List of Italian soccer clubs in Victoria, Australia


The Italian community of Australia has played an influential role in the history of Australian soccer, particularly evident in the state of Victoria. Numerous stand-alone, merged and de-merged clubs have been formed since 1930, primarily in the Greater Melbourne area. Clubs can also be presently found in the Geelong, Latrobe Valley & Goulburn Valley areas. As of the 2020 season, the Italian community is represented in all eight competitive state leagues, with a handful of clubs competing in competitive rural and metropolitan amateur leagues. Multiple Australian national team players featured for Italian backed clubs in their youth before making their international debuts.

History

The first known Italian football/sporting club founded in Victoria was Savoia, which was founded in the early 1930s. The club dissolved as a result of World War II, however remnants of the club lead to the founding of the second-ever and currently oldest presently operating clubs being Brunswick Zebras. Numerous clubs are believed to have taken various types of inspirations from professional clubs in Italy.
It is debated regarding which club is the most successful and has the largest following after multiple mergers and de-mergers. Brunswick Zebras was one of three Italian-backed clubs to participate in Australia's former national tier one league, the National Soccer League, with the others being Carlton and Gippsland Falcons. Then playing under the name Brunswick Juventus, the club were national champions of the 1985 season, and were Southern conference premiers of the 1986 season. Carlton would finish second in their inaugural in both the regular season and the final series, and won its first silverware in the 1999–00 season in finishing first in the National Youth League. Today, a total of twenty four clubs are known to have a considerable connection to the Italian community.

Active clubs

As of the 2020 Football Season
ClubFoundedLocationStatusComments
Avondale FC1984Parkville, MelbourneNPLPermanent standalone club, founded as 'Keilor United'.
Bell Park SC1959Bell Park, GeelongVSL 4 WestPermanent standalone club, founded by members of the defunct Geelong Soccer Club along with Croatians and British Australians.
Boroondara-Carey Eagles FC2015Bulleen, MelbourneVSL 1 South-EastFounded by the merger of original standalone clubs Boroondara Lions, Doncaster Inter, Kew Eagles, and Old Carey.
Brimbank Stallions FC1986Sunshine, MelbourneVSL 1 North-WestPermanent standalone club.
Brunswick Zebras FC1948Brunswick East, MelbourneVSL 4 NorthFounded by the merger of unnamed clubs, under the name 'Juventus', with de-merger history with latter clubs Bulleen Lions, Moreland Zebras and Whittlesea Ranges respectively.
Carlton Azzurri FC1979Carlton, MelbourneMCSA - Saturday & Sunday Premier LeaguePermanent standalone club founded with a focus on Social Football in Princes Park. Growing over time beyond its base in the Italian community to have a large diverse contingent of international players living in the CBD fringe. The club has won several Saturday and Sunday League titles including the 2019 Yamagata Cup.
Croydon City Arrows FC1957Croydon, MelbourneVSL 4 EastPermanent standalone club, founded as 'Croydon'.
Epping City SC1981Epping, MelbourneVSL 2 North-WestPermanent standalone club.
Essendon Royals SC1959Essendon, MelbourneVSL 1 North-WestFounded by the merger of original standalone clubs of East Brunswick, Fiorentina, Ivanhoe, Moonee Ponds and Triestina, under the name 'Essendon-Brunswick Royals', with de-merger history with latter club Bulleen Lions.
Fawkner SC2010Fawkner, MelbourneVSL 3 North-WestFounded as & currently a standalone club, with de-merger history with latter and original clubs Manningham United, Moreland Zebras, North Reservoir, Regent and Whittlesea Ranges respectively.
Falcons 2000 SC2000MorwellLa Trobe Valley Soccer LeaguePermanent standalone club, founded as 'IASCO'.
FC Bulleen Lions1974Bulleen, MelbourneNPL 2Founded as & currently a standalone club, with de-merger history with latter clubs Essendon Royals, Moreland Zebras and Whittlesea Ranges respectively.
Juventus Old Boys SCUnknownDoncaster, MelbourneMen's Metropolitan Masters EastPermanent standalone club, but linked with Brunswick Zebras FC and Moreland Zebras FC.
Knox United SC2003Rowville, MelbourneVSL 5 SouthPermanent standalone club.
Manningham United FC1999Doncaster, MelbourneNPL 2Founded by the merging and de-merging of Fawkner, North Reservoir and Regent that became Fawkner-Whittlesea Blues, and finally becoming Manningham United and Fawkner SC.
Mildura City SC1973MilduraSunraysia Football LeaguePermanent standalone club, founded as 'Milan SC'.
Moreland Zebras FC1997Fawkner, MelbourneNPL 2History of club is disputed, founded by the mergers and de-mergers of eight original standalone clubs. Foundation dates are disputed, the club claims to be founded as Brunswick Zebras FC in 1948, other clubs claim it was founded in 1997, but was established in its current form in 2007.
Myrtleford Savoy SC1959MyrtlefordAlbury Wodonga LeaguePermanent standalone club.
Northern Falcons FC1986Thornbury, MelbourneVSL 4 NorthPermanent standalone club, founded as 'Flemington Floridia'.
Marcellin Old Collegians SC2002Bulleen, MelbourneVSL 4 NorthPermanent standalone club.
Old Xaverians SC2002Kew East, MelbourneVSL 4 NorthPermanent standalone club.
Shepparton South SC1971SheppartonBendigo Amateur Soccer LeaguePermanent standalone club.
Tatura SC1961TaturaBendigo Amateur Soccer LeaguePermanent standalone club.
Thornbury Athletic FC2014Reservoir, MelbourneVSL 4 NorthPermanent standalone club.
Thornbury United FC1983Thornbury, MelbourneVicSoccer Premier LeaguePermanent standalone club, founded as 'Furlan United', participated in Football Victoria 1988–2005.
Three Colours SC1980MilduraSunraysia Football LeaguePermanent standalone club following a partial breakaway from Mildura City SC.
Werribee City FC1969Werribee, MelbourneNPL 2Permanent standalone club.
Whittlesea Ranges FC1971Epping, MelbourneNPL 3History of club is disputed, founded as the merger of the original club Thomastown TEL with a partial splitting of Moreland Zebras in 2009, with de-merger history with latter club Bulleen Lions.

Former clubs

As of April 2020
ClubFoundedLocationStatus
Abbotsford SC1978Fairfield, MelbourneFounded as 'Abbotsford Tassa', disbanded in 1985.
Anstey Roma SC1968Brunswick, MelbourneAmalgamated in 1970 with Essendon Royals SC.
Azzurri SC1962Brunswick West, MelbourneDisbanded in 1963.
Batman United SC1982 'Coburg, MelbourneDisbanded in 1992. '
Boroondara Eagles SC2008Wantirna South, MelbourneMerged in 2014 with Old Carey to become Boroondara-Carey Eagles FC.
Box Hill SC1922Box Hill South, MelbourneNo longer supported by the Italian community. Was purchased by Italians in 1992 and merged with Clayton Inter to become Box Hill Inter and Clayton FC, and later Melbourne Zebras and Bulleen Lions in 1997 to become Bulleen Inter Kings. De-merged in 2000 and was later sold in 2011 to the Greek community.
Cartlon SC1997Carlton North, MelbourneDisbanded in 2000.
Clayton FC1966Clayton South, MelbourneMerged in 1992 with Box Hill to become Box Hill Inter, now known as Box Hill United.
Doncaster Inter SC1986Doncaster, MelbourneFounded as 'Intercity', merged in 1994 with Kew Eagles to become Templestowe Eagles, finally becoming Boroondara-Carey Eagles FC.
East Brunswick SC1970Brunswick East, MelbourneMerged in 1988 with Ivanhoe City to become East Brunswick-Ivanhoe, all finally becoming Bulleen Lions and Essendon Royals respectively.
East Brunswick Reggina SC1988Brunswick East, MelbourneFounded as 'East Brunswick-Ivanhoe', merged in 1995 with Essendon City MP to become Essendon-Brunswick Royals, all finally becoming Bulleen Lions and Essendon Royals respectively.
East Cartlon SC1969Carlton North, MelbourneDisbanded in 1983.
East Nunawading SC1986Nunawading, MelbourneFounded as 'Nunawading United' from the merging of Nunawading United and Vermont SC, disbanded in 1996.
Essendon City Jets SC1988Essendon, MelbourneFounded as 'Essendon City Triestina MP', merged in 1995 with East Brunswick Reggina to become Essendon-Brunswick Royals, all finally becoming Bulleen Lions and Essendon Royals respectively.
Fawkner-Whittlesea Blues FC2004Fawkner, MelbourneDe-merged in 2006, becoming Fawkner Blues and Whittlesea Zebras, all finally becoming Fawkner, Manningham United, Moreland Zebras, and Whittelsea Ranges respectively.
Fiorentina SC1958Fairfield, MelbourneMerged in 1963 with Triestina SC to become Essendon City Triestina SC, all finally becoming Bulleen Lions and Essendon Royals respectively.
Footscray Capri SC1950Footscray, MelbourneDisbanded in 1961.
Geelong SC1953Geelong East, GeelongDisbanded in 1963, members later founded Bell Park SC along with Croatians and British Australians.
Kew Eagles SC1982Kew East, MelbourneFounded as 'Epping Eagles', later 'Eagles United', merged in 1994 with Doncaster Inter to become Templestowe Eagles, finally becoming Boroondara-Carey Eagles FC.
Ivanhoe City SC1973Ivanhoe, MelbourneFounded as 'Central Brunswick', and later 'Dallas City', merged in 1988 with East Brunswick to become East Brunswick-Ivanhoe, all finally becoming Bulleen Lions and Essendon Royals respectively.
Macleod United SC1979Macleod, MelbourneDisbanded in 1983.
Moonee Ponds SC1973Moonee Ponds, MelbourneMerged in 1983 with Essendon City Triestina to become Essendon City Triestina MP, all finally becoming Bulleen Lions and Essendon Royals respectively.
North Reservoir SC1993Reservoir, MelbourneMerged in 2000 with Thomastown-Regent Raiders to become Whittlesea Stallions, all finally becoming Fawkner, Manningham United, Moreland Zebras and Whittlesea Ranges respectively.
Nunawading United SC1972Nunawading, MelbourneMerged with Vermont SC to become 'Forest Hill SC' in 1986, finally becoming 'East Nunawading SC'.
Pascoe Vale Falcons SC2007Pascoe Vale, MelbourneDisbanded in 2007.
Savoia SC1930Parkville, MelbourneDisbanded in 1939, remnants later becoming Brunswick Zebras FC and Moreland Zebras respectively.
Sicilia Kensington SC1963Flemington, MelbourneDisbanded in 1963.
Templestowe Eagles SC1994Doncaster, MelbourneMerged in 2008 with Kew Eagles to become Boroondara Eagles, finally becoming Boroondara-Carey Eagles FC.
Thomastown Devils FC1971Thomastown, MelbourneMerged in 1997 to become Thomastown Zebras, all finally becoming Bulleen Lions, Moreland Zebras and Whittlesea Ranges respectively.
Thomastown-Regent Raiders SC1969Thomastown, MelbourneMerged in 2000 with North Reservoir to become Whittlesea Stallions, all finally becoming Fawkner, Manningham United, Moreland Zebras and Whittlesea Ranges respectively.
Triestina SC1961Coburg, MelbourneMerged in 1965 with Fiorentina to become Essendon City Triestina, all finally becoming Bulleen Lions and Essendon Royals respectively.
Vermont SC1978Blackburn South, MelbourneDisbanded in 1985.
West Melbourne Sicilia SC1958Parkville, MelbourneMerged in 1963 with Kensington to become Sicilia Kensington.
Westall SC1981Parkville, MelbourneDisbanded in 1985.
Whittlesea Stallions FC2000Epping, MelbourneMerged in 2004 with Fawkner to become Fawkner-Whittlesea Blues, all finally becoming Fawkner, Manningham United, Moreland Zebras, and Whittlesea Ranges respectively.
Williamstown Inter SC1970Williamstown, MelbourneDisbanded in 1979.