North Geelong Soccer Club
Lara,
Vic
3212
president@northgeelongsc.com.au
Work Email:
secretary@northgeelongsc.com.au
Work Email:
juniors@northgeelongsc.com.au
Work Email:
operations@northgeelongsc.com.au
Work Email:
webmaster@northgeelongsc.com.au
The North Geelong Warriors Soccer Club, (previously known as North Geelong Croatia), is a Croatian backed football (soccer) club from the regional Victorian city of Geelong. The club continues to have strong links to and support from the city’s large Croatian community. The club is a regular participant in the Australian-Croatian Soccer Tournament, which it has hosted 4 times (including 2008). North Geelong also competes in the annual Geelong Community Shield Cup (previously known as the Geelong Advertiser Cup) which the club has dominated throughout the years and has won a total of 16 Cup titles (the most titles won by a club). The club currently competes in the Victorian State League Division 2 North West and are sitting on top of the ladder.
North Geelong Croatia was formed in 1967 by newly arrived Croatian migrants in Geelong. The club slowly moved its way up the Victorian leagues. By 1972 the club was competing in the Victorian Provisional League. But that year would prove to be a dark year for the club. North Geelong was expelled from the Victorian Provisional League after an altercation in a match with Werribee. North Geelong was accepted back into the Geelong competition in 1973, but did not re-enter the Victorian Provisional League until 1979.
By 1984 the club had risen up to Division 2 where they remained until they won the Division 2 title in 1989, getting promoted to Division 1. 1990 saw Melbourne Croatia legend Brank Culina take over as coach, he would lead the side for 3 seasons. He would go on to have an incredible impact on the club in what would be its most successful period. In 1991 they won the Division 1 title, finishng a point ahead of Knox City. So in 1992 the club entered the Victorian Premier league for the very first time. In its inaugural season the club surprised everyone finishing first and collecting the Minor Premiership. The club went on to make the Grand Final. They faced former National Soccer League champions Brunswick Juventus at Middle Park. North Geelong’s George Karkaletsis opened the scoring on the 22nd minute. Brunswick equalized 4 minutes later. The match remained 1-1 at full time, taking it into extra time. North Geelong ripped Brunswick apart scoring 3 unanswered goals from Adrian Cervinski, Robert Markovac and Robert Cosic. It was an unprecedented event, the only time a newly promoted side had won the title in their first season. Players in this championship side included Steve Horvat, Adrain Cervinski and David Cervinski. All three players would become successful players in the National Soccer League. All three were a part of the Melbourne Knights National Soccer League championship side of the mid 90s.
North Geelong Warriors celebrating a win at Elcho Park.1993 was another successful season. The club finished third in the regular season, making the finals for a second year in a row. But this time their finals campaign did not prove to rewarding as in the previous season. The club lost both its finals matches, including a heartbreaking loss in extra time to Sunshine George Cross.
The next three seasons saw the club miss out on finals action, finishing mid table. But some joy came with the club producing another star player in Josip Skoko. 1997 proved to be a disastrous season for the club, finishing 2nd last and being relegated to Division 1. In 1999 the club was relegated to Division 2. It had been a quick fall from the top. The club remained in Division 2 for the next 6 seasons, with poor results. All that changed by 2005, club legends Adrian Cervinski and David Cervinski had returned to the club. The club won the championship in 2005, losing only 4 matches and being promoted to Division 1.
The club went into the 2006 Division 1 season with high hopes, they were undefeated in their first 7 games. But slowly they fell away, eventually finishing a respectable 4th and missing out on promotion to the Victorian Premier League.
North Geelong has had a very successful history in the annual Geelong Community Shield Cup (previously known as the Geelong Advertiser Cup). North Geelong has won a total of 16 Cup titles, far exceeding local rival Geelong FC’s title wins of 6 (second most wins in the Cup’s competition). North Geelong also holds the record with 7 consecutive wins from 1991 – 1997. North Geelong’s biggest victory in a final was in 1996 at Stead Park with a record breaking 8-1 thrashing of rivals Geelong. The Geelong Cup is in it’s 29th year with North Geelong winning more than half of the Cup’s titles.
