ECU Joondalup
Encyclopedia
The ECU Joondalup Soccer Club (Formerly Joondalup City) is an Australia
n football (soccer) club from Joondalup, Western Australia
currently playing in the Premier Division in the Football West State League which is one grade lower than the Australia
n A-League
.
In the first season of the Soccer West Coast division one, City continued their charge up the table and won promotion to the Premier League as Champions in 1996. Joondalup City's first season in the top flight was a moderately successful one. They finished in a respectable mid-table position, and improved to third place in 1998.
In 1999 the club changed its name to ECU Joondalup and a successful season saw Paul Simmons side win the clubs first major trophy by taking out the Premier League title. Needing only a draw from the last game of the season to win the Premier League title, Joondalup fall behind to second placed Sorrento, when Kevin Murphy found the back of the net. Joondalup equalised late in the first half when Carl McDarby, who is playing with a broken foot, ran onto a through ball and drove a low shot past goalkeeper Mike Harkness. In the 70th minute a dangerous in-swinging corner from Scott Halpin snuck in at the far post to give ECU Joondalup their first ever Championship after only four seasons in the professional ranks.
Past Coaches of the club were; Paul Simmons from 1992–2002 and in 2004, Stuart Kamaz in 2003, Stuart Currie in 2005. Eric Williams in 2005 and John Brown in 2006 took temporary charge of the side during the season and current Coach Willie McNally from 2006-2008.
, Sevilla F.C. and Derby County
winger Ted McMinn
, ex-Rangers
and Dundee United midfielder Sandy Robertson and ex Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
and Rotherham F.C.
defender Des Hazel
.
The club has also produced a number of talented players through the club's academy teams and gone overseas to play - with Rhys Williams
who is at football league championship
side Middlesbrough
, Ryan Williams
at [Portsmouth], Aryn Williams from [Burnley], Shane Lowry
and Chris Herd
at Aston Villa and Rostyn Griffiths
, formerly of Blackburn Rovers and now with Central Coast Mariners and former Bolton Wanderers player Jamie Gibb. In 2009 they signed Charlie Comyn-Platt
who made a couple of cup appearances during a two year stay with Bolton.
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...
n football (soccer) club from Joondalup, Western Australia
Joondalup, Western Australia
Joondalup is a regional metropolitan city within Perth, Western Australia, approximately north of Perth's central business district.It acts as the primary urban centre in Perth's outer northern suburbs.-History:...
currently playing in the Premier Division in the Football West State League which is one grade lower than the 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...
n 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...
.
History
The ECU Joondalup Soccer Club was formed in 1992 and they were known as Joondalup City and played at the Gum Blossom reserve in Quinns Rocks. They moved to the Arena Joondalup in 1995 and in their first season in the Semi-pro league finished third in the Professional Soccer Federation of WA third division a great start too top flight football in the state.In the first season of the Soccer West Coast division one, City continued their charge up the table and won promotion to the Premier League as Champions in 1996. Joondalup City's first season in the top flight was a moderately successful one. They finished in a respectable mid-table position, and improved to third place in 1998.
In 1999 the club changed its name to ECU Joondalup and a successful season saw Paul Simmons side win the clubs first major trophy by taking out the Premier League title. Needing only a draw from the last game of the season to win the Premier League title, Joondalup fall behind to second placed Sorrento, when Kevin Murphy found the back of the net. Joondalup equalised late in the first half when Carl McDarby, who is playing with a broken foot, ran onto a through ball and drove a low shot past goalkeeper Mike Harkness. In the 70th minute a dangerous in-swinging corner from Scott Halpin snuck in at the far post to give ECU Joondalup their first ever Championship after only four seasons in the professional ranks.
Past Coaches of the club were; Paul Simmons from 1992–2002 and in 2004, Stuart Kamaz in 2003, Stuart Currie in 2005. Eric Williams in 2005 and John Brown in 2006 took temporary charge of the side during the season and current Coach Willie McNally from 2006-2008.
Notable players
The club has attracted a number of ex-professionals to the club over the years with former RangersRangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, Sevilla F.C. and Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
winger Ted McMinn
Ted McMinn
Kevin Clifton "Ted" McMinn is a Scottish former association footballer who played as a winger. His nickname is The Tin Man.-Early years:...
, ex-Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
and Dundee United midfielder Sandy Robertson and ex Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
and Rotherham F.C.
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
defender Des Hazel
Des Hazel
Desmond St. Lloyd Hazel is a former footballer who played at both professional and international levels as a left winger.-Playing career:...
.
The club has also produced a number of talented players through the club's academy teams and gone overseas to play - with Rhys Williams
Rhys Williams
Rhys Williams may refer to:*Rhys Williams , Welsh actor*Rhys Williams , Welsh athlete*Rhys H. Williams , Welsh rugby union player...
who is at football league championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, Ryan Williams
Ryan Williams
Ryan Neil Williams is an English footballer who currently plays for Gainsborough Trinity.-Career:...
at [Portsmouth], Aryn Williams from [Burnley], Shane Lowry
Shane Lowry (footballer)
Shane Thomas Lowry is an Irish-Australian professional football player who currently plays as a centre defender or left fullback for the Australia national football team and Millwall, on loan from Aston Villa...
and Chris Herd
Chris Herd
Christopher "Chris" Herd is an Australian football player who plays for Premier League club Aston Villa. He has also represented his country at under-20 level...
at Aston Villa and Rostyn Griffiths
Rostyn Griffiths
Rostyn John Griffiths is an Australian football player who currently plays for A-League team Central Coast Mariners.-Club career:...
, formerly of Blackburn Rovers and now with Central Coast Mariners and former Bolton Wanderers player Jamie Gibb. In 2009 they signed Charlie Comyn-Platt
Charlie Comyn-Platt
Charlie Comyn-Platt is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender. He plays for Cirencester Town....
who made a couple of cup appearances during a two year stay with Bolton.
Honours
- 2007 Night Series Runners Up
- 1998, 2002 Association Cup Winners
- 1999 Premier League Winners
- 1996 First Division Winners