Mooroolbark FC
Encyclopedia
Mooroolbark is an Australian association football (soccer) club based in Mooroolbark, an outer eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. They currently play in Victorian Provisional League 1 South-East.
team with the name Mooroolbark United Soccer Club in 1962, Mooroolbark's backing changed to a British
influenced club in its formative years. In 1978 the United tagline was dropped from the name.
to proceed, breaking the deadlock which was then in force between the budding national league and clubs from Victoria, whom the Victorian Soccer Federation
had forbidden to join the competition. When Mooroolbark joined the NSL, officially as its first entrant, soon three other Victorian clubs, South Melbourne
, Heidelberg United
and Footscray JUST
also joined, enabling the competition to go ahead.
Mooroolbark's stay in the NSL however, was short-lived. It finished in last place, and was demoted back to the Victorian Leagues, but not to the Victorian State League
, which it had been a member of from 1974-76, but to the equivalent of a third division. As part of the requirements for all Victorian NSL clubs in 1977, they had to field a reserve side in the senior Victorian second division. Mooroolbark finished in a relegation spot and upon their return to Victorian competition the Victorian Soccer Federation
saw fit that Mooroolbark should commence 1978 in the Victorian Metropolitan League Division 3 (today's State League 3) as that is where their state league team would play.
Three relegations in four years saw the club sink to the Provisional Leagues, but steady progress through the 1980s saw the club re-enter the Victorian State League
in 1990 for a two season stay, before gradually slipping down the divisions once more into Provisional League 1 South-East. A three-year tenure in the lower-ebbs of competition saw promotion to State League Division 3 South-East where they narrowly missed out on promotion by one point in 2005. As of 2008, Mooroolbark are playing in the Provisional League 1 South-East.
History
Originally founded as a DutchNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
team with the name Mooroolbark United Soccer Club in 1962, Mooroolbark's backing changed to a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
influenced club in its formative years. In 1978 the United tagline was dropped from the name.
NSL 1977 and Beyond
The club's claim to fame is as Victoria's (and Australia's) first national sporting club side. Mooroolbark enabled the National Soccer LeagueNational Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
to proceed, breaking the deadlock which was then in force between the budding national league and clubs from Victoria, whom the Victorian Soccer Federation
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....
had forbidden to join the competition. When Mooroolbark joined the NSL, officially as its first entrant, soon three other Victorian clubs, South Melbourne
South Melbourne FC
South Melbourne FC is a football club based in South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Considered the most successful association football club in Australia, they have won four national championships, a string of Victorian State League titles, and represented Oceania in the 2000 FIFA Club World...
, Heidelberg United
Heidelberg United
Heidelberg United Football Club is a football club based in the northern Melbourne suburb of Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia...
and Footscray JUST
Footscray JUST
Footscray JUST is a defunct association football club from Melbourne, Australia.Established in 1950 by migrants from Yugoslavia they played in the Victorian leagues with a fair amount of success, winning five Victorian State League titles, and three Dockerty Cup titles...
also joined, enabling the competition to go ahead.
Mooroolbark's stay in the NSL however, was short-lived. It finished in last place, and was demoted back to the Victorian Leagues, but not to the Victorian State 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 it had been a member of from 1974-76, but to the equivalent of a third division. As part of the requirements for all Victorian NSL clubs in 1977, they had to field a reserve side in the senior Victorian second division. Mooroolbark finished in a relegation spot and upon their return to Victorian competition the Victorian Soccer Federation
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....
saw fit that Mooroolbark should commence 1978 in the Victorian Metropolitan League Division 3 (today's State League 3) as that is where their state league team would play.
Three relegations in four years saw the club sink to the Provisional Leagues, but steady progress through the 1980s saw the club re-enter the Victorian State 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 1990 for a two season stay, before gradually slipping down the divisions once more into Provisional League 1 South-East. A three-year tenure in the lower-ebbs of competition saw promotion to State League Division 3 South-East where they narrowly missed out on promotion by one point in 2005. As of 2008, Mooroolbark are playing in the Provisional League 1 South-East.