Melbourne City FC (W-League)

Melbourne City FC W-League
Full name Melbourne City Women's FC
Founded 2015
Ground CB Smith Reserve (2,000)
AAMI Park (30,050)
Lakeside Stadium
Manager Joe Montemurro
League W-League
2015–16 1st (league)
Website Club home page

Melbourne City FC are an Australian women's football club affiliated with Melbourne City FC. The club has its training and administration based at the City Football Academy in Melbourne and plays home games at both the CB Smith Reserve in the northern suburb of Fawkner and at AAMI Park near the city centre. Founded in 2015, it became the tenth team to compete in the W-League, the top division of women's football in Australia. The head coach of the team is Joe Montemurro.

History

Following on from their purchase of and investment into Manchester City in England, City Football Group turned their eyes to investment into the women's game as well, funding a serious overhaul of the Manchester club's female affiliate.[1] Only months after their takeover of Melbourne City FC, they followed likewise in Australia, contacting the FFA regarding entering a team into the W-League to be affiliated to the Melbourne side.[2]

After a year of negotiations, their involvement was sealed with an announcement that a women's team competing under the name Melbourne City FC would compete in the W-League as of the beginning of the 2015–16 season.[2]

Foundations and immediate success

Melbourne City CEO Scott Munn revealed that his club had been in consultation with Football Federation Australia (FFA) for over 12 months regarding the introduction of a new W-League side.[3] In July 2015, Melbourne City Women's FC made Matildas co-captain Lisa De Vanna their first ever signing. She is widely regarded as one of the world's best women's strikers.[4] After Lisa, the club's next foundation signings were Laura Alleway and Brianna Davey. In September 2015, Young Matildas Larissa Crummer, Alex Chidiac, Beattie Goad and former Adelaide United defender Monique Iannella joined the club.[5] Matilda Steph Catley also signed up in September. Regarded as a Matlidas' fan favourite, Catley created history when she was voted as the first female to appear on the cover of the video game FIFA 16.[6][7]

The club created history in its inaugural 2015–16 season, winning all 12 of its regular season games and achieving success in the 2016 W-League Grand Final, completing a perfect season.[8]

Players

Current squad

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

No. Position Player
1 Australia GK Lydia Williams (on loan from Houston Dash)
2 Australia DF Teigen Allen
3 United States DF Lauren Barnes (on loan from Seattle Reign FC)
4 Australia DF Rachel Binning
5 Australia DF Laura Alleway
6 Australia MF Aivi Luik
7 Australia DF Steph Catley (Captain)
9 Australia FW Larissa Crummer
10 Wales MF Jess Fishlock (on loan from Seattle Reign FC)
11 United States MF Erika Tymrak (on loan from FC Kansas City)
No. Position Player
12 Australia DF Olivia Ellis
13 New Zealand DF Rebekah Stott
14 Australia FW Melina Ayres
15 Australia MF Amy Jackson
16 United States FW Beverly Yanez (on loan from Seattle Reign FC)
17 Australia FW Marianna Tabain
18 Australia FW Jacinta Galabadaarachchi
19 Australia DF Tyla-Jay Vlajnic
30 Australia GK Kelsey Quinn

Notable former players

Below is a list of notable footballers who have played for Melbourne City. Generally, this means players that have played 50 or more first-class matches for the club, have at least one senior international cap or have made significant contributions to the club's history.

Australia Australia
Mexico Mexico
New Zealand New Zealand
Scotland Scotland
United States United States
Wales Wales

Managerial staff

Position Name[2]
Head Coach Australia Joe Montemurro
Assistant Coach Wales Jess Fishlock
Team Manager Australia Louisa Bisby

Honours

Broadcasting

Since the inaugural season in 2008, the national public television network, ABC, broadcast one match a week per team. In November 2014, ABC announced a decision to cease broadcast of the league at the end of the 2014 season as part of widespread budget cuts.[9] Ahead of the 2015–16 season, it was announced that pay-TV network Fox Sports would televise one W-League match a week.[10] ABC also rejoined the broadcasting arrangement ahead of the 2015–16 season, being entitled to air one live match of the round in conjunction with Fox Sports.[11]

League results

Correct as of 31 January 2016 (end of 2015/16 season).

Season League Finals Series Top scorer
Pld W D L GF GA Pts Position Player(s) Goals[nb 1]
2015–16 121200384361stChampionsLarissa Crummer12
2016–17 0000000TBCTBCTBCTBC

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Includes any goals scored in finals series matches.

References

  1. ↑ "Manchester City aim for Women's Super League success too". BBC. 24 January 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Melbourne City FC set to field W-League team in 2015". melbournecityfc.com.au. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  3. ↑ "Melbourne City to join W-League next season". SBS. 14 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "Melbourne City FC signs inaugural W-League player". Football Federation Australia. 14 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Melbourne City sign four more W-League signings". Football Federation Australia. 10 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "Steph Cately to be on FIFA 16 cover". Daily Mail Australia. 10 July 2015.
  7. ↑ "Melbourne City signs Steph Cately for 2015/16 W-League season". Football Federation Australia. 16 September 2015.
  8. ↑ "W-League grand final: Melbourne City beat Sydney FC". ABC News. 31 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "ABC TV cut broadcast of 2015/16 Westfield W-League". w-league.com.au. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  10. ↑ "W -League games to be played as A-League curtain-raiser and broadcast live on Fox Sports". couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  11. ↑ "W-League returns to ABC TV in partnership with FFA and Fox Sports". ABC News. 15 September 2015.
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