APIA Leichhardt

The APIA Leichhardt FC is based in the heartland of Australian Football, Sydney’s inner western suburb of Leichhardt. The club’s home ground, Lambert Park, has been the APIA Leichhardt FC’s home since its inception. Lambert Park is also located within metres of Sydney’s most popular dining spots, the famous Norton Street. Renowned for its restaurants, history and culture, Leichhardt and surrounding suburbs like Balmain, Haberfield and Drummoyne are places where people love to visit and wish to reside. Founded in 1954 by the burgeoning Italian community of inner western Sydney, with a huge influence from English and Scottish migrants at the time, APIA Leichhardt (as they were known) initially competed in the local Canterbury District competition. With the establishment of the NSW Federation of Soccer Clubs in January 1957, APIA gained themselves a place in the First Division of that fledgling competition. In 1979 APIA was given access to the National Soccer League, the top tier of Australian soccer since 1977. In 1987 APIA won the national championship, six points ahead of the Preston Makedonia Soccer Club from Melbourne, with then only two points awarded per win. The coach in that season was Rale Rasic. Charlie Yankos and Peter Katholos are probably the best known players from that side. The main cast of that year consisted of Tony Pezzano; Charlie Yankos, Arno Bertogna, Mark Brown, Jean-Paul de Marigny, Peter Tredinnick, Peter Katholos, Edward Lorens, Hilton Phillips, Gary Ward, Rod Brown and Tony Parison. In 1988 APIA won the National Soccer League Cup. By 1992 the APIA Leichhardt was overwhelmed by financial difficulties. The club was somewhat restructured and forthwith played on state level with the moniker “Tigers.” In 2017, APIA won the National Premier Leagues NSW premiership, but lost the grand final to Manly United FC on penalties. APIA also made the grand final of the 2017 Waratah Cup, but lost 3–1 to Hakoah Sydney City East FC. In 2018, APIA won the 2018 Waratah Cup. On 21 August 2018, APIA defeated reigning A-League champions Melbourne Victory FC in the Round of 16 of the 2018 FFA Cup, becoming the seventh state-league side to beat a top-tier team in the knockout tournament. The result was billed as one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history. A.P.I.A. Leichhardt FC’s First Grade and Under 20s. The club’s Senior, Under 20s teams currently compete in the National NSW Premier League Men’s 1 Competition which is the highest league in the State and the league immediately beneath the A-League. A.P.I.A. Leichhardt FC’s representative NPL1 Boys Premier Youth League Teams. The Under 13, 14, 15, 16s and 18s teams compete in the NSW National Premier Youth League Competition conducted by Football NSW. Football NSW conducts four representative Youth League’s; the Premier Youth 1, Premier Youth 2, Premier Youth 3 and Premier Youth 4. The Premier Youth League in which the club competes is the highest youth league competition in the state. A.P.I.A. Leichhardt FC’s Women’s Premier League (WPL1) Seniors The club’s 1st Grade and Reserve Grade currently compete in the National NSW Premier League Women’s 1 Competition which is the highest league in the State and the league immediately beneath the W-League. A.P.I.A. Leichhardt FC’s representative NPL1 Girls Premier Youth League Teams The club fields four teams in the FNSW Women’s NPL1 Youth league competition being Under 14, 15, 16s and Under 18s. The club has been fielding Women and Girls competition teams successfully since 2006. The Girls Premier Youth League in which the club competes is the highest youth league competition in the state. A.P.I.A. Leichhardt FC’s BSAP (Boys Skills Acquisition Program) Teams. The club participates in the Football NSW Skills Acquisition Program which was developed to provide a clear, professionally delivered development opportunity for young NSW footballers that underpins the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s and Women’s Competitio