Dandenong Thunder
Encyclopedia
Dandenong Thunder SC is a football (soccer) club from Dandenong, a suburb of Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
. They are an Albanian Australian
-backed club. From the 2009 season they compete in the Victorian Premier League
, which is one tier below the A-League
. In 2009, it claimed the Victorian Premier League Minor Premiership, winning the league by 12 points.
in Victorian Football Pyramid. For decades they were playing in the lower divisions until the mid 1990s when they started to climb the entire Victorian pyramid. In 1994 they were playing in State League Division 3, and every year managed to get promotion to a higher level until they reached the Victorian Premier League
in 1998.
, South Dandenong played their first ever Victorian Premier League
season in 1998.
Being led by their player-coach Fadil Muriqi
, the team managed to stay in the Victorian Premier League
after finishing the season in 12th place. Same thing didn't happen in the following season and the team was relegated to Victorian State League Division 1.
in 2001 but were relegated again as the season ended. Since 2001 they spent seven season in the Victorian State League Division 1
.
In 2007 they signed boom recruits Veton Korcari from Richmond SC
as well as Louis Brain
, a former player with Adelaide United in the A-League
. Joe Di Iorio
, Marcus Stergiopoulos
, Alfonso Opazo and Levent Osman
were other big names who put on the Thunder jersey for a successful season in 2008.
The Thunder achieved its aim in getting promoted to the Victorian Premier League
, after a successful 2008 season in which the club finished second, 3 points behind leaders Sunshine Georgies. It had been a long wait for one of Victoria's biggest clubs into the top flight after a seven year absence. After a slow start to the season with only 2 wins from the first 5 games; the Thunder had a barnstorming run with an unbeaten run of 17 games which was the catalyst in gaining promotion. In its return to top flight football, the Thunder proved all nay-sayers wrong by clinching the 2009 Minor Premiership with a lead of 12 points. It included going the first 15 rounds of the season undefeated and a club record 31 game undefeated streak after not losing since round 5 of the 2008 season. Season 2009 also saw youngster Jack Hingert
being selected to play for new A-League side North Queensland Fury, as well as Joey Di Iorio winning the golden boot for leading goal scorer in the league. Hamlet Armenian, Ryan Davidson, Jack Hingert, Sam Bailey all represented a Victorian 11 which played a series of games against A-League champions Melbourne Victory, with defender Aron Wilford
being selected but unavailable due to injury.
2000-2003) and Ibraim Ibraimi (South Melbourne
2001)
are known to have one of the most passionate supporters groups in Victoria, with support coming mainly from the Albanian community in the area as well as support from sister club North Sunshine Eagles
. The club averages 1,500 spectators at its home venue whilst also out-numbering the home side for support for away matches, with its great number of traveling fans (BAY 13 ROKDER) led by Ferman "Bundy" Zekiri and his accompanying sidekick Zani "Bush" Reshitovski.
Out
Ibraim Ibraimi
Xhezair Sulemani
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. They are an Albanian Australian
Albanian Australian
Albanian Australians are residents of Australia who are of Albanian ancestry.According to the 2006 Australian census 2,014 Australians were born in Albania while 11,315 claimed Albanian ancestry, either alone or with another ancestry....
-backed club. From the 2009 season they compete in the Victorian Premier League
Victorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
, which is one tier below the A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
. In 2009, it claimed the Victorian Premier League Minor Premiership, winning the league by 12 points.
Early years
The club was founded in 1970 as South Dandenong by Albanian migrants. Even today the club is primarily backed and supported by Albanians and Albanian-Australians living in Melbourne. They started competing in the Victorian District League East Division, which was the eighth tier of football (soccer)Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
in Victorian Football Pyramid. For decades they were playing in the lower divisions until the mid 1990s when they started to climb the entire Victorian pyramid. In 1994 they were playing in State League Division 3, and every year managed to get promotion to a higher level until they reached the Victorian Premier League
Victorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
in 1998.
1990s
After a successful 1997 season, when they became the champions of Victorian State League Division 1Victorian State League Division 1
The Victorian State League Division 1 is the second tier association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and the third nationally, including the A-League...
, South Dandenong played their first ever Victorian Premier League
Victorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
season in 1998.
Being led by their player-coach Fadil Muriqi
Fadil Muriqi
Fadil Muriqi is a former Kosovar Albanian footballer who is best known for his time with KF Prishtina during the 1980s as part of the "Golden Generation".-Prishtina:...
, the team managed to stay in the Victorian Premier League
Victorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
after finishing the season in 12th place. Same thing didn't happen in the following season and the team was relegated to Victorian State League Division 1.
2000–present
They came back in Victorian Premier LeagueVictorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
in 2001 but were relegated again as the season ended. Since 2001 they spent seven season in the Victorian State League Division 1
Victorian State League Division 1
The Victorian State League Division 1 is the second tier association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and the third nationally, including the A-League...
.
In 2007 they signed boom recruits Veton Korcari from Richmond SC
Richmond SC
Richmond Soccer Club is an Australian association football club from Richmond, Victoria, an inner eastern suburb of Melbourne, Australia. They currently play in the Victorian Premier League.-History:...
as well as Louis Brain
Louis Brain
Louis Karl Brain is an English-Australian professional association football player who plays as an attacking midfielder. He played for Adelaide United in the newly formed Hyundai A-League's inaugural season, but was delisted in the close season...
, a former player with Adelaide United in the A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
. Joe Di Iorio
Joe Di Iorio
Joseph Anthony Di Iorio is an Australian football forward of Italian descent, who currently plays for Port Melbourne Sharks.-Werder Bremen:...
, Marcus Stergiopoulos
Marcus Stergiopoulos
Marcus Stergiopoulos is an Australian of ethnic Greek descent. He is a football player who plays as a midfielder.-External links:** at...
, Alfonso Opazo and Levent Osman
Levent Osman
Levent Osman is a Turkish Australian football player. He plays as a defender.He has previously played for Trabzonspor in Turkey, FCU Politehnica Timişoara in Romania, Tampere United in Finland as well as South Melbourne, Auckland Kingz in and Gippsland Falcons in the Australian NSL.He has...
were other big names who put on the Thunder jersey for a successful season in 2008.
The Thunder achieved its aim in getting promoted to the Victorian Premier League
Victorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
, after a successful 2008 season in which the club finished second, 3 points behind leaders Sunshine Georgies. It had been a long wait for one of Victoria's biggest clubs into the top flight after a seven year absence. After a slow start to the season with only 2 wins from the first 5 games; the Thunder had a barnstorming run with an unbeaten run of 17 games which was the catalyst in gaining promotion. In its return to top flight football, the Thunder proved all nay-sayers wrong by clinching the 2009 Minor Premiership with a lead of 12 points. It included going the first 15 rounds of the season undefeated and a club record 31 game undefeated streak after not losing since round 5 of the 2008 season. Season 2009 also saw youngster Jack Hingert
Jack Hingert
Jack Hingert is an English-Australian football player, currently as defender for Hyundai A-League club, Brisbane Roar. Hingert previously played for former A-League club North Queensland Fury.-Club career:...
being selected to play for new A-League side North Queensland Fury, as well as Joey Di Iorio winning the golden boot for leading goal scorer in the league. Hamlet Armenian, Ryan Davidson, Jack Hingert, Sam Bailey all represented a Victorian 11 which played a series of games against A-League champions Melbourne Victory, with defender Aron Wilford
Aron Wilford
Aron Leslie Wilford is an English footballer who currently plays for Bentleigh Greens in the Victorian Premier League. He played professionally in the Football League for York City and Lincoln City and in the Scottish Football League for Clyde.-Career:Wilford began his career as a centre-half for...
being selected but unavailable due to injury.
Home-grown talent
The two home-grown talents so far to have tasted National Soccer League appearances are Xhezair Sulemani (Melbourne KnightsMelbourne Knights
Melbourne Knights Football Club is a football club representing Melbourne, Australia in the Victorian Premier League . The club is one of the most successful football clubs in Australia, being a two-time championship and four-time premiership winner in the now defunct National Soccer League...
2000-2003) and Ibraim Ibraimi (South Melbourne
South Melbourne
South Melbourne may refer to*South Melbourne, Victoria, suburb of Melbourne*South Melbourne FC, a football club based in South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...
2001)
Supporters
Dandenong ThunderDandenong Thunder
Dandenong Thunder SC is a football club from Dandenong, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. They are an Albanian Australian-backed club. From the 2009 season they compete in the Victorian Premier League, which is one tier below the A-League...
are known to have one of the most passionate supporters groups in Victoria, with support coming mainly from the Albanian community in the area as well as support from sister club North Sunshine Eagles
North Sunshine Eagles
North Sunshine Eagles is an association football club from St Albans, a suburb 15 km north-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The club was founded in 1970 and is an Albanian backed club....
. The club averages 1,500 spectators at its home venue whilst also out-numbering the home side for support for away matches, with its great number of traveling fans (BAY 13 ROKDER) led by Ferman "Bundy" Zekiri and his accompanying sidekick Zani "Bush" Reshitovski.
Honours
- 2009- Victorian Premier League Minor Premiers
- 2008- Victorian State League Division 1 Runners-Up
- 2000- Victorian State League Division 1 Champion
- 1997- Victorian State League Division 1 Champion
- 1996- Victorian State League Division 2 Runners-Up
- 1995- Victorian State League Division 3 Runners-Up
- 1991- Victorian State League Division 4 Runners-Up
- 1990- Victorian Provisional League 1 Champion
- 1989- Victorian Provisional League 2 Runners-Up
- 1988- Victorian Provisional League 3 Champion
Individual honours
- 2009- Victorian Premier League Coach of the Year: Stuart MunroStuart MunroStuart Munro is a Scottish former professional football player who is best known for his time with Rangers....
- 2009- Victorian Premier League Leading Goal Scorer: Joe Di IorioJoe Di IorioJoseph Anthony Di Iorio is an Australian football forward of Italian descent, who currently plays for Port Melbourne Sharks.-Werder Bremen:...
Top goal-scorers
- 2011- Luke Sherbon 14 goals
- 2010- Jamie ReedJamie Reed (footballer)Jamie Lee Reed is a footballer who plays for York City as a striker. Reed made seven appearances for Wrexham in Football League Two.-Early career:...
6 Goals - 2009- Joe Di Iorio 18 Goals (Awarded Golden Boot)
- 2008- Ryan Davidson 11 Goals
- 2007- Veton Korcari 10 Goals (Runner up in the league)
- 2006- Ryan Davidson 9 Goals
- 2005- Leon Buhic 9 Goals
- 2004- Veton Korcari 9 Goals
- 2003- Miles Tidd, Joey Di Iorio 11 Goals
- 2002- Alfonso Opazo 10 Goals
- 2001- Boris Ovcin 4 Goals
- 2000- Victor Korkaric 17 Goals
- 1999- Nick Van Egmond, Billy Wright 7 Goals
- 1998- Pino Corallo, Reshat Mezensof 11 Goals
- 1997- Billy Wright 28 Goals (Top scorer in the league)
- 1996- Billy Wright 30 Goals (Top scorer in the league)
- 1995- Billy Wright 27 Goals (Joint Top scorer in the league)
- 1994- Billy Wright 22 Goals (Top scorer in the league)
Off-season player movements
In- Ben Harrison, Gold Coast FC
- Steven Gray, Bohemians
- Chris Taylor,
- Liam Kearney, Waterford United
- Mathew Theodore, Altona Magic
- Alex Rojas, Bentleigh Greens
Out
- Aron Wilford, Bentleigh Greens
- Ryan Davidson, Bentleigh Greens
- Scott Bulloch, Bentleigh Greens
- Jeff Bright, Unknown
- Noel Bahnson, Unknown
Current squad
Notable former players
| Fadil Muriqi Fadil Muriqi Fadil Muriqi is a former Kosovar Albanian footballer who is best known for his time with KF Prishtina during the 1980s as part of the "Golden Generation".-Prishtina:... Jack Hingert Jack Hingert Jack Hingert is an English-Australian football player, currently as defender for Hyundai A-League club, Brisbane Roar. Hingert previously played for former A-League club North Queensland Fury.-Club career:... |
Billy Wright Billy Wright (footballer born 1962) Billy Wright is a football player who represented New Zealand at international level.His senior career included stints with Burnley F.C... Louis Brain Louis Brain Louis Karl Brain is an English-Australian professional association football player who plays as an attacking midfielder. He played for Adelaide United in the newly formed Hyundai A-League's inaugural season, but was delisted in the close season... |
Carlo Villani |
Xhezair Sulemani