side in the competition in 2013.
Making up the remaining clubs in State League One are no less than five clubs previously from State League Two, and they will be looking forward to at least consolidating, and possibly much more, when this year’s competition gets under way this weekend.
2012 State League Two champions, Hakoah Sydney City East, a name very familiar in past football circles in Australia, have been promoted and will hope to continue where they left off last season by kick starting the 2013 season with a bang.
The father-and-son coaching combination of Mark and Alex Robertson will look forward to the test of State League One football, hoping for finals football at the very least as they continue to blood the youngsters within the club.
Experienced Neil Jablonski will skipper a side that has retained just about all of the squad from 2012, the club remaining loyal to the players that completed a marvelous job last season.
2012 State League Two beaten grand finalists, Prospect United, are eager and keen to make the most of this opportunity when they kick their season off this coming Sunday.
Head coach Tony Caruso has stayed loyal to most players from the clubs good showing last year, including captain Gustavo Orcajo, who will again marshall the troops around the paddock.
Three new signings with plenty of experience at this level could prove very influential for Prospect come finals time. Tim Harrington has joined from Schofields Scorpions, the big sturdy defender one of this league’s top performers year in, year out, and his leadership and defensive strengths will no doubt keep the ‘goals conceded’ column to a minimum as well as former Mounties Wanderers player Troy McColl.
Ben Lam has also joined from Schofields, and will add pace to the attack via the flanks, whilst Chris Camilleri’s play making credentials are known to many and will undoubtedly do plenty of harm to opposition defences.
Hawkesbury City are relishing the thought of State League One football, with club stalwart, Dean Bertenshaw, once again in charge of a promising group of players at Bensons Lane.
A club where loyalty goes both ways, Hawkesbury have shown faith in their existing crop of talent and kept the majority of squad, hoping to consolidate within the Division before looking to grow to bigger and better things from there.
Gavin Hartge will front up again and lead the troops, whilst Evan Daglis, Ryan Wilson, and last years top goal scorer, Paul Cooper, all amongst those who the club will look towards for another solid season.
If you ask any coach if they could sign one player and one player only, most would say a proven goal scorer, and they don’t come any more prolific in State League One than Todd Macrae, a veteran striker who has knocked in goals for fun in previous seasons for clubs such as Blacktown Spartans and Mt Druitt Town – no doubt he will be looking to spearhead the Hawks’ attack to glory in 2013.
‘New kids on the block’ in State League football are Western NSW Mariners FC, who, as the name suggests, have an official link to A League club, Central Coast Mariners, supplying a designated pathway for their youngsters to further their aspiring career, or improve, by obtaining quality coaching.
Coach Andrew Fearnley has plenty of experience under his belt, coaching at Youth level for 16 years, and is looking forward to making the step up, both on a personal front as well as for his charges.
Fearnley has been astute in assembling his squad for their initial foray into senior men’s league football, signing some players from Bathurst 75 as well as promoting some through from the club’s youth ranks.
Captain Ricky Guihot has joined from Bathurst 75, Adam Scimone (Stanmore) links up after moving residence, whilst the goalscoring James Christie, and young Alec Bateson, are amongst those who should figure prominently during the 2013 competition proper.
Nepean FC have quietly gone about their business in pre season, building a team capable of holding their own in State League One, and may even cause some surprises along the way.
Adam Malouf has been given the task of consolidation, having coached at the club over the past couple of seasons, and has had the luxury of quite a few players returning to the fold, giving the team a familiar backbone.
Ryan Trussell will don the captain’s armband to lead the team around the paddock, whilst Jason Browne returns to the fold after leaving the club in 2011. New signings include Joshua Hunter and Terry Pannowitz, the latter an exceptional acquisition given his tenacity and high workrate, not to mention his leadership qualities given he previously captained Hills Brumbies.
-By Frank Speranza
