Gippsland soccer league
Encyclopedia
The Gippsland Soccer League was founded in 1973 and consists of 17 soccer teams and encompasses a competition that is competed between all age groups.
The introduction of a women's league in 2008, has seen a number of sides putting a women's team together.
, play in the Gippsland Soccer League and play at Falcons Park
which is the home of soccer in the Gippsland Soccer League.
Morwell Pegasus also feature in the Gippsland Soccer League's junior divisions, however its senior team plays in the State League Division 2 South-East, two divisions below the Victorian Premier League
, having won promotion at the end of the 2008 season.
Warragul United's senior and reserve sides compete in the Provisional League Division One South-East.
The GSL currently comprises 10 teams in Seniors and Reserves with 13 teams in the Second Division. 10 of the clubs also have teams copmeting in the women's league.
The 2007 Senior League Champions were Churchill United, winning the league ahead of second placed Fortuna, with 3 rounds to spare. The Churchill Reserves and Second Division teams followed suit by both winning the league titles on the last day of the season.
Moe United won the Grand Final in 2007 however, defeating Churchill United 3-1 with 2 goals coming in the last 5 minutes. It was Moe's first major trophy since winning the League Title in 1997 and it was Churchills first loss all season.
The Finals were not held in 2008 but returned in 2009.
All Senior Gippland clubs contest for the Battle of Britain Cup, the oldest continually contested trophy in Victorian soccer. Churchill won it 3 years in a row from 2005 to 2007. Their great run in the tournament was ended in the semi final in 2008 after they were defeated by Moe United. Traralgon Olympians were the eventual champions in 2008, defeating Moe 2-0 in the final. The 2009 Final was won by Falcons who beat Monash 4-2.
Fortuna was on top of the league for much of the 2009 season until a 1-0 home defeat to Churchill saw the Rams leapfrop Fortuna and clinch their 3rd consecutive title by just a single point. Both teams then reached the Grand Final after defeating Monash and Falcons respectively in the Semi Finals. Fortuna got their revenge on Churchill by beating them 5-4 on penalties in the Grand Final after an incredible 4-4 draw. Churchill led 2-0 in the 2nd half but had a player sent off and an injury to their keeper let Fortuna back into the game and they levelled it at 2-2 with just 2 minutes left of the 90. Fortuna twice took the lead in extra time but Churchill pegged them back on both occasions so the match ended 4-4. After 8 successful penalties, the Fortuna keeper saved Churchill's 5th spot kick to clinch the trophy 5-4 on penalties.
Fortuna were crowned league champions in 2010 after going undefeated during the season with 17 wins and a draw against Newborough/Yallourn. They finished 12 points clear of Churchill United and Falcons and it was their first league triumph in 4 years. Fortuna also won their 2nd consecutive Grand Final, beating cross town rivals Falcons 2-0.
The 2011 season saw Fortuna dominant early, claiming 25 out of a possible 27 points in the first half of the season. Churchill's round 2 loss at Moe United saw them slip behind and after a 2-2 draw at Fortuna in Round 16, they still trailed the Lions by 3 points with 3 rounds remaining. However, in the following weekend, Traralgon Olympians secured an upset 2-1 win over Fortuna and when Churchill beat Newborough/Yallourn the following day, the Rams drew level on points with the Lions. In the penultimate weekend of the season, Churchill easily disposed of Olympians 6-0 while Fortuna scraped past Traralgon City 2-1 the following day which meant the Lions were still on top of the ladder by goal difference. The final round of the season was supposed to have taken place in mid July but a referee strike had saw the postponement of the round until after Round 18. Churchill beat Falcons 5-1 to move 3 points clear of Fortuna with equal goal difference. This meant Fortuna had to beat Sale United by only 1 goal the following day to clinch back-to-back League Championships. The secured an easy 6-2 win.
The following weekend, Fortuna reached the Grand Final after beating Monash on penalties after a 2-2 draw after extra time. Churchill followed suit, easily defeating Traralgon City 4-1. The Rams got their revenge in the Grand Final, beating the Lions 4-1 to lift the trophy for the first time in 6 years. The following weekend, Fortuna made amends for their Grand Final loss, defeating Falcons 4-3 in the Battle of Britain cup final.
and Football Federation Victoria
accredited. As a result, referees wear both the FFA and FFV referee patches. Several Gippsland referees referee in the Victorian leagues and of these several, two referee in the national leagues (A-League
and W-League
).
Grades
The GSL features three senior grades, the Seniors (First Division), Reserves and Second Division along with Junior grades, from Under 7's to Under 16's. 1The introduction of a women's league in 2008, has seen a number of sides putting a women's team together.
Clubs
Falcons 2000, an offshoot club from Gippsland FalconsGippsland Falcons
Gippsland Falcons SC were an Australian association football team based in Morwell, Australia. It was the sole rural Victorian entrant in the forerunner to the A-League, the National Soccer League...
, play in the Gippsland Soccer League and play at Falcons Park
Falcons Park
LaTrobe City Stadium, previously known as Mobil Park, is a football stadium in Morwell, Victoria, Australia. It is mainly used for football and was the home ground for the now defunct Gippsland Falcons during their tenure in the also defunct National Soccer League. The stadium has a capacity of...
which is the home of soccer in the Gippsland Soccer League.
Morwell Pegasus also feature in the Gippsland Soccer League's junior divisions, however its senior team plays in the State League Division 2 South-East, two divisions below 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...
, having won promotion at the end of the 2008 season.
Warragul United's senior and reserve sides compete in the Provisional League Division One South-East.
The GSL currently comprises 10 teams in Seniors and Reserves with 13 teams in the Second Division. 10 of the clubs also have teams copmeting in the women's league.
| Club | Town | Founded | Nickname | Colours | Home Ground | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Churchill United | Churchill Churchill, Victoria Churchill is a town in the Latrobe Valley, located in central Gippsland in the east of Victoria, Australia. The town had a population of 4,588 at the 2006 census, and is part of the Latrobe City local government area... |
1969 | Rams | Grey & Red | Hazelwood South Reserve | http://cusc.com.au/ |
| Falcons 2000 | Morwell Morwell, Victoria -Transport:The main form of transport in Morwell is the automobile. The Princes Freeway now bypasses the town to the south while the old Princes Highway which once passed through east-west through its centre is now Princes Drive and Commercial Road. The highway connects Morwell with other... |
1961 | Falcons | Sky Blue & Navy Blue | Latrobe City Soccer Stadium Falcons Park LaTrobe City Stadium, previously known as Mobil Park, is a football stadium in Morwell, Victoria, Australia. It is mainly used for football and was the home ground for the now defunct Gippsland Falcons during their tenure in the also defunct National Soccer League. The stadium has a capacity of... |
http://falcons2000.sportzvault.com/ |
| Fortuna 60 | Morwell Morwell, Victoria -Transport:The main form of transport in Morwell is the automobile. The Princes Freeway now bypasses the town to the south while the old Princes Highway which once passed through east-west through its centre is now Princes Drive and Commercial Road. The highway connects Morwell with other... |
1960 | Lions | Orange & Black | Crinigan Road South Reserve | http://www.fortuna60.sportzvault.com/ |
| Moe United | Moe Moe, Victoria Moe is a city in the Latrobe Valley and Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. It is about east of Melbourne and at the 2006 census had a population of 15,582 . It is administered by the City of Latrobe council.... |
1952 | Red Devils | Red, Black & White | Olympic Park | |
| Monash | Newborough Newborough, Victoria Newborough is a town in the Latrobe Valley in Victoria, Australia which shares a border to its west, mostly along the Narracan Creek, with the town of Moe. It can be divided into three areas, Old Newborough, East Newborough and North Newborough... |
1958 | Wolves | Yellow & Black | Monash Reserve | |
| Morwell Pegasus* | Morwell Morwell, Victoria -Transport:The main form of transport in Morwell is the automobile. The Princes Freeway now bypasses the town to the south while the old Princes Highway which once passed through east-west through its centre is now Princes Drive and Commercial Road. The highway connects Morwell with other... |
1959 | The Flying Horse | Maroon & Sky Blue | Ronald Reserve | http://www.morwellpegasus.com/ |
| Newborough/Yallourn | Newborough Newborough, Victoria Newborough is a town in the Latrobe Valley in Victoria, Australia which shares a border to its west, mostly along the Narracan Creek, with the town of Moe. It can be divided into three areas, Old Newborough, East Newborough and North Newborough... |
Navy Blue | Burrage Reserve | http://newboroughyallournunited.sportzvault.com/ | ||
| Sale United | Sale Sale, Victoria Sale is a city in the Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria. It is the seat of the Shire of Wellington as well as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sale and the Anglican Diocese of Gippsland. It has a population of around 13,336, and is expected to reach a population of 14,000 soon... |
1974 | Green & White | Godfrey Baldwin Reserve | http://www.saleunitedfc.org/Home.htm | |
| Trafalgar* | Trafalgar Trafalgar, Victoria Trafalgar is a town in the West Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. The town lies on the Princes Highway and main Gippsland railway line about west of Moe. The town backs onto the foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges to the south... |
1996 | Victory | Red & White | Trafalgar High Oval | http://www.tvfc.com.au/ |
| Traralgon City Traralgon city soccer club Traralgon City soccer club is a local soccer club in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. They play in the Gippsland Soccer League. They play in a black and white vertical-striped playing kit and play their home game at the Harold Preston Reserve in the town of Traralgon, Victoria.Traralgon City was... |
Traralgon Traralgon, Victoria Traralgon is a regional city located in the Latrobe Valley in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. Traralgon is a city within the City of Latrobe.... |
1968 | Roosters | Black & White | Harold Preston Reserve | http://traralgoncitysc.sportzvault.com |
| Traralgon Olympians | Traralgon Traralgon, Victoria Traralgon is a regional city located in the Latrobe Valley in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. Traralgon is a city within the City of Latrobe.... |
1980 | Blue & White | Harold Preston Reserve | http://olympians.sportzvault.com/ | |
| Tyers | Tyers Tyers, Victoria Tyers is a small town in Victoria, Australia. It is east of Melbourne, north-west of Traralgon and located in the City of Latrobe. It was known until 1852 as "Boola Boola", after which it was named after the surveyor and explorer Charles Tyers... |
Lightning | Green | Tyers Recreation Reserve | ||
| Warragul United* | Warragul Warragul, Victoria Warragul is a rural centre with a population of 12,943 people east-southeast of Melbourne in Victoria. Warragul lies between the Strzelecki Ranges to the south and the Mount Baw Baw Plateau of the Great Dividing Range to the north... |
1963 | Gulls | Red & Black | Baxter Park |
- Warragul, Trafalgar & Pegasus compete only in the second division
Champions
In recent years, Churchill United Rams won the Grand Final in 2005 in a penalty shootout against league champions Fortuna 60 after the game finished 1-1, but Fortuna exacted revenge on them by defeating them in the same way in 2006 after the final score was 2-2.The 2007 Senior League Champions were Churchill United, winning the league ahead of second placed Fortuna, with 3 rounds to spare. The Churchill Reserves and Second Division teams followed suit by both winning the league titles on the last day of the season.
Moe United won the Grand Final in 2007 however, defeating Churchill United 3-1 with 2 goals coming in the last 5 minutes. It was Moe's first major trophy since winning the League Title in 1997 and it was Churchills first loss all season.
The Finals were not held in 2008 but returned in 2009.
All Senior Gippland clubs contest for the Battle of Britain Cup, the oldest continually contested trophy in Victorian soccer. Churchill won it 3 years in a row from 2005 to 2007. Their great run in the tournament was ended in the semi final in 2008 after they were defeated by Moe United. Traralgon Olympians were the eventual champions in 2008, defeating Moe 2-0 in the final. The 2009 Final was won by Falcons who beat Monash 4-2.
Fortuna was on top of the league for much of the 2009 season until a 1-0 home defeat to Churchill saw the Rams leapfrop Fortuna and clinch their 3rd consecutive title by just a single point. Both teams then reached the Grand Final after defeating Monash and Falcons respectively in the Semi Finals. Fortuna got their revenge on Churchill by beating them 5-4 on penalties in the Grand Final after an incredible 4-4 draw. Churchill led 2-0 in the 2nd half but had a player sent off and an injury to their keeper let Fortuna back into the game and they levelled it at 2-2 with just 2 minutes left of the 90. Fortuna twice took the lead in extra time but Churchill pegged them back on both occasions so the match ended 4-4. After 8 successful penalties, the Fortuna keeper saved Churchill's 5th spot kick to clinch the trophy 5-4 on penalties.
Fortuna were crowned league champions in 2010 after going undefeated during the season with 17 wins and a draw against Newborough/Yallourn. They finished 12 points clear of Churchill United and Falcons and it was their first league triumph in 4 years. Fortuna also won their 2nd consecutive Grand Final, beating cross town rivals Falcons 2-0.
The 2011 season saw Fortuna dominant early, claiming 25 out of a possible 27 points in the first half of the season. Churchill's round 2 loss at Moe United saw them slip behind and after a 2-2 draw at Fortuna in Round 16, they still trailed the Lions by 3 points with 3 rounds remaining. However, in the following weekend, Traralgon Olympians secured an upset 2-1 win over Fortuna and when Churchill beat Newborough/Yallourn the following day, the Rams drew level on points with the Lions. In the penultimate weekend of the season, Churchill easily disposed of Olympians 6-0 while Fortuna scraped past Traralgon City 2-1 the following day which meant the Lions were still on top of the ladder by goal difference. The final round of the season was supposed to have taken place in mid July but a referee strike had saw the postponement of the round until after Round 18. Churchill beat Falcons 5-1 to move 3 points clear of Fortuna with equal goal difference. This meant Fortuna had to beat Sale United by only 1 goal the following day to clinch back-to-back League Championships. The secured an easy 6-2 win.
The following weekend, Fortuna reached the Grand Final after beating Monash on penalties after a 2-2 draw after extra time. Churchill followed suit, easily defeating Traralgon City 4-1. The Rams got their revenge in the Grand Final, beating the Lions 4-1 to lift the trophy for the first time in 6 years. The following weekend, Fortuna made amends for their Grand Final loss, defeating Falcons 4-3 in the Battle of Britain cup final.
| Year | League Champions | Battle of Britain Cup | Grand Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Fortuna | Churchill United | Churchill United |
| 2006 | Fortuna | Churchill United | Fortuna |
| 2007 | Churchill United | Churchill United | Moe United |
| 2008 | Churchill United | Traralgon Olympians | – |
| 2009 | Churchill United | Falcons 2000 | Fortuna |
| 2010 | Fortuna | Falcons 2000 | Fortuna |
| 2011 | Fortuna | Fortuna | Churchill United |
Referees
Referees are Football Federation AustraliaFootball Federation Australia
Football Federation Australia is the governing body for the sport of football in Australia. Before 1 January 2005, it was known as the Australian Soccer Association , which succeeded Soccer Australia in this role in 2003...
and 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....
accredited. As a result, referees wear both the FFA and FFV referee patches. Several Gippsland referees referee in the Victorian leagues and of these several, two referee in the national leagues (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...
and W-League
W-League (Australia)
The W-League is the preeminent women's semi-professional football league in Australia. Established in 2008, it is composed of eight teams - seven of them are affiliated with seven of the Australian clubs currently in the A-League, with the eighth team based in Canberra...
).