Men’s State League 1 Season Preview – 2014
It’s that time of year again with the Men’s State League One competition kicking off this weekend. This year will see a very tough league with each team harbouring high ambitions and hopes for the season ahead.
After last year’s restructure to the competition this season sees a very similar list of teams returning. 2013 Division Two Premiers and Grand Final winners Stanmore Hawks have been promoted back into Division One, with Prospect United the team to make way.
With the hard slog of preseason over, all clubs will be looking forward to the upcoming year.
Balmain Tigers
Last year’s grand final winners Balmain SC will undoubtedly be looking for another strong showing this season. After finishing third in the regular season last year, their aim this upcoming year is to remain around the top of the league and to push for promotion.
2013’s top scorer and Golden Boot winner Rosario Occhipinti will once again be the man to watch upfront for the Tigers, but the club has also signed last year’s Golden Boot runner up Scott Tomkin from Gladesville, further increasing their fire power for the upcoming campaign.
The team has worked hard during the preseason and returning coach Joe Di Giulio will be looking for a cohesive squad as he aims to continue last year’s momentum. A strong under 18’s and under 20’s teams this year will no doubt also contribute to their charge for the title.
The club has established themselves as one of the top teams in Division One over the last few years and will be playing their home games for a second consecutive season at the historic Wentworth Park.
Camden Tigers
After a disappointing season in 2013 Camden Tigers have made numerous changes on and off the field since the end of last year’s campaign. The club has welcomed aboard first year coach and former player Dean Mackechnie who has spent over 25 years associated with the club. It will also be a revamp in the playing squad with many previous players returning to the club and providing some familiar faces.
Mackechnie has been impressed with the energy and efforts shown by the players and all involved during the preseason, and as the season takes pace the team will be looking to embark on a successful season. With a return to a local based team, he will be looking for his side to make a push for more positive results this year.
Club facilities have also seen an upgrade at Ron Dine Reserve with the new clubhouse being completed during the off season.
Dulwich Hill
Dulwich Hill will go into season 2014 looking to rebuild after narrowly missing out on the Premiership last year. Ex Socceroo and first grade coach Wally Savor will look to use all his experience to help guide the team to a successful campaign with a younger squad than that of previous seasons.
Some key figures from last year’s squad have moved on, including the likes of Carlos Vilazon and Anthony Musumeci. The two players will leave a big void for the club to fill as they were the first and second leading goal scorers for Dulwich Hill last year, however a club as big and as steeped in tradition as Dulwich Hill should never be written off.
Robert Morrison will skipper the side this season while Joseph Savor will be vice-captain. Both players, along with other senior members of the team, will be looking to provide leadership for the great young talent currently within the squad.
The majority of the preseason has been used for coach Savor to settle on his best line up and to find team cohesion. The team will need to focus and be mentally ready for the early rounds of the competition as they won’t be able to use their spiritual home Arlington Oval until round 10.
Gladesville Ryde Magic
Gladesville Ryde Magic came into last season as defending champions but ultimately the vastly talented squad ended up finishing mid table in 7th position for season 2013.
The club will look to get back on track this year and can count on experienced players such as former Greek star Kiriakos Tohouroglou who will cut an imposing figure in goals, and former Australian youth player Christian Care, just to name a few. Departing the club is goal scorer Scott Tomkin who has made the short trip across to Balmain SC.
The club will be aiming to push for finals football and to have a repeat of their previous success in this competition.
Granville Rage
Making the finals in their first year back in Division One last season, Granville Rage will be looking to build on last year’s performance. Coach Mauricio Islas did a superb job last year which was recognised when he was awarded the coach of the year in Division One last season.
With most of the 2013 squad retained, Islas will look to continue the good work from last year by fielding a team with energetic youngsters as well as experienced players such as Dave Harding, who will look to guide the team around the park.
After being knocked out in the first week of the finals series last season the club will now know what to expect from this division. The club has had a solid preseason and will be looking to hit the ground running in the opening rounds of the competition.
Hakaoh Sydney City East
There is an air of excitement around the Hakoah football club as season 2014 sees the club field the strongest squad they have assembled in recent times.
The club has welcomed on board a few new signings, being headlined by former A-League player Lloyd Owusu, who will no doubt bring all his experience and pedigree to a side who were one game away from the Grand Final last season. Coach Mark Robertson will be able to count on a settled squad which sees minor changes in the playing roster. A few players including Rani Rimmer have retired, but in a boost for the club, influential midfielders Neil Jablonski and Jordan Mundell are fully fit for the upcoming season.
Last year’s results coupled with impressive performances in this year’s preseason will make Hakoah one of the teams to watch as the club looks to challenge for top honours come September.
Hawkesbury City
Hawkesbury, who only just missed out on finals football in 2013, is aiming high this season and will be looking to improve on last year’s campaign.
The club has welcomed on board new first grade coach Hugh McCrory who will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the club and who will look to take the side to the next level. McCrory has previously coached at Macarther Rams, Mt Druitt Town Rangers and Northern Tigers, with who he won the Super League competition.
The majority of the squad remains the same with key players from last season primed for the year ahead. New recruits include David Gardner, Tim Harrington and Sebastian Comacho, with the latter signing on from Nepean FC.
A bad patch of form during the middle of the year ultimately cost the Hawks a finals berth, but good results against the top teams plus the key additions to the squad will have them hoping to be a finals bound team in 2014.
Inter Lions
Inter lions will be looking forward to a fresh start and a new campaign after ending the season in 8th position on the ladder last year.
First grade Coach Matteo Maiorana will enjoy the benefit of having a full preseason with the squad after coming in midway through last year. He will be counting on the services of last year’s core playing group plus a few new quality additions to guide the club back to the lofty heights that the proud club is known for.
The club has recruited players that have previous NSW Premier League experience, with Marino Musumeci and Clayton Musumeci joining the playing ranks. Numerous players from last year’s under 20’s team have also been promoted, while club leader and Captain Adrian Vizzari, along with the likes of Roberto Maiorana, will provide experience to the side.
Last year’s Division One player of the season Miguel Martinez will hope to replicate last season’s form and propel the side to success.
Nepean FC
If you checked the ladder through the first half of the season last year you would have seen Nepean FC in the top few spots of the competition, but the club fell away in the second half of the season and just couldn’t get any momentum as the season drew to a close.
A new look squad will feature this season for Nepean, with plenty of Nepean old boys back in the fold. Coach Adam Malouf has recruited well in the offseason and will be hoping to have the squad gel quickly. Jack Long, who has previously played for the club, will bring plenty of experience and steel into the midfield.
New names for the season include Michael Noro, exciting youngster Wandi Jajaw who has previously played IGA NPL NSW Mens 1 with APIA, and proven Division One scorer Rafid Hermiz who has come across from Granville Rage. Throw into the mix familiar faces from last year such as Ryan Trussell, Jason Browne and Terry Pannowitz and you can see coach Malouf has assembled a high quality squad to tackle the upcoming season.
The added depth to this year’s side and quality of players will have Nepean FC surprise any team who takes them lightly, and this looks to be a big year for the club if they can maintain form for the entirety of the season.
Northbridge FC
Coach Joe Haywood is confident this year’s squad will be stronger than last season, which should make other teams take notice as they ran out Minor Premiers and Grand Finalists last year.
For Haywood it will be the same one-game-at-a-time approach which has seen the club consistently perform and steadily rise since joining the State League competitions.
Numerous talented players are stepping up from last year’s strong under 20’s team to promote some youth into the first grade squad, including Agneesh Lahiri, who was 2013’s under 20’s Division One player of the year. Club favourite and defender Sean Eardley will not be returning this year, however one handy addition to the side will be former Balmain SC player Oliver Babington.
New assistant coach Matt Wiggins has been included on the coaching staff and will bring further experience to this year’s set up.
The upgrade to the changing rooms was completed in the off season as the club looks to grow their facilities and enable a more professional environment at Northbridge Oval.
Stanmore Hawks
2013 State League Division Two champions Stanmore Hawks have been promoted and will hope to continue where they left off last season.
Stanmore coach George Paradisis has retained just about all the squad from last year with the club remaining loyal to the players that did such a marvellous job last season finishing Minor Premiers and Grand Final winners. Expectations for the season will be for Stanmore to once again establish themselves in Division One and finish as high up the ladder as possible.
The club will look to keep their menacing attack from last season firing with Nicholas Paradisis, Lachlan Wright and Division Two Golden Boot winner Neil Philippou primed for a big year. Lachlan Wright and Neil Phillippou were joint winners of the Player of the Year Award in 2013, so look for them to lead the charge this year.
The club will need to be ready right out of the gate as they play their first 11 games away from home whilst awaiting the new synesthetic pitch to be completed at Arlington oval.
Western NSW Mariners FC
With the average player’s age being less than twenty years old in last year’s squad, the Western NSW Mariners FC’s maiden campaign in Division One was a steep learning curve for all involved with the club. Returning coach Andrew Fearnley will be hoping to see improvement in the squad as they now have a full season of Men’s State League football under their belt.
Brent Osborne has been handed the captains armband for season 2014 as Ricky Guihot will not be returning this year. Osborne will lead a similar squad to last season’s one that was full of enthusiasm and energy. There is confidence within the club that this will be a more mature line up that is ready to take on the season ahead.
The clubs aim for the upcoming season will be to consolidate their position in the Division One competition and to build from last year’s results.
-By Diego Munoz
