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Canberra United FC

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Canberra United
Full nameCanberra United Football Club
Nickname(s)United
Founded2008; 16 years ago (2008)
GroundMcKellar Park
Capacity3,500 (460 seats)
ChairmanKate Lundy
Head coachNjegosh Popovich
LeagueA-League Women
2023–2411th of 12
Websitehttps://www.canberraunited.com.au/
Current season

Canberra United Football Club is an Australian professional soccer club based in the southern Canberra suburb of Wanniassa, Australian Capital Territory. Founded in 2008 by Capital Football, the club was an inaugural member of the W-League and the only club not affiliated with an A-League Men team. Canberra United currently competes in the A-League Women, A-League Youth and NPLW leagues. Canberra's home stadium is McKellar Park and the club is a two-time champion and three-time premier of the W-League.

W-League History

Caitlin Munoz

2008–09 Season

Main article: Canberra United W-League season 2008-09

The first announcement of the club came in July 2008, coinciding with the establishment of the new W-League. The formation of the new club presented a unique situation in the league, that it was not associated with an established A-League side. In August, Canberra appointed Matildas assistant coach Robbie Hooker as coach for the inaugural season, and ACT Senator Kate Lundy as club chair.[1][2] United also announced its first key signing in local Canberran and Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams. Hooker made a number of key signings in the first registration window, also securing Caitlin Munoz, Amy Chapman, Grace Gill-McGrath, Hayley Crawford, Rhian Davies, Thea Slatyer for the inaugural season. The squad was further expanded in the lead up to the first round, signing on a number of players from the ACT and Southern NSW, and also signing Sasha McDonnell and Kara Mowbray from Queensland. The final squad presented significant strength on paper, boasting eight full internationals and a further four Young Matildas.

United started the season steadily, alternating losses and wins in the opening rounds, including a win over eventual Premiers Queensland Roar. Scoring came with some difficulty for the side, with four goals in their opening first five matches. Influencing this record was an injury to striker Caitlin Munoz in Round 1, keeping her sidelined for a number of weeks. Munoz's return to the side in Round 6 immediately lifted the scoring rate, contributing four goals in the last five rounds. Despite early losses, Canberra were unbeaten in the last seven rounds of the competition, achieving a third-placed finish with a record of four wins, four draws and two losses. Canberra's strength throughout the season has been in defence, drawn from a number of experienced players. In front of a dependable Williams in goal, a defensive backline led by Thea Slatyer and captain Ellie Brush frustrated opposition and ensured the second-best defensive record in the competition, bettered only by Premiers Queensland.

United won their away semi-final against Newcastle Jets,[3] and progressed to the inaugural final, where they were defeated by Queensland Roar.

2009 season

Main article: Canberra United W-League season 2009

There were a number of changes at Canberra for their second season, most notably the departure of Robbie Hooker and appointment of Ray Junna as coach.[4] Junna has commenced preparations for the new season to establish a new squad, and has retained most of the locally based players. Star striker from the previous season Caitlin Munoz is unable to play this season due to a knee operation, but has accepted an assistant coach role with Junna.[5]

2013–14 season

Before the season the team appointed Liesbeth Migchelsen, a former Dutch International, as head coach[6] and Raeanne Dower as assistant coach.[7]

2014–15 season

Canberra United booked their place in the W-league Finals series with the most unlikely of wins over Premiers Perth Glory in the final match of the regular season. United needed at least 1 point to make the finals but faced off against the hardest of opponents in the Glory who had run away with the Premiership title with ten wins from eleven matches heading into the final match at Viking Park, Canberra. Things did not seem like they were going to plan when United went behind in the 53rd minute but they came from behind with goals to Heyman & Sykes clinching third spot in the league and finals football.[8]

Canberra United drew Melbourne Victory for the W-League semi-finals and headed down to Kardinia Park in Geelong to square off for the right to line up in the Final. American import, Chantel Jones, proved to be the influential winner as United progressed to the Grand Final thanks to her glovesmenship in a tightly fought penalty shootout after the match ended nill – nill. Chantel revealed after the match she chose to go left in the Victory's final penalty kick because their previous four penalties also went to the left hand side. This proved a treat as Jones saved the shot before guest signing, Kendall Fletcher, stepped up to slot the final shot into the net and book the girls from the Capital a ticket to the Grand Final.[9]

United came up against familiar foe in the Grand Final as they faced the Premiers Perth Glory for the second time in three matches. the Glory were heavy favourites leading into the match after setting a string of records including most goals scored, most points accumulated, highest winning streak to start the season and getting the privilege to play at home for the final at Perth Oval. But it was United who would cause a boilover in the west to secure their second Championship in the club's history. United opened the scoring with a pulsating strike by Stephanie Ochs but the Glory pulled level through their own long range strike by Shelina Zadorsky. This set the stage for a tense finish to the match and the 2,671 fans were treated to some football drama as just when it looked like the Glory would go on with things and get a second, it was in fact the visitors who snatched a second goal through the ever reliable Ashleigh Sykes. A minute later Perth had won a penalty and up stepped Australia international Kate Gill to take the shot. Chantel Jones stood strong and pulled off a good save to keep United in the lead which was duly doubled a minute later as Sykes grabbed her Grand Final brace and secured the title for Canberra. Canberra did miss a penalty in stoppage time with Mackenzie Arnold saving Grace Gill's shot but it was already all over by that stage.[10]

2015–16 season

Reigning champions Canberra United have signed up 5 new players for the 2015–16 season. These include Mexican international Veronica Perez, New Zealand forward Emma Kete, Emma Checker, Jenna McCormick and rookie Nickoletta Flannery. Veronica Perez is the first Mexican international to play in the W-League. Emma Kete is also returning to the club after previously have won the W-League title in its 4th season. Meanwhile, Nickoletta Flannery is a local Canberra product who has been in tremendous form. Goalkeeper Lydia Williams is back in the squad, returning from a knee injury that put her out of action last season.[11] Canberra United's leading goalscorer of all time, Michelle Heyman also signed on for a 6th successive year with the club.[12]

Michelle Heyman

Club identity

Colours and badge

The primary club colour of Canberra United is green, chosen principally since it did not clash with the other seven clubs in the inaugural competition. They are the second elite sporting team from the city to wear a green jersey after National Rugby League club, Canberra Raiders. This has led to some cross-promotion between the two 'green machine' teams.[13] The Canberra United badge depicts the flagpole of Parliament House, a symbol of Canberra. The logo was refreshed in 2023 by local Canberra Design agency, Inklab.[14]

Stadium

Viking Park, Wanniassa, Tuggeranong

Canberra's current home ground for ALW home matches is McKellar Park, a purpose built football ground within the Belconnen region in Canberra's north-west. In 2020-2021 their home ground was Viking Park, a multi-purpose stadium within the Tuggeranong region in Canberra's south.[15] The stadium has a grand stand and hills surrounding a rectangular playing surface. The capacity for Viking Park is 7,000 with 1,000 seats in the grand stand. United moved into Viking Park at the beginning of the 2020/21 W-League season following the closure of McKellar Park by the owner due to COVID-19.[16] Canberra United's maiden home ground was McKellar Park - the club played at McKellar for seven years with a handful of matches played at alternative grounds including: Deakin Stadium, AIS Enclosed, Viking Park and Canberra Stadium. The FFA partnered United with Central Coast Mariners in 2009 and 2016/17 to feature in 'double-header' W-League and A-League fixtures at Canberra Stadium.[17]

Home stadium history
# Name From To
1 McKellar Park 2013 2020
2 Viking Park 2020 2021
3 McKellar Park 2022 Present

Supporters

Canberra United had the highest attendance in the W-League in the inaugural season with an average crowd of 1,029. Their first home match attracted a crowd of 1,637 against Central Coast Mariners (9 November 2008).

The largest attendance to watch a Westfield W-League match at McKellar Park was 2,512 for the Grand Final against Brisbane Roar (28 January 2012).

The largest attendance to watch a Westfield W-League match at Canberra Stadium was 2,595 against Melbourne City (12 November 2016).

Sponsors

Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Secondary sponsors
2008 Hummel CFMEU Capital Tourism

ActewAGL

2008–09
2010 The Tradies
2011 Rock Development Group
2015–16 Nike University of Canberra CBR (ACT Government)
2016–17
2017–18
2018–19
2019–20 Viva
2020–21 Apelle Club Lime (Home)

University of Canberra (Away)

2021–22 ISC Apparel

Personnel

Current squad

As of 19 December 2023[18]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Australia AUS Chloe Lincoln
2 DF Australia AUS Alex McKenzie
3 DF United States USA Sarah Clark
4 DF Australia AUS Holly Murray
5 DF Australia AUS Emma Ilijoski
6 DF Australia AUS Ava Piazza
7 FW Chile CHI María José Rojas
8 MF Australia AUS Sasha Grove
9 FW New Zealand NZL Ruby Nathan
10 MF Australia AUS Mary Stanic-Floody
11 FW New Zealand NZL Deven Jackson
12 FW Australia AUS Hayley Taylor-Young
No. Pos. Nation Player
13 FW Australia AUS Sofia Christopherson
14 DF Australia AUS Maia Cameron
15 MF Australia AUS Hannah McNulty
16 FW Australia AUS Madelyn Whittall
17 MF Serbia SRB Vesna Milivojević
18 GK Australia AUS Coco Majstorovic
19 FW Australia AUS Nickoletta Flannery
22 DF United States USA Cannon Clough
23 FW Australia AUS Michelle Heyman (captain)
24 GK Australia AUS Georgia Ritchie
28 DF Australia AUS Tegan Bertolissio
— FW Australia AUS Lillian Skelly

Club officials

Current as of 30 January 2017[19]

Position Name
Chairperson Australia Kate Lundy
Chief Executive Officer Australia Chris Gardiner
Head Coach Australia Njegosh Popovich
Assistant Coach Australia Antoni Jagarinec
Goalkeeper Coach Australia Tim Davies
Physiotherapist Australia Julian Russell-Jones
Team Doctor Australia Dr. Wilson Lo
Media Manager England Russ Gibbs

Head coaches

Current as of 17 September 2021

Canberra United head coaches
# Head coach Term Record Ref.
From To M W D L Win %
1 Australia Robbie Hooker October 2008 January 2009 12 5 4 3 41.7% [20]
2 Australia Ray Junna June 2009 February 2011 22 9 4 9 40.9% [21]
3 Czech Republic Jitka Klimková August 2011 January 2013 23 14 5 4 60.9% [22]
4 Netherlands Liesbeth Migchelsen August 2013 December 2014 27 17 2 8 63.0% [23]
5 Australia Rae Dower March 2015 February 2017 26 15 4 7 57.7% [24][25]
6 Australia Heather Garriock October 2017 February 2020 36 12 6 18 33.3% [26][27]
7 Australia Vicki Linton December 2020 February 2022 13 6 4 3 46.2% [28]
7 Australia Njegosh Popovich May 2022 present [29]

Honours

Records

Record Scoreline Opposition Date References
Biggest win 7–2 Perth Glory 17 January 2017 [30]
Biggest loss 0–6 Sydney FC 15 January 2022

Academy and Youth

The Canberra United Academy was set up in 2016 to represent the Capital Football High Performance Program, aligned with the FFA national technical strategy, catering for players from the ACT and the surrounding region. Originally the Academy ran programs for both girls and boys from U-10 to first grade.[31] The boys program was met with opposition by the established ACT NPL clubs, who believed the Academy would take their best young players.[32] The Clubs lobbied and threatened to break-away and establish a new league if the Academy was not removed from the first grade Capital Football NPL league.[33] In 2017, after just one season, the boys program was amalgamated with the FFA Centre of Excellence program.[34] As of 2020, the Academy runs girls and women's programs including U-13, U-15, U-17, Reserves and First Grade at NPLW level.[31]

In addition, the Academy also runs a men's U-23 Y-League program, having been granted a National Youth League licence from the 2017–18 season onwards.[35]

Season-by-season results

Champions Runners-up Third Place
Canberra United Season-by-Season W-League Results
Season Regular season Finals Top scorer Leadership
M W D L GF GA GD PTS League M W L GF GA GD Finals Name Goals Captain Co-Captain
2008–09 10 4 4 2 14 10 +4 16 3rd 2 1 1 1 2 -1 Runner-up Australia Caitlin Munoz 4 Australia Ellie Brush –
2009 10 4 2 4 17 12 +5 14 4th 1 0 1 0 3 -3 Semi-final Taiwan Tseng Shu-o 4 Australia Lydia Williams
2010–11 10 5 2 3 16 9 +7 17 3rd 1 0 1 2 2 +0 Semi-final Australia Michelle Heyman 8
2011–12 10 7 3 0 23 9 +14 24 1st 2 2 0 4 2 +2 Champions Australia Michelle Heyman 15
2012–13 12 5 3 4 25 20 +5 18 5th – Australia Caitlin Munoz 4
2013–14 12 9 0 3 28 8 +20 27 1st 1 0 1 1 2 -1 Semi-final Australia Michelle Heyman 7 Australia Nicole Sykes –
2014 12 6 2 4 22 18 +4 20 3rd 2 2 0 3 1 +2 Champions Australia Michelle Heyman 6
2015–16 12 8 2 2 26 8 +18 26 2nd 1 0 1 0 1 -1 Semi-final Australia Ashleigh Sykes 7
2016–17 12 7 2 3 33 21 +12 23 1st 1 0 1 0 1 -1 Semi-final Australia Ashleigh Sykes 12 Australia Ellie Brush Australia Michelle Heyman
2017–18 12 5 1 6 24 27 -3 16 5th – Norway Elise Thorsnes 6 Australia Michelle Heyman Australia Ashleigh Sykes
2018–19 12 3 4 5 13 18 -5 13 8th – South Africa Rhoda Mulaudzi 4 Scotland Rachel Corsie –
2019–20 12 4 1 7 13 29 -16 13 6th – United States Simone Charley 5 Australia Nikola Orgill Australia Karly Roestbakken
2020–21 12 6 4 2 21 16 +5 22 4th 1 0 1 0 3 -3 Semi-final Australia Michelle Heyman 10 United States Kendall Fletcher –
2021–22 14 2 7 5 24 29 -5 13 7th – Australia Michelle Heyman 9 Australia Michelle Heyman
2022-23 18 8 5 5 35 30 5 29 5th -

See also

References

  1. ^ "Canberra United appoint Chair and Head Coach". Capital Football. Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
  2. ^ Sherwood, M (28 July 2008). "Canberras best players on national stage". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
  3. ^ Smith, P (10 January 2009). "Canberra into Westfield W-League final". A-League.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
  4. ^ Sherwood, M (29 June 2009). "Junna up for United challenge". Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
  5. ^ Gottaas, C (27 August 2009). "Munoz joins coaching ranks for 2009 season". Canberra United. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
  6. ^ Gibbs, Russ (15 August 2013). "Liesbeth Migchelsen Appointed Head Coach". Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  7. ^ Gibbs, Russ (15 August 2013). "Raeanne Dower appointed United Assistant Coach". Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  8. ^ Gaskin, Lee (December 07, 2014) "W-League: Canberra United storms into W-League finals with a 2–1 win against Perth Glory". The Canberra Times. 7 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  9. ^ Gaskin, Lee (December 13, 2014) "W-League: Canberra United in the W-League grand final". The Canberra Times. 13 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  10. ^ AAP (December 21, 2014) "W-League: Canberra United produces stunning 3–1 win over favourites Perth Glory to win grand final decider at Perth Oval". ABC News. abc.net.au. 21 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  11. ^ "News - A Leagues | KEEPUP".
  12. ^ "Canberra United".
  13. ^ Pollack, B (7 November 2008). "Original Green Machine Showing Support for Canberra United". Canberra United. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  14. ^ "Canberra United". inklab.com.au. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  15. ^ Bertoldo, Lucie (24 November 2020). "Canberra United determined to turn Viking Park into a W-League fortress". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  16. ^ Bertoldo, Lucie (23 November 2020). "McKellar Park closure forces Canberra United to find new home". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  17. ^ Polkinghorne, David (29 January 2017). "Premiers Canberra United face costly move to Canberra Stadium for W-League semi-final". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Squads - Canberra United". Canberra United. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Football Department". www.canberraunited.com.au. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  20. ^ Gaskin, Lee (19 July 2013). "Female coach likely for United". The Sydney Morning Herald. For the first three campaigns, Robbie Hooker (season one) and Ray Junna (season two and three) shared duties.
  21. ^ "Canberra United unveil Junna as head coach". Canberra United. 16 June 2009.
  22. ^ "Jitka Klimkova named Canberra United Head Coach". The Women's Game. 17 August 2011.
  23. ^ "Liesbeth Migchelsen Appointed Head Coach". Canberra United. 16 August 2013.
  24. ^ "Canberra United Appoints Rae Dower as Head Coach". Canberra United. 25 March 2015.
  25. ^ Helmers, Caden (5 February 2017). "W-League: Canberra United coach Rae Dower to depart after shattering semi-final loss to Melbourne City". The Canberra Times.
  26. ^ Helmers, Caden (22 May 2017). "Former Australian Matildas player Heather Garriock appointed Canberra United head coach". The Canberra Times.
  27. ^ Bertoldo, Lucie (6 February 2020). "Canberra United W-League coach Heather Garriock sacked". The Canberra Times.
  28. ^ Helmers, Caden (31 July 2020). "Vicki Linton leads Canberra United's new era as W-League coach". The Canberra Times.
  29. ^ "POPOVICH HAS BIG PLANS AFTER BEING APPOINTED CANBERRA COACH". keepup.com.au. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  30. ^ "Canberra United vs Perth Glory". www.w-league.com.au. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  31. ^ a b "Canberra United Academy". Canberra United FC. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  32. ^ Gaskin, Lee (25 November 2015). "Soccer: Canberra National Premier League clubs voice concerns at representative team". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  33. ^ Polkinghorne, David (11 February 2016). "Rebel league an option in Canberra NPL disagreement with Capital Football". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  34. ^ "PS4 NPL Structure & Teams". Capital Football. 7 November 2016. Archived from the original on 13 February 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  35. ^ "Canberra United granted Foxtel National Youth League licence". Canberra United. 15 September 2017. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
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