Fraser Park FC
Encyclopedia
Fraser Park FC, otherwise known as just Fraser Park, are an Australian association football team founded in the 1960s by Portuguese
immigrants as 'Clube Portugues de Sydney'. It was originally founded in Sydney's Paddington
in the Eastern suburbs, but is currently based in the Inner West
suburb of Marrickville
. The club won its first major at the All Age Gala Day organised by Soccer NSW, which was held in 1961. This trophy sits proudly at Fraser Park's Football clubhouse.
As well as its senior team playing in the NSW Super League, it has women's and junior teams playing in age levels in the Canturbury District Football Association.
It was during this era in the late 1960s and early 1970s that the next generation of players and future club legends were born. Names such as Jose Avelino, his brother "Big" Ed, Mestre Chico, Luis Coelho, Faneca, Beckenbauer, Fonseca, Manuel and Jose Mestre, Johnny and Manuel Coelho and the coach of all coaches, Fernando Abinha. It was this group who would pave the way for future generations of football players at Fraser Park.
Fraser Park won a total of four championships (1982–1983, 1988–1989) in the 1980s and finished in the top three on another four occasions. It was also during this period, arguably the best striker in the club's history came to the fore. A young aboriginal kid known only as "Cecil" tormented defences for years and delighted the Fraser Park faithful who travelled all over the Sydney metropolitan area to support their team at away matches. In one memorable match at Rosebery one Saturday afternoon, Cecil managed to score 7 of the team's 8 goals during a Federation Division 4 game, which left the hundreds of supporters at the tiny ground gasping with delight.
Another club legend who spent less time as a player at Fraser Park, but left his footprint forever was the mercurial Gerry Gomez. Gomez played as a teenager for Fraser Park when the club played its matches at Queens Park, in the Sydney suburb of Waverley, New South Wales
in the 1970s. It was here that a scout from the old Sydney City (Hakoah) club
took Gomez to greater heights, and within two years Gerry was winning NSL championships with Sydney City, and representing Australia at junior then senior level.
More recently, other Socceroos have worn the Fraser Park colours, including Clint Bolton
and Ante Juric
.
In 2007 Fraser Park Football Club entered an exciting new era, with the Football Board of Directors implementing a plan to rejuvenate "community" football by increasing the focus on Association football. The aim being to bring back members of the Social Community Club, and invite the broader inner-west community to be part of Fraser Park. Fraser Park increased the number of teams playing in the Canterbury District to almost 20. Teams now represent the club from the under 6 mixed boys and girls right through to the senior teams in the Men's and Women's All Age and Over 35 competitions. As part of this, the size of the Junior (U10's - U12's) and minis (U6's - U9's) association age groups expanded considerably, providing a development pathways system for the club. In 2010, the U11/1's and the U11/2's both made the final. Division 2 were Minor Premiers, and Champions, comprehensively beating Hurlstone Park 4-0 in the process. Division 1 were Runners-Up, narrowly missing the title in a close match with Leichardt Saints.
In 2008 Fraser Park's All Age Division 1 team achieved the honour of making it all the way to the Final of the State Cup (Bill Cullinan Cup). No mean feat considering this is a competition open to hundreds of teams from over 30 Associations across all of NSW.
Season 2009 will see Fraser Park continue its focus on the development of our elite youth, who will play in the NSW Division 1 Youth League, and will be serious candidates for promotion to the NSW Super Youth League.
It is this group of players, who will carry the expectations of the entire Fraser Park football community, in the years to come by going on to represent Fraser Park in the first grade competition.
.
Ante Juric
Malta Peter Pullicino
United States Alex Smith
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
immigrants as 'Clube Portugues de Sydney'. It was originally founded in Sydney's Paddington
Paddington, New South Wales
Paddington is an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Paddington is located 3 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district and lies across the local government areas of the City of Sydney and the Municipality of Woollahra...
in the Eastern suburbs, but is currently based in the Inner West
Inner West (Sydney)
The Inner West is a general term which is used to describe the metropolitan area directly to the west of the Sydney central business district, New South Wales, Australia...
suburb of Marrickville
Marrickville, New South Wales
Marrickville, a suburb of Sydney's Inner West is located 7 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district in the state of New South Wales, Australia and is the largest suburb in the Marrickville Council local government area...
. The club won its first major at the All Age Gala Day organised by Soccer NSW, which was held in 1961. This trophy sits proudly at Fraser Park's Football clubhouse.
As well as its senior team playing in the NSW Super League, it has women's and junior teams playing in age levels in the Canturbury District Football Association.
Early history (1961–2010)
In the late 1960s Fraser Park, whose club house was still located at Oxford Street, some 200 metres from Paddington Town Hall, changed its name to "Investro".It was during this era in the late 1960s and early 1970s that the next generation of players and future club legends were born. Names such as Jose Avelino, his brother "Big" Ed, Mestre Chico, Luis Coelho, Faneca, Beckenbauer, Fonseca, Manuel and Jose Mestre, Johnny and Manuel Coelho and the coach of all coaches, Fernando Abinha. It was this group who would pave the way for future generations of football players at Fraser Park.
Fraser Park won a total of four championships (1982–1983, 1988–1989) in the 1980s and finished in the top three on another four occasions. It was also during this period, arguably the best striker in the club's history came to the fore. A young aboriginal kid known only as "Cecil" tormented defences for years and delighted the Fraser Park faithful who travelled all over the Sydney metropolitan area to support their team at away matches. In one memorable match at Rosebery one Saturday afternoon, Cecil managed to score 7 of the team's 8 goals during a Federation Division 4 game, which left the hundreds of supporters at the tiny ground gasping with delight.
Another club legend who spent less time as a player at Fraser Park, but left his footprint forever was the mercurial Gerry Gomez. Gomez played as a teenager for Fraser Park when the club played its matches at Queens Park, in the Sydney suburb of Waverley, New South Wales
Waverley, New South Wales
Waverley is an eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Waverley is located 7 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Waverley Council....
in the 1970s. It was here that a scout from the old Sydney City (Hakoah) club
Sydney City Soccer Club
Sydney City Soccer Club is a football club from Sydney, Australia.The club was formed in 1939 as Sydney Hakoah by members of the Sydney Jewish community. They played between 1977 and 1986 in the National Soccer League as Eastern Suburbs and Sydney City...
took Gomez to greater heights, and within two years Gerry was winning NSL championships with Sydney City, and representing Australia at junior then senior level.
More recently, other Socceroos have worn the Fraser Park colours, including Clint Bolton
Clint Bolton
Clint Brian Bolton is an Australian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Melbourne Heart in the Australian A-League. He was one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the history of the National Soccer League, which preceded the A-League...
and Ante Juric
Ante Juric
Ante Jurić is an Australian association football player and was recently the player/coach for Penrith Nepean United in the New South Wales Premier League in Australia...
.
Recent history (since 2000)
Fraser Park won promotion to the NSW Division 1 in 2000, and subsequently to the NSW Super League where it plays currently.In 2007 Fraser Park Football Club entered an exciting new era, with the Football Board of Directors implementing a plan to rejuvenate "community" football by increasing the focus on Association football. The aim being to bring back members of the Social Community Club, and invite the broader inner-west community to be part of Fraser Park. Fraser Park increased the number of teams playing in the Canterbury District to almost 20. Teams now represent the club from the under 6 mixed boys and girls right through to the senior teams in the Men's and Women's All Age and Over 35 competitions. As part of this, the size of the Junior (U10's - U12's) and minis (U6's - U9's) association age groups expanded considerably, providing a development pathways system for the club. In 2010, the U11/1's and the U11/2's both made the final. Division 2 were Minor Premiers, and Champions, comprehensively beating Hurlstone Park 4-0 in the process. Division 1 were Runners-Up, narrowly missing the title in a close match with Leichardt Saints.
In 2008 Fraser Park's All Age Division 1 team achieved the honour of making it all the way to the Final of the State Cup (Bill Cullinan Cup). No mean feat considering this is a competition open to hundreds of teams from over 30 Associations across all of NSW.
Season 2009 will see Fraser Park continue its focus on the development of our elite youth, who will play in the NSW Division 1 Youth League, and will be serious candidates for promotion to the NSW Super Youth League.
It is this group of players, who will carry the expectations of the entire Fraser Park football community, in the years to come by going on to represent Fraser Park in the first grade competition.
Team colours
The club has a distinct Portuguese background, and therefore its colours are that of the Portuguese national football teamPortugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
.
Notable former players
Australia Clint BoltonClint Bolton
Clint Brian Bolton is an Australian football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Melbourne Heart in the Australian A-League. He was one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the history of the National Soccer League, which preceded the A-League...
Ante Juric
Ante Juric
Ante Jurić is an Australian association football player and was recently the player/coach for Penrith Nepean United in the New South Wales Premier League in Australia...
Malta Peter Pullicino
Peter Pullicino
Peter William Pullicino is a professional footballer currently playing for Maltese Premier League side Marsaxlokk, where he plays as a midfielder, he is also the clubs assistant coach.-Hibernians:...
United States Alex Smith
Alex Smith (footballer born 1985)
Alex Smith is an English-American footballer who plays for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League. He was briefly contracted to Gold Coast United, however was released pre-season without making a single appearance for the club. He plays as a striker.-College football:Smith was born in Windsor,...