2008–09 Canberra United FC (W-League) season
| 2008–09 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Mel Patzwald |
| Head Coach | Robbie Hooker |
| Stadium | McKellar Park |
| W-League | 3rd |
| W-League Finals | Runners-up |
| Top goalscorer | Caitlin Munoz (4) |
| Highest home attendance | 1,637 vs. Central Coast Mariners (9 November 2008) W-League |
| Lowest home attendance | 712 vs. Queensland Roar (27 December 2008) W-League |
| Average home league attendance | 1,029 |
| Biggest win | 3–0 vs. Central Coast Mariners (A) (13 December 2008) W-League |
| Biggest defeat | 0–2 vs. Queensland Roar (A) (17 January 2009) W-League Grand Final |
The 2008–09 season was Canberra United Football Club's first season, in the newly formed women's league in Australia the W-League. Canberra United finished 3rd in their W-League season, finishing as runners-up in the Grand Final.
Review[edit]
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.
Players[edit]
| Name and position | No | Joined in | Former team | Birth date | Citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||||
| Lydia Williams | 1 | 2008 |  ACT Academy of Sport |
13 May 1988 |
|
| Maja Blasch | 20 | 2008 | Canberra City SC |
19 June 1990 |
|
| Defenders | |||||
| Ellie Brush (c) | 7 | 2008 | ACT Academy of Sport |
19 August 1988 |
|
| Rhian Davies | 2 | 2008 | NSW Institute of Sport |
5 January 1981 |
|
| Grace Gill-McGrath | 9 | 2008 | ACT Academy of Sport |
27 June 1989 |
|
| Rebecca Kiting | 8 | 2008 | ACT Academy of Sport |
8 May 1991 |
|
| Thea Slatyer (vc) | 13 | 2008 | NSW Institute of Sport |
2 February 1983 |
|
| Bronwyn Studman | 4 | 2008 | ACT Academy of Sport |
24 March 1992 |
|
| Snez Veljanovska | 16 | 2008 | ACT Academy of Sport |
(age 20) |
|
| Christine Walters | 17 | 2008 | ACT Academy of Sport |
17 June 1991 |
|
| Midfielders | |||||
| Lucy Allan | 18 | 2008 | ACT Academy of Sport |
30 June 1991 |
|
| Jennifer Bisset | 19 | 2008 | ACT Academy of Sport |
28 January 1992 |
|
| Cian Maciejewski | 11 | 2008 | Belwest Foxes |
14 June 1987 |
|
| Kara Mowbray | 12 | 2008 | Queensland Lions |
7 May 1985 |
|
| Nicole Sykes | 15 | 2008 | Western NSW Panthers FC |
15 December 1991 |
|
| Forwards | |||||
| Amy Chapman | 3 | 2008 | ACT Academy of Sport |
2 December 1987 |
|
| Hayley Crawford | 10 | 2008 | NSW Institute of Sport |
27 March 1984 |
|
| Sasha McDonnell | 5 | 2008 | Queensland Lions |
12 January 1987 |
|
| Caitlin Munoz | 6 | 2008 |  Pali Blues |
4 October 1983 |
|
| Ashleigh Sykes | 14 | 2008 | Western NSW Panthers FC |
15 December 1991 |
|
Transfers[edit]
Short-term signings[edit]
| Player | Team | Start Date | End Date | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellie Raymond
|
ACTAS | 29 October 2008 | 6 November 2008 | Cover for Ashleigh Sykes while on international duty[4] |
| Sophie Kochinos
|
ACTAS | 29 October 2008 | 6 November 2008 | Cover for Christine Walters while on international duty[4] |
| Michaela Day
|
Belwest Foxes | 29 October 2008 | 6 November 2008 | Cover for Bronwyn Studman while on international duty[4] |
Competitions[edit]
Overall record[edit]
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| W-League | 26 October 2008 | 27 December 2008 | Matchday 1 | 3rd | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 10 | +4 | 40.00 |
| W-League Finals | 10 January 2009 | 17 January 2009 | Semi-finals | Grand Final | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 50.00 |
| Total | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 12 | +3 | 41.67 | ||||
Source: Competitions
W-League[edit]
League table[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Queensland Roar (C) | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 7 | +20 | 25 | Qualification to Finals series |
| 2 | Newcastle Jets | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 12 | +5 | 17 | |
| 3 | Canberra United | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 10 | +4 | 16 | |
| 4 | Sydney FC | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 14 | +1 | 14 | |
| 5 | Melbourne Victory | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 12 | |
| 6 | Central Coast Mariners | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 15 | 20 | −5 | 12 | |
| 7 | Perth Glory | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 24 | −10 | 11 | |
| 8 | Adelaide United | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 28 | −15 | 7 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions
Results summary[edit]
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 10 | +4 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | +4 |
Source: worldfootball.net
Results by round[edit]
Matches[edit]
The league fixtures were announced on 1 October 2008.
Win Draw Loss
| 26 October 2008 1 | Newcastle Jets | 2–1 | Canberra United | Newcastle |
| 13:30 AEDT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Wanderers Oval Attendance: 1,110 Referee: Jacqui Melksham |
| 1 November 2008 2 | Queensland Roar | 0–1 | Canberra United | Brisbane |
| 15:00 AEST | Report |
|
Stadium: Perry Park Attendance: 610 Referee: Prue Donohoe |
| 9 November 2008 3 | Canberra United | 1–2 | Central Coast Mariners | Canberra |
| 17:00 AEDT | Report |
|
Stadium: McKellar Park Attendance: 1,637 Referee: Jacqui Melksham |
| 15 November 2008 4 | Melbourne Victory | 0–1 | Canberra United | Melbourne |
| 19:00 AEDT | Report |
|
Stadium: Bob Jane Stadium Attendance: 700~ Referee: Casey Reibelt |
| 22 November 2008 5 | Canberra United | 0–0 | Adelaide United | Canberra |
| 16:00 AEDT | Report | Stadium: McKellar Park Attendance: 804 Referee: Casey Reibelt |
| 30 November 2008 6 | Perth Glory | 2–2 | Canberra United | Perth |
| 16:00 AWST | Report | Stadium: Members Equity Stadium Attendance: 479 Referee: Lee Corey |
| 6 December 2008 7 | Canberra United | 1–1 | Sydney FC | Canberra |
| 18:00 AEDT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: McKellar Park Attendance: 840 Referee: Prue Donohoe |
| 13 December 2008 8 | Central Coast Mariners | 0–3 | Canberra United | Sydney |
| 18:00 AEDT | Report | Stadium: Parramatta Stadium Referee: Kirralee Gardener |
| 20 December 2008 9 | Canberra United | 3–2 | Melbourne Victory | Canberra |
| 18:00 AEDT | Report |
|
Stadium: McKellar Park Attendance: 1,152 Referee: Lee Corey |
| 27 December 2008 10 | Canberra United | 1–1 | Queensland Roar | Canberra |
| 18:00 AEDT |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: McKellar Park Attendance: 712 Referee: Jacqui Melksham |
Finals series[edit]
| 10 January 2009 Semi-finals | Newcastle Jets | 0–1 | Canberra United | Newcastle |
| 16:00 AEDT | Report |
|
Stadium: EnergyAustralia Stadium Attendance: 2,889 Referee: Sara Hodson |
| 17 January 2009 Grand Final | Queensland Roar | 2–0 | Canberra United | Brisbane |
| 15:00 AEST | Report | Stadium: Ballymore Stadium Attendance: 4,554 Referee: Kate Jacewicz |
References[edit]
- ^ "Canberra United appoint Chair and Head Coach". Capital Football. Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c Gottaas, C (29 October 2008). "Canberra United gets a top up". Canberra United FC. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2008.