Mounties Wanderers Ready To Make Their Mark In League One

Mounties Wanderers FC are already looking towards their next challenge after securing promotion back to the Football NSW League One Men’s competition for 2027 following a dominant campaign in League Two Men’s.

The achievement marks the second time in three seasons that Mounties, coached by Andre Schroeder have earned promotion to the second tier, having returned to League One after just one season away.

But for Head the of Football at the club Steven Soares, promotion is not the destination.

The club has ambitions to compete at the highest level possible, with the foundations laid during 2026 designed to create a sustainable pathway and establish a strong Mounties identity for years to come.

That mentality was established from the beginning of pre-season, with Soares placing a strong emphasis on the character and standards of the players brought into the squad.

“We brought in winners and experience, but also a good mix of young players who were itching for an opportunity,” Soares said.

“Hard work, discipline, bravery on the ball, respect for the game and pride in representing Mounties… the standards were set from the beginning.”

Those standards translated into results.

Mounties finished top of the League Two Men’s table with 71 points, 14 points clear of second-placed Parramatta FC.

They secured both the Premiership and promotion following Round 24, with six rounds of the regular season still remaining.

While the final margin was significant, the campaign was not without its challenges.

Soares believes a heavy early-season defeat provided an important wake-up call for his team.

“I think the 6-0 loss to Parramatta in Round 5 really hurt and probably gave us the wake-up call we needed,” he said.

“We had to grind out a few results, particularly at home. The Dunbar game in Round 7 was a great example… as the season progressed, the belief grew stronger; we genuinely believed we could win the competition and take Mounties back to League One.”

That belief became one of the defining characteristics of the campaign.

Rather than relying on individual brilliance, Mounties developed a squad mentality that allowed them to consistently find ways to get results.

For Soares, that togetherness was just as important as the talent within the squad.

“It is massive for the club… everyone involved should be really proud of it,” he said.

“But for us, it is only the first step. We know next year will be a much bigger challenge and we want to make a real mark in League One.”

That desire to build something bigger extends beyond the First Grade team.

Mounties want the success of their senior side to form part of a broader club pathway, with the ultimate aim of creating opportunities for players throughout the organisation.

“We want to establish a strong Mounties identity and pathway from JDL, to youth, through to under-20s and First Grade,” Soares said.

The 2026 squad provided plenty of examples of that philosophy in action.

Among the standout performers was Patrick Antelmi, who produced a remarkable goalscoring campaign to claim the League Two Men’s Golden Boot with 33 goals in 27 matches.

“He obviously deserves a huge amount of credit. Scoring 33 goals as part of a team that scored 102 goals is an incredible achievement,” Soares said.

But while Antelmi’s goals attracted plenty of attention, Soares was equally proud of the opportunities created for the club’s younger players.

“Rickson Odisho is another great example. At just 18 years old, he stepped up and scored important goals in his first year, which is exactly the type of pathway and opportunity we want to create at Mounties.”

And that is perhaps the biggest takeaway from Mounties’ remarkable season.

For all the goals, points and silverware, Soares believes the success was ultimately built by the entire group.

“But I could honestly name every player in the squad… that’s what made the season special. It was not about one or two individuals; it was a group effort.”

That collective mentality will now be tested at a higher level.

League One will present stronger opposition and a different set of challenges, but Mounties will enter 2027 with confidence built on a season in which they consistently set high standards and delivered under pressure.

The club will now look to retain the core of its successful squad, continue developing its young players and strengthen the foundations that have taken them back into the second tier.

Promotion has been achieved.

The Premiership has been secured.

But according to Soares, the real work is only beginning.

Mounties Wanderers are back in League One and they want to make their return count.

By Football NSW League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa