Launceston City FC

Launceston City Football Club is an Australian soccer club based in Launceston, Tasmania. The club was founded in 1957 and currently participating in the Tasmanian NPL Tasmania since 2013, run by the governing body Football Tasmania. The club has over 100 senior players across senior, women and social leagues.

Launceston City

Full name	Launceston City Football Club
Nickname(s)	City, Juventus, Juve
Founded	1958[1]
Ground	TassieCare Park, Prospect Vale
Capacity	1,000
Chairman	Luigi Gugliotti
Manager	Daniel Syson
League	NPL Tasmania
2023	6th of 8
Website	https://launcestoncity.com.au
Home colours Away colours Third colours

The junior club was briefly called "Westside Devils Soccer Club" from 1998 to 2016 and has since changed to Launceston City Devils. It has age groups from Under 6 to Under 17, and is one of the largest and most successful junior soccer clubs in the state with just under 600 registered juniors.

The club also heavily supports the participation of girls and women with many teams across different age groups and a senior women's team, which has been dominant since the turn of the century, picking up 9 Northern Premier League titles and going unbeaten over four league seasons between 2005 and 2008.

History

Launceston City was founded in 1957 originally known as Roma. City was particularly dominant in the 1960s, when they won every season except 1964. Although Northern Tasmania's most successful club with 19 Northern titles, they have failed to repeat their dominance of the 60s. The club uses the colours of Juventus and has links to the club. Prior to the cessation of ethnic affiliations by Australian football clubs in 1997,^[2] Launceston City were known as Launceston Juventus.

In 1978 Launceston Juventus relocated from their home ground at Brooks High School to Buckby Motors Park located in Prospect Vale next to the Australian Italian Club where the club is still playing home games till this day. TassieCare Park has two playing grounds, fully functional floodlights for night games, clubrooms and changerooms.

Launceston City fields teams in the National Premier League Tasmania NPL, the second tier of Australian football, Northern Championship, Northern League 1, Under 18's and competes in the Northern Women's Championship Team this makes up over 100 senior registered players.

With regard to youth and juniors as of 2024, the club has nearly 600 players, compromising of 58 junior teams and over 100 enrolments in the clubs 'Juventus Academy'.

Since 2018, a video of former goalkeeper Niko Giantsopoulos kicking the ball away prior to an opposition striker taking a penalty has been a regular viral video on social media. The move, designed to throw his opponent off balance psychologically just prior to taking the kick, resulted in Giantsopoulos being issued a yellow card, but the penalty went ahead. Giantsopoulos saved the goal.^[3]

Club Crest

Since Launceston City (Juventus) was founded in 1958 there has been four recorded club crests throughout the years.

First logo on record

The first ever recorded club crest since Launceston City's (Juventus) beginning in 1958 was this crest. Featuring the club's Italian heritage, resolve for success and the Launceston's coat of arms down the bottom of the crest. Which features with the two Tasmanian Tiger's holding the gold of the shield which refers to the early history of gold-mining in nearby hills. The blue represents the junction of the North and South Esk rivers where the city (symbolised by the gold central disc) was founded and the Tamar River flowing north to the Bass Strait. The club crest still features prominently outside the Launceston City change rooms to this day which was painted by life member Frank Stolp.

1980's

In the 1980s the club committee led by president and life member Ross Wesson formed a new design of the Launceston City (Juventus) club crest highlighting the club's relations to the club's Italian relations Juventus FC with the black and white stripes as seen on the club's home kits, the crest was used up until the early 2000s. The crest could be seen around Launceston in the form of stickers on motor vehicles and in the way of a keyring.

2008 to 2018

As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations, the club began its fifth decade with a new logo created by David Jordaan. This logo pays homage to the Italian heritage and was the first to feature a soccer ball in the centre of the crest as well as a ribbon at the base of the crest that marked its establishment of 1958.

2018 to Current

Designed by Nathan Fellows of Freestyle FX Signs the design features a wreath to commemorate the clubs 60th year and is the current crest of Launceston City Football Club

Seasons - Men

Season	League												Statewide Cup	FFA Cup
	Name (national level)	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Position	Tasmanian Finals	NPL Finals
2012	North Premier League (2)	16	5	3	8	22	40	−18	18	6th	DNQ	Did not exist	First round	Did not exist
2013	Victory League (2)	21	0	1	20	14	117	−103	1	8th	DNQ	DNQ	Round of 16
2014	Victory League (2)	21	3	1	17	29	86	−57	10	8th	DNQ	DNQ	Quarter-finals	DNQ
2015	Victory League (2)	21	7	3	11	39	51	−12	24	5th	Quarter-finals	DNQ	Quarter-finals	DNQ
2016	NPL Tasmania (2)	21	7	2	12	24	58	−34	23	5th	Quarter-finals	DNQ	Round of 16	DNQ
2017	NPL Tasmania (2)	21	5	3	13	25	58	−33	18	6th	Quarter-finals	DNQ	Semi-finals	DNQ
2018	NPL Tasmania (2)	21	11	4	6	56	32	24	37	4th	Not held	DNQ	Semi-finals	DNQ
2019	NPL Tasmania (2)	24	7	4	14	38	51	−13	25	7th	Not held	DNQ	Round of 16	DNQ
2020	NPL Tasmania (2)	14	1	1	12	13	32	-19	4	8th	Not held	Cancelled	Semi-finals	Cancelled
2021	NPL Tasmania (2)	21	7	1	13	26	48	−22	22	5th	Not held	Not held	Semi-finals	DNQ
2022	NPL Tasmania (2)	21	9	2	10	31	44	−13	29	5th	Not held	Not held	Round of 16	DNQ
2023	NPL Tasmania (2)	21	8	3	10	26	34	−8	27	6th	Not held	DNQ	Quarter-finals	DNQ
2024	NPL Tasmania (2)	21	9	4	8	38	34	4	31	5th	Not held	Not held	Quarter-finals	DNQ

Honours

• State Championships: (2) 1961, 1963
• State Championships Runners-up: (12) 1960, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1995, 2001, 2005
• Northern Premierships: (17) 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1984, 1986, 2001, 2005
• Cadbury Trophy : (1) 1979
• Northern Knockout Cup : (2) 1964, 1971
• Advocate Coca-Cola Night Soccer Series : (1) 1981
• Statewide Cup: (5) 1966, 1976, 1991, 2004, 2007
• Statewide Cup Runners-up: (6) 1964, 1977, 1997, 2002, 2005, 2006
• Steve Hudson Cup: (9) 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007
• Northern Women's Premier League: (16) 1987, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016
• Women's State Championship: (2) 2007, 2012
• Women's Statewide Cup: (1) 2015

Individual honours

Men's State League Player of the Year

• 1986 – Colin Guest
• 1987 – Peter Savill
• 1989 – Peter Savill
• 1994 – Anthony Valentine

Men's State League Golden Boot

• 1981 – Peter Sawdon (20)

Also Rothmans Medal winner ( State League Player of the year) 1985 and 1988 with George Town United.

Women's State League Player of the Year

• 2017 – Beth Bygrave

Northern Men's League Golden Boot

• 1969 – Hans Streit (25)
• 2004 – Alex Brownlie (14)
• 2005 – Roger Mies

NPL Tasmania Rising Star Award

• 2017 – Noah Mies

NPL Tasmania Goal of the Year

• 2018 – Noah Mies

Northern Men's Best & Fairest

• 2003 – Justin Dyer

Northern Women's Best & Fairest

• 2005 – Jill Couch
• 2013 – Caitlin Storay
• 2014 – Caitlin Storay
• 2015 – Caitlin Storay

Northern Women's League Golden Boot

• 2005 – Chelsea Smith
• 2008 – Chelsea Smith

NPL TAS Coach of the Year

• 2015 – Lino Sciulli
• 2022 – Lino Sciulli

Hall of Fame Teams

Men's 1958 - 1978
Player	Position
Len Gugliotti	Goalkeeper
Warren Lockett	Goalkeeper
Marshall Brown	Goalkeeper
Peter Mies (C)	Centre half
Tom Strickland	Centre half
Flavio De Paoli	Left back
Luigi Mischis	Right back
Terry Clark (VC)	Midfield
Arthur Webb	Midfield
Ross Wesson	Midfield
Tony Zanetto	Midfield
Billy Van Der Pols	Left wing
Mario Morosini	Right wing
Hans Streit	Forward
Enrico Visentin	Forward

Men's 1979 - 2008
Player	Position
Nick Scott	Goalkeeper
Alex Brownlie	Centre back
Ernie Guest	Centre back
Steve Guest	Centre back
Jeff Butler	Left back
Barry Hemsley	Full back
Justin Dyer	Midfield
Luigi Gugliotti	Midfield
Leighton Hodge	Midfield
Liam Monagle (VC)	Midfield
Peter Savill (C)	Midfield
Tony Valentine	Midfield
Colin Guest	Forward
Roger Mies	Forward
Peter Sawdon	Forward

Women's 1983 - 2008
Player	Position
Anna Lord	Goalkeeper
Amanda Newson	Goalkeeper
Melissa Wilcox (née Dyer)	Centre back
Sharon O'Halloran	Centre back
Jenny Duffy	Full back
Jenni Jones	Full back
Anna Luciani	Full back
Kirsten Mccreghan	Full back
Kristen Beams	Midfield
Jill Couch (C)	Midfield
Kailee Goodwin	Midfield
Mandy Di Guglielmo (VC)	Midfield
Kylie Jones	Midfield
Julie Webb	Midfield
Chelsea Smith	Forward

Office Holders

Years	Chairman	Senior President	Junior President	Treasurer	Secretary
1958	N/A	Frank Buttazoni	N/A
1959	N/A	Frank Buttazoni	N/A
1960	N/A	Frank Buttazoni	N/A
1961	N/A	Frank Buttazoni	N/A
1962	N/A		N/A
1963	N/A		N/A
1964	N/A		N/A
1965	N/A		N/A
1966	N/A		N/A
1967	N/A		N/A
1968	N/A		N/A
1969	N/A		N/A
1970	N/A		N/A
1971	N/A		N/A
1972	N/A		N/A
1973	N/A		N/A
1974	N/A		N/A
1975	N/A		N/A
1976	N/A		N/A
1977	N/A		N/A
1978	N/A	Alec McNeill
1979	N/A	Peter Mies	N/A
1980	N/A	Peter Mies	N/A
1981	N/A	Peter Mies	N/A
1982	N/A	Peter Mies	N/A
1983	N/A	Peter Mies	N/A
1984	N/A	Frank Stolp	Rob Brewer
1985	N/A	Ross Wesson	Rob Brewer
1986	N/A	Ross Wesson	Rob Brewer
1987	N/A	Ross Wesson	Rob Brewer
1988	N/A	Doc Burdon	Rob Brewer
1989	N/A	Ross Wesson	Rob Brewer
1990	N/A	Ross Wesson	Rob Brewer
1991	N/A	Ross Wesson	Rob Brewer
1992	N/A	Frank Stolp	Rob Brewer
1993	N/A	Ross Wesson	Rob Brewer
1994	N/A	Kerry Dennis	Rob Brewer
1995	N/A	Ross Wesson	Rob Brewer
1996	N/A	Ross Wesson	Rob Brewer
1997	N/A	Ross Wesson	Rob Brewer
1998	N/A	Peter Mies	Rob Brewer
1999	N/A	Peter Mies	Rob Brewer
2000	N/A	Peter Mies	Rob Brewer
2001	N/A	Robert Luciani	Rob Brewer
2002	N/A	Robert Luciani	Rob Brewer
2003	N/A	Robert Luciani	Rob Brewer
2004	N/A	Noel Van Est	Rob Brewer
2004	N/A	Noel Van Est	Rob Brewer
2005	N/A	Noel Van Est	Rob Brewer
2006	N/A	Noel Van Est	Rob Brewer
2007	N/A	Noel Van Est	Rob Brewer
2008	N/A	Noel Van Est	Rob Brewer
2009	N/A	Jason Jones	Michael Hancox
2010	N/A	Jason Jones	Michael Hancox
2011	N/A	Jason Jones	Michael Hancox
2012	N/A	Jason Jones	Michael Hancox
2013	N/A	Jason Jones	Michael Hancox
2014	N/A	David Backhouse	Michael Hancox	Rob Luciani	Jenny Duffy
2015	N/A	Austin Fagan	Michael Hancox	David Backhouse	Jenny Duffy
2016	N/A	Austin Fagan	Michael Hancox	David Backhouse	Jenny Duffy
2017	N/A	Austin Fagan	Michael Hancox	David Backhouse	Jenny Duffy
2017	N/A	Austin Fagan	Brook Noble	David Backhouse	Jenny Duffy
2018		Andrew Heap; Robert Dorazio	Brook Noble	David Backhouse; Roger Mies	Jenny Duffy; Amanda Murphy
Junior & senior committees amalgamated into one club and formed an overarching board to oversee all operations of the football club
2019	Luigi Gugliotti	Danny Linger	Alex Aylott	Chris Hennessy	Amy Geach; Debbie Ratcliffe
2020	Luigi Gugliotti	Danny Linger	Tarnya Frost	Chris Hennessy	Debbie Ratcliffe
2021	Luigi Gugliotti	Danny Linger	Tarnya Frost	Chris Hennessy	Debbie Ratcliffe
2022	Luigi Gugliotti	Danny Linger	Tarnya Frost	Ric De Santi	Debbie Ratcliffe
2023	Luigi Gugliotti	Danny Linger	Joshua Perry	Ric De Santi	Debbie Ratcliffe; Jessica Woodroffe
2024	Luigi Gugliotti	Danny Linger	Joshua Perry	Ric De Santi	Jessica Woodroffe

Life Members

Years	Life Member
1979	Aldo De Santi
1980	Hans Streit | Tom Strickland
1981	Sergio Del Grande
1982	Mario Morosini
1983	Christine Mies
1987	Ross Wesson
1990	Leighton Hodge | Peter Savill
1992	Barry Hemsley
1999	Roger Mies
2000	Robert Luciani
2002	Luigi Gugliotti
2005	Jessie McKay
2008	Jenny Duffy | Jeff Butler | Jill Couch
2010	Tony Rossi | Jason Jones
2014	Matthew Heather
2015	Mick Egan
2016	Bill Couch
2020	Jamie Richardson
2021	Melissa Wilcox (née Dyer)
2023	Justin Dyer
2024	Robert D'Orazio
Years	Westside Devils Life Member
	Rob Brewer
	Veronica Brewer
	Noel Van Est
	Judy Avnell
	Ian Loft
	Jeff Garwood
	Ken Claridge
	Mick Egan
	Tony Rossi
	Nigel Ratcliffe
	John McKenna
	Scott Hudson
	Dirk Nankervis
	Maree Bauld
	Garry Swan
	Paul Mischis
	Austin Fagan
	Peter Ryan
	Louise Lucas
	Cathy Hancox
	Sharon Parker
	Michael Hancox

Senior Men - Honour List

Year	Head Coach	Captain	Best & Fairest	Golden Boot
1958
1959	Albert Clark	Terry Clark
1960	Albert Clark	Terry Clark
1961	Albert Clark	Terry Clark
1962	Albert Clark	Terry Clark
1963	Albert Clark
1964		Peter Mies
1965		George Arnott
1966
1967
1968
1969				Hans Streit (25)
1970
1971
1972	John Austin
1973	Tom Strickland
1974
1975	Ross Wesson			Hans Streit
1976	John Austin
1977
1978	Tom Strickland; Jock Glass	Tom Strickland
1979	Paul Throssel	Tom Strickland
1980	Ross Wesson
1981	Ken Worden		Peter Sawdon	Peter Sawdon (20)
1982	Bobby Kent		Peter Savill
1983	Bobby Kent		Peter Savill
1984	Ross Wesson		Barry Hemsley
1985	Lars McNaughton		Shane Dennis
1986	Leighton Hodge		Colin Guest
1987	Leighton Hodge		Colin Guest; Peter Savill
1988	Ross Wesson	Luigi Gugliotti	Peter Savill
1989	Peter Savill		Liam Monagle
1990	Peter Savill		Roger Mies
1991	Peter Savill	Liam Monagle	Paul Gimpl	Roger Mies (11)
1992	Peter Savill	Liam Monagle	Drew McNeill
1993	David Craig	Liam Monagle	Roger Mies
1994	David Craig	Roger Mies	John Visentin
1995	David Craig	Roger Mies	John Compagne
1996	Peter Davidson	Roger Mies	Justin Dyer
1997	Lino Sciulli	Justin Dyer	Chris Couch
1998	Peter Sawdon	Justin Dyer	Justin Dyer; Mark Donohue
1999	David Craig	Justin Dyer	Roger Mies	Jason Clayton (14)
2000	David Craig	Justin Dyer	Alex Brownlie
2001	Luigi Gugliotti	Justin Dyer	Justin Dyer
2002	Luigi Gugliotti	Justin Dyer	Alex Brownlie; Nick Macri; Ben Van Est
2003	Luigi Gugliotti	Justin Dyer	Roger Mies	Nick Macri (12)
2004	Luigi Gugliotti	Justin Dyer	David Jordaan	Alex Brownlie (14)
2005	Ken Morton	David Jordaan	Roger Mies	Roger Mies (14)
2006	Luigi Gugliotti	Justin Dyer	Alex Brownlie; Justin Dyer	Drew McNeill (13)
2007	David Craig	Alex Brownlie	Justin Dyer	Roger Mies (14)
2008	Peter Savill	Michael Frost	Michael Frost	Michael Frost; Sam Morley (6)
2009	Peter Savill	Michael Frost	Luke Kolodjashnij	Chris Hill (5)
2010	Kurt Reynolds	Luke Kolodjashnij	Luke Kolodjashnij	Antonio Macri (15)
2011	Lino Sciulli	Luke Kolodjashnij	Michael Beechey
2012	Lino Sciulli	Michael Frost	Sam Morley	Antonio Macri (8)
2013	Dane Hudson; Mark Egan	Shane Egan	Alex Sciulli	Saeed Bin Sumaida (5)
2014	Kurt Reynolds	Nathan Bartlett	Nick Abougelis; Nathan Bartlett	Nathan Bartlett (6)
2015	Lino Sciulli	Toby Omenihu	Dominic Rossi	Dominic Rossi (8)
2016	Lino Sciulli	Toby Omenihu	Aaron Campbell	Nathan Bartlett; Aaron Campbell (5)
2017	Ben Brookfield	Nathan Butler	Aaron Campbell	Noah Mies (6)
2018	Jes Kenth	Daniel Syson	Daniel Syson	Tyler Fischer (19)
2019	Peter Sawdon; Lino Sciulli	Lindsay Millington	Charlie Dyer	Noah Mies (16)
2020	Roger Hardwicke	Samuel Ridgard	Matthew Oh	Samuel Ridgard (6)
2021	Roger Hardwicke; Lino Sciulli	Jarrod Linger	Jarrod Linger	Yasin Mohammadi; Daniel Smith (6)
2022	Lino Sciulli	Lachlan Clark	Lachlan Clark	Albert Amankwaa (8)
2023	Daniel Syson	Lachlan Clark / Joel Stone	Joel Stone	Toby Simeoni (6)
2024	Daniel Syson	Lachlan Clark / Joel Stone	Thierry Swaby	Thierry Swaby (18)

Senior Women - Honour List

Year	Head Coach	Captain	Best & Fairest	Golden Boot
1983	Kerry Dennis
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995		Jill Couch
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001	Jason Jones
2002	Jason Jones
2003	Ben Quor	Melissa Wilcox (née Dyer)	Jacqui Hernández-Morales	Chelsea Smith (24)
2004	Ben Quor	Jill Couch	Jill Couch	Chelsea Smith (35)
2005	Jason Jones
2006	Jason Jones			Jill Couch (26)
2007	Jason Jones			Chelsea Smith (44)
2008	Jason Jones			Chelsea Smith (43)
2009	Jason Jones			Chelsea Smith (58)
2010	Jason Jones			Chelsea Smith (44)
2011	Jason Jones
2012	Jason Jones	Jill Couch	Jacinta Hall	Lauren Hough (35)
2013	Jacinta Hall			Caitlin Storay (17)
2014	Col Nicholson	Jemma Storay		Caitlin Storay (24)
2015	Jason Jones		Caitlin Storay	Chelsea Smith (41)
2016	Jason Jones	Caitlin Storay	Beth Bygrave	Jazmin Gorrie (14)
2017	Luigi Gugliotti	Caitlin Storay	Beth Bygrave	Emily Hernyk (22)
2018	Luigi Gugliotti	Selina Steventon	Brooke Hernyk	Keilin Fagan; Emily Hernyk (12)
No women's team in 2019
2020	Barry Baker / Darren Cook	Kiara Walsh	Sarah Campbell	Sarah Campbell (4)
2021	Barry Baker	Sarah Campbell	Aimee Hawes	Zali Kirkman (19)
2022	Richard Reilly	Sarah Campbell	Sarah Campbell	Rebecca Barrett (8)
2023	Richard Reilly / Jason Hawes	Sarah Campbell	Sarah Campbell	Isabella Taylor (5)
2024	Michael Cheney / Stephen Pearce	Sarah Campbell	Sarah Campbell	Sarah Campbell; Amali Wynter (5)

References

1. "Launceston City Football Club Official Site".
2. "MARKETING MEETS MULTICULTURALISM: DAVID HILL'S NATIONAL MERCHANDISING PLAN, 1996-97". Leopold Method. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
3. "Goalkeeper Goes Viral For The Most Incredible Piece Of Football Sh*thousery". www.sportbible.com. Retrieved 15 September 2020.

External links

• Official Site