Parramatta Eagles
Encyclopedia
Parramatta Eagles are an Australian football (soccer) club that played in the National Soccer League
and later the New South Wales Premier League
. Due to various levels of mismanagement at the club it was demoted at the end of 2006. With backing from NSW Police and Citizen Youth Clubs it evolved into PCYC Parramatta Eagles, competing in the New South Wales Winter Super League
and Super Youth League from the 2007 season.
Starting off in third grade in 1957 the Eagles progressed to second grade in 1962 adopting the name of Melita Eagles-Newtown and playing their home games at Fraser Park, Sydenham. At the end of the 1966 season where they finished third they played off for a spot in the first division with wooden spooners Corinthians. Winning the match 3-0 they progressed for their first stint in the top flight in 1967. Finishing in the bottom few clubs in '68 and '69 they were relegated at the end of the 1970 season when they finished last. By the end of 1976 they were lucky to avoid relegation to third division again when they finished last but with the establishment of the NSL they were given a reprieve and stayed into second division.
A complete transformation occurred in 1977 when they finished minor premiers of second division and were awarded promotion into the first division again for the 1978 season. Making every post a winner they finished outright third behind Croatia and Sutherland. Fifth in 1979 saw the progressive club win the minor premiership in 1980 by a whopping six premiership points. They did this again in the 1983 season where they lost just three games to finish in top spot. This was enough to earn Melita a crack at the National Soccer League but they finished 11th out of the 12 teams and were again relegated to the first division of the NSW State League.
After minor premiership wins in 1986 and 1989 the ASF deemed Melita ready for another stint in the NSL. Although not one of the competitions glamour sides the hardworking Melita camp made two forays into the NSL finals with their best season being 5th in 1990/1. In the finals they bowed out to Marconi unhappily 3-4 on penalties. In 1992/3 they again finished 6th and launched another assault on the semi-finals only to lose 2-4 on aggregate to the Wollongong Wolves. The changing of the clubs name to Parramatta Eagles was in accordance with the wishes of the ASF to remove ethnic origins from club names.
At the end of the 1994/5 season, Soccer Australia relegated the Parramatta Eagles back to the NSW Super League competition where they made every post a winner in 1996. Finishing on top of the second round table they played in the grand final against Adamstown Rosebud and won the match 5-3 on penalties with the game locked 1-1 at full-time. In 1997 a new coach in former Socceroo Doug Utjesenovic took them to the minor premiership. They demolished all opposition in the semi-final series and ultimately won the grand final 3 goals to 1 against Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
1998 was a poor year for the club where they missed out on a semi-final spot to Eastern Suburbs finishing sixth. Coach Utjesenovic was out of a job and in came the youthful Roberto Viera who has overseen the club in season 1999.
. It had a good start to its club's first season & subsequently finished 3rd in the Competition.
Aytek Genc
Brendan Renaud
Ahmad Elrich Ballamodou Conde
Gabriel Mendez
Joe Spiteri
Ralé Rašić
Doug Utjesenovic
Sasho Petrovski
National 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...
and later the New South Wales Premier League
New South Wales Premier League
The New South Wales Premier League is the highest state-level men's soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. Nationally, it is considered one grade lower than the A-League...
. Due to various levels of mismanagement at the club it was demoted at the end of 2006. With backing from NSW Police and Citizen Youth Clubs it evolved into PCYC Parramatta Eagles, competing in the New South Wales Winter Super League
New South Wales Winter Super League
The New South Wales Super League is the second-highest state level men's association football division in New South Wales, Australia behind the NSW Premier League...
and Super Youth League from the 2007 season.
History
Parramatta Eagles have had a long and distinguished career in NSW soccer history. Their origins in the Maltese community stretch way back to the formation of the original NSW Federation of Soccer Clubs in 1957. Along with higher profile clubs like Prague, Hakoah and APIA Leichhardt they were party of the original breakaway movement which was the death of the old NSW Soccer Football Association in January 1957.Starting off in third grade in 1957 the Eagles progressed to second grade in 1962 adopting the name of Melita Eagles-Newtown and playing their home games at Fraser Park, Sydenham. At the end of the 1966 season where they finished third they played off for a spot in the first division with wooden spooners Corinthians. Winning the match 3-0 they progressed for their first stint in the top flight in 1967. Finishing in the bottom few clubs in '68 and '69 they were relegated at the end of the 1970 season when they finished last. By the end of 1976 they were lucky to avoid relegation to third division again when they finished last but with the establishment of the NSL they were given a reprieve and stayed into second division.
A complete transformation occurred in 1977 when they finished minor premiers of second division and were awarded promotion into the first division again for the 1978 season. Making every post a winner they finished outright third behind Croatia and Sutherland. Fifth in 1979 saw the progressive club win the minor premiership in 1980 by a whopping six premiership points. They did this again in the 1983 season where they lost just three games to finish in top spot. This was enough to earn Melita a crack at the National Soccer League but they finished 11th out of the 12 teams and were again relegated to the first division of the NSW State League.
After minor premiership wins in 1986 and 1989 the ASF deemed Melita ready for another stint in the NSL. Although not one of the competitions glamour sides the hardworking Melita camp made two forays into the NSL finals with their best season being 5th in 1990/1. In the finals they bowed out to Marconi unhappily 3-4 on penalties. In 1992/3 they again finished 6th and launched another assault on the semi-finals only to lose 2-4 on aggregate to the Wollongong Wolves. The changing of the clubs name to Parramatta Eagles was in accordance with the wishes of the ASF to remove ethnic origins from club names.
At the end of the 1994/5 season, Soccer Australia relegated the Parramatta Eagles back to the NSW Super League competition where they made every post a winner in 1996. Finishing on top of the second round table they played in the grand final against Adamstown Rosebud and won the match 5-3 on penalties with the game locked 1-1 at full-time. In 1997 a new coach in former Socceroo Doug Utjesenovic took them to the minor premiership. They demolished all opposition in the semi-final series and ultimately won the grand final 3 goals to 1 against Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
1998 was a poor year for the club where they missed out on a semi-final spot to Eastern Suburbs finishing sixth. Coach Utjesenovic was out of a job and in came the youthful Roberto Viera who has overseen the club in season 1999.
Re-emergence
The club has now returned as a new club in the Super League. The New club name is PCYC Parramatta Eagles which played in the 2007 NSW Super LeagueNew South Wales Winter Super League
The New South Wales Super League is the second-highest state level men's association football division in New South Wales, Australia behind the NSW Premier League...
. It had a good start to its club's first season & subsequently finished 3rd in the Competition.
Notable former players and coaches
Aytek GencAytek Genc
Aytek Genc is a former Turkish Australian football player and was the coach of the Sydney Olympic FC in the NSW Premier League. Considered one of the most technically gifted players in the NSL, he featured in over 350 professional games over a career period of 15 years...
Brendan Renaud
Brendan Renaud
Brendan Renaud is an Australian footballer who plays as a left back. He made his debut for Sydney FC coming on in the second half against Adelaide United FC which Sydney won 3-1. He has previously played for Blacktown City, Marconi and Parramatta Power...
Ahmad Elrich Ballamodou CondeBallamodou Conde
Ballamodou "Balla" Conde is a retired Guinean footballer, who played as a midfielder.Most of his professional career was spent in Australia.-Club career:...
Gabriel MendezGabriel Mendez
Gabriel Mendez is a former Australian football player.An attacking midfielder, the much-travelled Mendez is a former player of Admira Wacker and Notts County in Europe and for Malaysian side Kedah FA. He is also a former Australia national football team player from 1994-2000.- External links :*...
Joe SpiteriJoe Spiteri
Joe Spiteri is an Australian former soccer player who played at both professional and international levels as a striker.-Career:...
Ralé RašićRalé Rasic
Zvonimir "Ralé" Rašić OAM Zvonimir "Ralé" Rašić OAM Zvonimir "Ralé" Rašić OAM (born 26 December 1935 in Mostar, Littoral Banovina, Kingdom of Yugoslavia (now Bosnia and Herzegovina) is a Serbian-Australian former football player, coach and media personality....
Doug UtjesenovicDoug Utjesenovic
Dragan "Doug" Utjesenović is a former Serbian Australian football defender. He was a member of the Australian 1974 FIFA World Cup squad in West Germany...
Sasho PetrovskiSasho Petrovski
Sasho Petrovski is an Australian football player. He is a striker who last played for the Newcastle Jets in the Hyundai A-League. Petrovski has two caps for the Australian national team...