Illawarra Stingrays WFC

Illawarra Stingrays FC are a soccer team based in the Illawarra, New South Wales. They compete in the NSW National Premier Leagues Women’s or highest state level tier of women’s soccer within Football NSW. The club was founded in 2006 and is a member based association.

at the 2012 NSW Women's Premier League Grand Final
Full name	Stingrays Illawarra United Representative Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Stingrays
Founded	2006; 18 years ago (2006)
Ground	JJ Kelly Park, Wollongong
Owner	A member Association
President	Kathy McDonogh
League	NSW NPLW1
Website	http://www.illawarrastingrays.com.au/

Foundation

The Illawarra Stingrays were developed through a partnership between the Illawarra Junior Soccer Association (IJSA) and the Illawarra Women’s Soccer Association (IWSA) in 2006 to promote and develop elite female football in the area.

Although the Illawarra Women's Soccer Association (IWSA) was merged to become part of Football South Coast, the Illawarra Stingrays remained independent as the recognised entity in the Illawarra to represent elite level women's football.^[1]

Colours and badge

The primary club colour of Illawarra Stingrays is pink, which represents that the club is a women's only club. The secondary club colour is sky blue, with additional contrasting colours of navy blue and white.

The Illawarra Stingray logo features a stingray and a football set over the ray's tail.

Honours

• NSW National Premier Leagues Women’s regular season

League Champions: 2009 (winning 6 -1 against Macarthur Rams), 2010 (winning 2 -0 against Inter Lions)^[2] and 2011 NSW State League Women's

Minor Premiers: 2009 2010 2011 NSW State League Women's ^[3]

Runners Up: 2013 NSW State League Women's ^[4]

Under 17s Premiers: 2014 NSW National Premier Leagues Women’s

Preseason Cup: 2014 ^[5] 2015 NSW National Premier Leagues Women’s^[6]

Home Ground

The home ground of the Illawarra Stingrays is JJ Kelly park on a sub-leasing arrangement with another club.^[7] The club have been actively campaigning to be granted a home ground by their local council.^[8]

Representative Players

The Illawarra Stingrays are a strong development team and have supported the Matildas, Junior Matildas, State Representatives and W League players, including:

• Margaux Chauvet – Western Sydney Wanderers FC (A-League Women)
• Caitlin Cooper – Matildas, Western Sydney Wanderers FC (A-League Women)
• Mary Fowler – Matildas, Manchester City
• Erica Halloway – Western Sydney Wanderers FC (A-League Women)
• Michelle Heyman – Matildas, Canberra United in the A-League Women. 2007 Leading goal-scorer for the Illawarra Stingrays in the FNSW Super League competition and club player of the year; 2009 Golden Boot in the FNSW Women's Premier League and Player of the Year; 2010 leading goal-scorer for Illawarra Stingrays.^[9]
• Danika Matos – Western Sydney Wanderers FC (A-League Women)
• Chloe Middleton – Western Sydney Wanderers FC (A-League Women)

Other

The Illawarra Stingrays played the Australia women's national soccer team in 2016 in an Olympic qualifying preparation match. Michelle Heyman and Caitlin Cooper were both in the Matildas squad that played against their local team.^[10]

References

1. Football South Coast About Us Archived 14 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine
2. "Illawarra Stingrays honour former player Ash Connor". www.illawarramercury.com.au. Illawarra Mercury. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
3. "Stingrays aiming for fourth title". www.smh.com.au. Sydney Morning Herals. 16 September 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
4. "2014 NPL NSW Womens 1 Draw Announced". www.a-league.com.au. A League. 17 Feb 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
5. "ILLAWARRA STINGRAYS CROWNED 2014 PRESEASON CUP CHAMPIONS". www.footballnsw.com.au. Football NSW. 16 March 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
6. "Illawarra Stingrays grab Preseason Cup". www.footballnsw.com.au. Football NSW. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
7. "Coniston Football Club defends charging Illawarra Stingrays $12k to use fields". www.illawarragreens.org.au. Illawarra Greens. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
8. "Neglected Illawarra Stingrays without a home ground for 13 years". www.illawarramercury.com.au. Illawarra Mercury. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
9. "Former Illawarra Stingrays Star Michelle Heyman snapped up by Brondby". www.footballnsw.com.au. Football NSW. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
10. "Illawarra Stingrays take on matildas in lead up to Olympic qualifyers". www.sbs.com.au. SBS. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2021.

External links