Sporting Rovers Celebrate Historic Double at Champion of Champions Finals

Southern Districts Football Association side Sporting Rovers FC have etched their name into the record books with a remarkable showing at the 2025 Football NSW Champion of Champions, with both their Under 13 and Under 14 Boys teams claiming grand final victories in what Club President Kevin George has hailed as the club’s proudest achievement to date.

It marks the first time any team from Sporting Rovers has reached, let alone won a final in the prestigious state-wide tournament run by Football NSW, making the dual triumph even more special.

“Both the Under 13s and Under 14s were the first teams to represent our club in a Champion of Champions final,” George said.

“To not only reach that stage but to win both titles is an incredible achievement for our players, coaches, families, and the entire Sporting Rovers community.”

The Under 13s completed an undefeated regular season with 13 wins and a washout, before progressing through a tough knockout series. They travelled to Albury-Wodonga for their quarter-final and secured victory over Western Condors and Bass Hill to earn their place in the final, where they defeated Lilli Pilli FC in a memorable performance.

Meanwhile, the Under 14s, who were defending Premiers from the 2024 SDSFA season, finished the regular campaign with 13 wins and just one loss. Their finals journey included a dramatic penalty shootout win over Seaforth FC in the semi-final, before claiming a Grand Final victory over Colo FC, a team that had beaten Rovers in the U13s final the previous year.

“The 14s’ win was especially sweet because it was a rematch of the grand final from last year,” said George.

“To come back and win it in a shootout shows the growth and resilience of this group.”

When asked about the secret behind the club’s success, George credited three key pillars: parents, coaches, and the players themselves.

“The parents play a massive role ensuring discipline off the field, supporting a healthy lifestyle, and encouraging a balanced focus on football and education. It means our players arrive ready to train, show respect to coaches and committee members, and really buy into the club culture,” he said.

“The coaching staff have been outstanding. Our teams follow a structured pathway led by our Technical Director Borce Petrevski. Pre-season starts as early as November with strength and conditioning. It’s not just about participation, we track performance across strength, endurance, and speed to push our players to the next level. Rainy days aren’t rest days; they’re opportunities for gym or video analysis. We try to eliminate excuses and maximise every session.”

But George was quick to highlight the commitment and character of the players as the final piece of the puzzle.

“The players have shown exceptional dedication. Their attitude at training, willingness to learn, and ability to stay focused, avoiding outside distractions, is a credit to their families and coaches. They take responsibility every time they put on that jersey, and we couldn’t be prouder of how they’ve represented the club.”

Winning the Champion of Champions title marks a historic milestone for Sporting Rovers, founded in 2013, and remains the club’s biggest success to date.

“This is the highest honour we can achieve at our level,” George said.

“It means the world to me, our committee, and our entire membership. It’s recognition for the years of hard work in building the right culture with the resources we have. We’ve always prioritised quality over quantity, and moments like this prove that approach works.”

George, who co-founded the club on 12 September 2013, has been involved ever since as a player, coach, committee member, and now President. He paid tribute to those behind the scenes who’ve made the club’s rise possible.

“I want to acknowledge the tireless work of Juan Sabag, Ramen Namrood, and Borce Petrevski, along with all our families. The time we sacrifice with our loved ones to build this dream isn’t easy, so they deserve this recognition too,” he said.

“To everyone who’s been on this journey with us, and those who will join in the future, thank you. We did it. 2025 Champion of Champions.”