Ballarat Red Devils
Encyclopedia
The Ballarat Red Devils is an association football club based in Ballarat, Victoria
. They currently (2011) play in the Football Federation Victoria
(FFV) State League division Two North-West. Their home ground is Trekardo Park, located in central Ballarat.
In their first season playing in the Melbourne-based competition (including some clubs from Geelong), Ballarat secured its first championship, under foundation captain-coach and goalkeeper Eddie Wood, and led by Hugh Rattray, who scored 59 goals in 21 matches, still a current Australian record for number of goals in one season at a semi-professional level.
Ballarat waited 24 years until their next title came along, in 1992, in which the team remained undefeated throughout the entire 26-match Provisional League Two (FFV Div. 6) season, again a record that is unlikely to ever be matched or bettered in Victoria. Incidentally, that team went 36 matches until being beaten 2-0 by East Geelong at Trekardo Park. Furthermore, '92 Ballarat side scored in every match of that unbeaten season. The team was coached by Jim Bull, who was also a full-back in the '68 Championship.
After back-to-back promotions in 2003(FFV Div. 6) and 2004 (FFV Div. 5), the Red Devils avoided relegation in 2005 and 2006, in the last match of each season, needing a positive result in each to stay up, which was achieved.
The 2007 season started with a new coach in charge, Danny Gnjidic
, and the club went on to win the State League 3 NW Championship (FFV Div. 3/4) on the last day of the season with a 4-3 win over their rivals, Geelong. Ballarat won after being down 2-0 at the 9 minute mark.
In 2008, the club was at its highest level ever in their history in State League 2 NW (FFV Div. 2/3). At one point the Red Devils even led the ladder for a number of weeks.
The Red Devils have appointed Danny Gnjidic for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
At the end of the 2009 season by mutual concent the club and Danny Gnjidic parted ways.
In late 2009 the club appointed South African Dale Harris as the coach for 2010. Harris was sacked on the 28th of June after a poor start to the season and was replaced by Michael Leslie who became player/manager.
Former reserves coach Joe Fedele was appointed as the Reds new boss in late 2010. The club has brought in a core group of experienced players to blend with the current young playing squad. Brian Shelley, Adam Newbold and Paul Byrne have all moved to the club in the off season.
Following Shelley's move and dominating displays for the Ballarat Red Devils in 2011, Shelley signed as Manager for the Red Devils for 2 years during October 2011.
Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
. They currently (2011) play in the Football Federation Victoria
Football Federation Victoria
Football Federation Victoria is the state governing body for football in Victoria, Australia. It is affiliated with Football Federation Australia, the sport's national governing body....
(FFV) State League division Two North-West. Their home ground is Trekardo Park, located in central Ballarat.
History
The club was established in 1968, and played their first six seasons at Llanberris Reserve, now home to the Ballarat Athletics Club, before moving to their current home ground in 1973. Ballarat originally played in an all-Red kit (i.e. Liverpool FC), which changed to white shorts in 1992, and now play in a similar kit to the famous Manchester United, incorporating red shirts, white shorts and black socks.In their first season playing in the Melbourne-based competition (including some clubs from Geelong), Ballarat secured its first championship, under foundation captain-coach and goalkeeper Eddie Wood, and led by Hugh Rattray, who scored 59 goals in 21 matches, still a current Australian record for number of goals in one season at a semi-professional level.
Ballarat waited 24 years until their next title came along, in 1992, in which the team remained undefeated throughout the entire 26-match Provisional League Two (FFV Div. 6) season, again a record that is unlikely to ever be matched or bettered in Victoria. Incidentally, that team went 36 matches until being beaten 2-0 by East Geelong at Trekardo Park. Furthermore, '92 Ballarat side scored in every match of that unbeaten season. The team was coached by Jim Bull, who was also a full-back in the '68 Championship.
After back-to-back promotions in 2003(FFV Div. 6) and 2004 (FFV Div. 5), the Red Devils avoided relegation in 2005 and 2006, in the last match of each season, needing a positive result in each to stay up, which was achieved.
The 2007 season started with a new coach in charge, Danny Gnjidic
Danny Gnjidić
Damir "Danny" Gnjidić , is an Australian former footballer and now a football coach.-References:...
, and the club went on to win the State League 3 NW Championship (FFV Div. 3/4) on the last day of the season with a 4-3 win over their rivals, Geelong. Ballarat won after being down 2-0 at the 9 minute mark.
In 2008, the club was at its highest level ever in their history in State League 2 NW (FFV Div. 2/3). At one point the Red Devils even led the ladder for a number of weeks.
The Red Devils have appointed Danny Gnjidic for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
At the end of the 2009 season by mutual concent the club and Danny Gnjidic parted ways.
In late 2009 the club appointed South African Dale Harris as the coach for 2010. Harris was sacked on the 28th of June after a poor start to the season and was replaced by Michael Leslie who became player/manager.
Former reserves coach Joe Fedele was appointed as the Reds new boss in late 2010. The club has brought in a core group of experienced players to blend with the current young playing squad. Brian Shelley, Adam Newbold and Paul Byrne have all moved to the club in the off season.
Following Shelley's move and dominating displays for the Ballarat Red Devils in 2011, Shelley signed as Manager for the Red Devils for 2 years during October 2011.
Ballarat Championship years
| Year | Players used |
|---|---|
| 1968 | 1. (Capt)Eddie Wood (20)(1), 2. Jim Bull (22), 3. Ivan Kuralja (22), 4. Les Ives (22)(1), 5. Robert McConnell (22), 6. John Tsatoras (22)(3), 7. Henk Bastra (19)(3), 8. Malcolm Peel (22)(3), 9. Hugh Rattray (22)(59), 10. Keith Davidson (18)(11), 11. Martin Vissers (22)11), 12. Charlie Payton (3), 13. John Rattray (3)(2), 14. Miro Perovic (2), 15. Peter Shelton (1)(1) Coach Eddie Wood, Matches played Goals scored |
| 1992 | 1. Rick Romien (26), 2. Jamie Winton (17), 3. Hayden McErvale (24)(1), 4. Dave Gibson (16), 5. (Capt)Wayne McNeight (21), 6. Pat Kennedy (23), 7. Duncan Smith (20)(6), 8. Paul Baldock (16)(1), 9. Peter Sammut (26)(26), 10. George Horvatek (26)(9), 11. Andrew Burgess (22)(9), 12. Nick Karametis (16)(9), 13. Lyndon Glare (25), 14. Dave Waithman (14)(3), 15. Nick Ravenscroft (12) Coach Jim Bull, Matches played Goals scored |
| 2007 | 1. Rick Jannsen (22), 3. Wayne Dejong (1), 6. Alessandro DiGirolamo (17)(8), 7. Luke Armstrong (21), 8. (Capt)Josh Romein (21)(10), 9. Paul McClounan (5), 10. Moises Cociuba(2), 11. Sam Muscat (21), 14. Jonathon Davey (10)(2), 15. Dom Swinton (20)(5), 16. Ryan Rykers (22), 17. Shaun Romein (18)(8), 18. Sorin Mocan (1), 23. Tristan Romein (20), 25. Seb DiGirolamo (16)(3), 26. Ady Curtain (4), 28. Ashley Lymn (16)(12), 35. Luke Wigmore (22), Coach Danny Gnjidic, Matches played Goals scored |