I would love someone to do a FFA Cup podcast would be brilliant.

FFA Cup: long road to a dream A-League match-up is a long way off as qualifying rounds begin
MATT WINDLEY HERALD SUN FEBRUARY 13, 2015 10:11AM SHARE



Adem Tahiri and Joe Drago Mt Lilydale Old Collegians to compete in the FFA qualifiers.
A POTENTIAL fairytale clash with an A-League giant is a long, long way off.

But the journey to FFA Cup stardom starts tomorrow for the true minnows of the knockout competition.

After a stunning debut in 2014, Football Federation Australia has restructured the tournament to give more grassroots clubs a taste of “the magic of The Cup”.

All state-based knockout competitions will fall under the FFA Cup banner, where teams will play a series of matches in the hope of funneling in to the Round of 32 of the nationwide tournament proper, which is when the A-League clubs enter.

About 630 teams across the country have entered the FFA Cup, 191 of which are from Victoria.

Tomorrow’s qualifying round will see 20 Victorian sides kick the first balls in anger of this year’s competition, and players at Mt Lilydale Old Collegians Soccer Club are particularly chomping at the bit.

Celebrating its tenth year, Mt Lilydale will for the first time play in a Football Federation Victoria competition this season.


For a club that boasts just three teams, is on the lookout for a major sponsor and plays in State League 5 East, there is many a rung between it and the likes of Bentleigh Greens and South Melbourne - let alone Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City.

But that explains why foundation player Joe Drago insists tomorrow’s game against Baxter at the Mt Lilydale Sporting Complex is so vitally important.

“It’s a really exciting time for us, going in to the FFV and now hosting our first qualifier for the FFA Cup,” Drago, the club’s centre back-cum director of football, said.

“We’re trying to draw some big crowds and put Lilydale on the map in terms of the school we’re associated with and our little club.

“The first game in the club’s existence (in 2006) was quite big, but this is definitely bigger than that.”

The Greens were the fairytale story of 2014, making the semi-finals.

Adelaide United was the inaugural winner.

The winner of the Mt Lilydale and Baxter clash will take on Yarra Jets in next week’s Round 1 fixture.

Down the track, winners of the four Round 7 games will represent Victoria in the Round of 32 later this year.

As unlikely as it is, Mt Lilydale fullback Adem Tahiri is daring to dream that his side can feature at the business end.

“It’d be nice to be a part of a fairytale story as Bentleigh were,” Tahiri said.

“Obviously that’s a fair step forward, but even just having the opportunity to be involved after watching them last year is amazing.”

Bulls, Spirit bundled out of FFA Cup competition
David Lems
David Lems | 16th Feb 2015 5:00 AM
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IPSWICH City and Western Spirit can focus on their premiership campaigns after making early exits from their FFA Cup qualifying encounters.

The Ipswich City Bulls lost 2-1 to New Farm in yesterday's away football game after Spirit were beaten 4-1 by Centenary at Kippen Park on Saturday night.

The Bulls were left with 10 men following the send-off of key player Ronan Geoghegan for accruing two yellow cards.

Bulls head coach Nev O'Sullivan said his team "played nowhere their best'' despite equalising 1-1 through a Jimmy Allison goal.

The Bulls host Newmarket on Saturday night at Brassall in their first match of the new season.

Capital League 2 local derby rivals Spirit play Centenary again in their premiership opener on Friday night at Atthows Park.

Spirit head coach Nick Paterson expects to field a stronger line-up this weekend after a virtual Reserve grade side toiled hard against Centenary in Saturday night's game.

Reserve grade coach Billy Livingstone was encouraged by the performance, where a Sam Hay penalty in the second half kept his team in the hunt before Centenary netted two late goals.

"It was a really good hit-out. The boys played really well,'' said Livingstone, who will run the club's Reggies side and oversee the under 20 team.

"There's light at the end of the tunnel after a couple of difficult years.

"The club is heading in the right direction.''

New look APIA Leichhardt Tigers for 2015
NICOLA POZDER FOR FOOTBALL NSW INNER WEST COURIER INNER WEST FEBRUARY 07, 2015 12:00AM SHARE

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It will be a new look APIA Leichardt Tigers in the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 1 competition this season.

The Tigers have been extremely busy during the off-season and have so far added nine new faces to their playing roster for 2015.

Some of the Tigers notable signings include Adrian Ucchino moving from Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Corey Bizco, Brett Studman and Nathan Millgate jumping ship from the Blacktown Spartans and Sean Symons making his way back to Lambert Park after a stint with the Western Sydney Wanderers youth team and Rockdale City Suns.


Former Sydney FC National Youth League player Daniel Petkovski has also made the move to the Tigers further strengthening the club’s ambitions as a Premiership contender.

Coach Billy McColl is confident that the Tigers will improve from the previous year and is more than satisfied with the clubs signings so far.

“We have really strengthened the team from last season,” he said.

“Adrian Ucchino in particular is an excellent signing for the club.”

McColl believes the club should be aiming for the top of the league and are among the early contenders for the Premiership.

“We should be challenging for the title and be up there this season, the top three is our aim,” he said.

“I believe we have the squad to challenge the likes of the Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Blacktown City who are the two big clubs in the league.”


McColl didn’t write off the rest of the competition though and remains wary of the other teams.

“This year we will have a very keen and competitive competition where there will be no easy games at all,” he said.

The Tigers mentor also made comment on his sides expectations in the Westfield FFA Cup.

Last year APIA was knocked out in the fourth round of the Waratah Cup, going down to eventual FFA Cup quarter finalists Manly United.

“We want to go as far as we can in the Westfield FFA Cup and have the opportunity to have a crack at the big boys,” he said.

WFC preparing for FFA Cup
31st Jan 2015 6:00 AM


FFA CUP: The Whitsunday Football Club has begun weekend training in preparation for next month’s FFA Cup clash.


THE Whitsunday Football Club (WFC) is preparing for its biggest challenge of 2015, which is less than a month away.

On February 21 the club will contest the first round of the Football Federation Australia (FFA) Cup, hoping to advance to potentially play the country's leading teams of A-League ilk.

The FFA Cup is a national knockout tournament, featuring more than 600 clubs where each and every match is decided on the day, either through extra time or penalties.

"The FFA Cup is a fantastic initiative by Football (Federation) Australia. It gives us an opportunity to play in the same competition as Perth Glory, Sydney... it's magic to be able to play in a knockout competition, it's what dreams are made of," WFC football director Eric Thompson said.

"If we can win the regional rounds we might be going down to Brisbane to play a premier league side - that's the magic football is about in this competition." Initially WFC will face an opponent from the local Mackay competition, but their intent is clear if Saturday morning's training session is anything to go by.

"The effort was beyond belief. The lads covered over 12km at the weekend and the temperature was over 38C," Thompson said.

"I've got a nice blend of players; the seniors have blended well with the juniors. Kids 16 or 17, for them playing in this competition and having a really good game produces interest from other clubs and it might be a step-way toward professional football... the benefits of playing in that competition are fantastic."

A-League clubs will join the competition in the round of 32, alongside 22 clubs who have progressed from the ranks of the semi-professional and amateur tiers.

Leading clubs kick off FFA Cup campaigns
17th Jan 2015 6:00 AM
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BIG CLASH: The Lions and Thunder offer a spicy first up encounter in the FFA Cup. Photo: Rob Wright
Rob Wright

A MEETING between Coffs United and Northern Storm promises to be the pick of matches in the preliminary local round of the Westfield FFA Cup.

While dates and venues are to be allocated, nine Club Coffs Premier League teams from North Coast Football will be pressing hard to make it through the traffic jam of clubs and regions seeking a place in the final line-up of 32 participants.

Premier team Urunga Raiders enjoys a first-up bye but then tackles the winner of the Lions versus Thunder encounter.

Northern NSW Football operations manager Alan Nisbet is anticipating tightly contested battles as the competition gets under way.

"With 79 clubs from across Northern NSW participating, preliminary rounds offer spectators exciting match-ups," he said.

"It will culminate in the opportunity for our club teams to play Hyundai A-League clubs."

Due to travel distances and time constraints, the NNSWF preliminaries are divided into northern and southern divisions.

The final club standing from North Coast Football will face off against the winning side from Football Far North Coast.

A qualification weekend will then be held at the new Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on June 20-21.

The final four standing will automatically qualify to represent Northern NSW Football in the 2015 Westfield FFA Cup.

NNSWF chief executive David Eland believes clubs will enjoy playing at the state's new home of football.

"We think they'll love the top class synthetic surface," he said.

Goonellabah reclaim the Corey New Cup
Mark Robinson Soccer Correspondent | 17th Feb 2015 2:07 PM


GOONELLABAH has set up an appointment with Lismore Thistles in the second round of the FFA Cup, thanks to a 2-1 home win over Lismore Workers in the opening round on Sunday.

The match also served as the 9th annual Corey New Cup, with the Hornets ending a two year winning run from the Redmen to notch up a 5-4 lead over the years.


KEY MAN: Goonellabah striker Batok Ring being closely watched by Lismore Workers captain Jay Keevers in the FFA Cup/Corey New clash Sunday at Weston Park.
Both sides had new look line-ups and looked a little rusty in the first half, but it was Hornets striker Dave Annetts who proved to be the difference.

The 2010 Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner opened the scoring after 30 minutes when a long ball allowed Batok Ring to suck Workers defence to the near post, before crossing to an unmarked Annetts to tap the ball into an empty net

He doubled the Hornets lead with his second goal after the break, capitalising on a defensive error to chase down the ball and slip it past Workers keeper David Cragg to once again tap it into a vacant net.

Workers clawed a goal back with a classy free knick from Matt Keevers that beat the Hornets new keeper Brad Robertson, and while they mounted pressure towards the end, Goonellabah hung on for a deserved win.

They will now meet Thistles in the second round of the FFA Cup, with the winner to take on Alstonville to determine who is the top side from FFNC.

That side will then take on the top side from the Coffs Harbour association to continue the progression towards a possible clash with an A League club.

Penalty shoot out seals victory Feb. 18, 2015, midnight

IN their first hit out for the 2015 season the TFFC Tigers travelled to Omaru Park in Taree on Saturday to take on FMNC Premier League stalwarts the Club Taree Wildcats in the first Preliminary Round of the Westfield FFA Cup.


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The FFA Cup is a nationwide tournament that all football clubs are eligible to enter, and after completion of the preliminary rounds can pit local amateur sides against A-League professionals. In their last encounter at Premier League level the Tigers were comfortably beaten by the Wildcats, but from the outset of Saturday’s match it was clear that the margin between the two sides had closed considerably.

It was the Tigers who opened the scoring after just eight minutes when excellent pressure applied to the Taree defence saw the ball run through to Jack Yeates, who made no mistake from close range. Yeates has an excellent scoring record in the Tigers Cup matches, with three goals from three appearances. Taree responded well though, with their midfield wrestling the advantage from the Tigers, and some fairly impatient defence from the visitors allowed Taree’s fleet footed left winger into the box, and he made no mistake finishing low past Curtis Jones’ dive to level the scoring.

The rest of the half saw chances at both ends, but the score remained level at the break. The Tigers started the brighter in the second half, with excellent play from Dylan Nash in the middle of the park sparking some very promising attacking play from the Tigers front four.

Debutant Cody Chick was impressive alongside Pete Goonan in the Tigers’ defensive engine room, keeping Taree’s opportunities to a minimum. At around the 60 minute mark, some good combination play between Nick Chapman and Jake Camilleri saw Chapman get clear in the box, and he finished calmly across the Taree keeper to restore the Tigers lead.

The Tigers’ superior fitness was beginning to take its toll with several Wildcats cramping up, but generously being allowed stoppages in play by the referee, even though cramp is not an injury. This disrupted the Tigers’ momentum and allowed a quick counter attack which resulted in a shot that deflected wildly, looping up and over Jones and into the tigers goal to level the scores once again. From then on it appeared as if there would be only one winner as the Tigers ran the Wildcats into the ground, but squandered chance after chance to finish the home side off.

To their credit though the Wildcats were defending desperately, and never gave up, sending the game to a penalty shootout.

Despite no practice of penalties at all, the Tigers penalty takers (Chick, Kianou, Croker and Aquilina) were super cool in their execution, with Taree’s third penalty taker clearing the crossbar and Curtis Jones diving wide to his left to keep out the Wildcats’ fourth.

The win (2-2, 4-2 on penalties) sees the Tigers advance to the second round of the cup for the first time in four attempts, and was nothing more than the Tigers deserved on the day.

Skipper Jason Ward said: “it was clear from early on that we were the fitter side. Our football conditioning program is already having an effect, even though we are still very early in our pre-season.”


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Coach Jonathon Newman said: “I was really happy with the way the team played today. There are obviously many areas that we need to work on, but we deserved the win and I’m looking forward to the next tie.”

The Tigers now take on Macleay Valley Rangers in the second round, with the winner to play against the victor of the Northern inland Football pool.

Taree out of FFA Cup after shootout Feb. 18, 2015, midnight

Taree have gone down to Tuncurry-Forster in the FFA Cup after losing an extra time penalty shootout.


TAREE have been eliminated from the FFA Cup after going down in an extra time penalty shootout to rivals Tuncurry-Forster.

The shoot-out ensued after the scores were locked at two-all at fulltime in the match at Omaru Park on Saturday.

Jordan Howard and Justin Atkins both scored goals for Taree and headlined a team performance that coach Ben Sedlen rated as "ahead of schedule".

"We started off a bit shaky, due to it being our first start of the year," he said.

"But the coaching staff and I were more than happy with the effort."

Sedlen said the coaching staff largely viewed the game as an opportunity for the team to practice new playing structures and systems ahead of the season.

"It was a trial game in our eyes," he said.

With roughly eight weeks until the season commences, Sedlen said he was happy with the number of players at training.

Sedlen said he expects more to attend once cricket commitments finish for the year.

Don't be writing off the mighty Balmain Tigers.

Roaring to success in 2015.

FFA Cup home game next on Football Wagga's wish list By COURTNEY REES Dec. 16, 2014, 6 p.m.


FOOTBALL Wagga continues to increase soccer's drawing power in the city, with yet another big target in its sights.

Next on the list of Football Wagga's wish list is to bring a FFA Cup match to the city.

With the Wagga City Wanderers admittance into the State League 2 competition next season, the burgeoning team receives a spot in the national competition.

It's the second year the knockout which pits smaller clubs against national heavyweights.

A-League teams played against club teams this year, however Wagga's team has plenty of stiff opposition to get past before it takes a crack at their namesakes the Western Sydney Wanderers or the like.

Facing an A-League team maybe little more of a dream to soccer officials in the city, but the chance to bring a FFA Cup fixture to Wagga has Football Wagga president Erwin Budde excited.

"If we go get a home game it would be a great start for us," he said.

"I think it's huge and it's something we would never had the opportunity before in Wagga.


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"The opportunity to play against some of the big clubs and maybe pull off upsets.

"Who knows the dream could continue?"

The first round of the FFA Cup draw was released on Monday, but Wagga won't come into the competition until round two or three.

It's likely that Wagga's first game will be in round three, which is scheduled for March 4-15.

A-League teams don't enter the competition until round six.

However it will still be a big boost for the Wanderers and its FFA debut will double of the club's first official game.

"It will be our first competitive game, and even if it isn't in Wagga, it is still going to be a huge occasion for the players, coaching staff and all the fans and supporters of the team," Budde said.

"To have the opportunity to play in the competition is very prestigious."

NSW has been allocated five slots in the final rounds of the tournament, with the Wanderers looking to secure one of those spots.

Based on the FA Cup in England, 600 teams are expected to compete in the preliminary rounds of the competition.

Football Wagga are also working on finalising a draw for the Pascoe Cup competition.

A draft draw has been sent to the nine clubs, but follows a similar format to last year which will see the competition split into two towards the end of the season.

At this stage the competition will start on March 28 with the grand final to be played at Equex on September 20.

The 2015 season will also see Saturday night games at Rawlings Park.

Rangers survive late comeback by Port Saints to win 3-2 Feb. 18, 2015, midnight

Liam Applegate scored a goal against Port Saints on the weekend


THE Macleay Valley Rangers hung-on to win against Port Saints on Saturday for the first game of the FFA Cup clash.

In a game that showed post holiday jitters, the match started at a quick pace with both sides trying to settle play early.

Daniel Saul made a break down the right wing, getting behind the defence providing a good low cross for Andrew Potter who scored by the near post, after eight minutes.

The Rangers next goal came after sixteen minutes from a cross on the left which the Port keeper fumbled leaving it open for Rangers Daniel Saul to lightly tap in the net.

The remainder of the half was reasonable even with Port slightly stronger in the last ten minutes; their performance may have been hindered by having to make two early substitutions through injury.

Port came out strongly in the second half with a slightly different formation and more purpose, however the Rangers defence held strong.

For fifteen minutes, both teams cancelled each other out, then Liam Applegate made a strong break though the left hand side of midfield, but was bought down seconds later by a Port defender inside the box awarding the rangers a spot kick.

Liam Applegate at the 17 minute stepped up and coolly put the ball to the right of the keeper into the side netting. Rangers led 3-0.

In a decisive game changer, Port applied some real pressure to the Rangers defence and eventually they cracked with Port scoring.


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The heat and lack of match fitness was now showing for Rangers, with Port finishing much stronger, and with 12 minutes to go Port score a second.

At 3-2 Port saw that the Rangers were vulnerable at the back with the Rangers having numerous of chances to score, but didn’t. They did however hang on, to record a good victory over a fellow competition rival and will play Tuncurry – Forster Tigers in the next round.

Goal Scorers: Rangers- A Potter, D Saul and L Applegate. Port Saints-I Khodary and L Rogers.

Alstonville and Thistles start the soccer season with wins
Mark Robinson | 16th Feb 2015 12:58 PM

ALSTONVILLE and Lismore Thistles showed plenty of promise in starting their soccer seasons with good wins in the opening round of the FFA Cup on Friday night.

Alstonville travelled to Skennars Head and returned with a hard fought 3-1 win over Lennox Head, while Thistles racked up a comfortable 3-0 home win over Ballina.

Villa took some time to settle against the Sharks, who started well and opened the scoring midway through the first half with a free kick.

Two new signings combined for the goal, with Ihsan Sauran delivering a dangerous ball that allowed striker Aryan Feresch to put pressure on the goalkeeper and bundle the ball over the line.

Unfortunately for the Sharks, the goal only served to spark Villa and they responded with three quick goals.

New signings again were in the thick of the action, starting with former Thistles player Jacob Arthur, who lobbed a well-judged header from a Joel Organ cross to score on debut for his new club.

Former Bangalow striker Reece Brambly also found the net in his first start with Villa, before busy midfielder Phil Francis dribbled through the defence to score the third.

A tight second half remained scoreless, leaving Villa coach Mark Ambler more than happy with their first outing of the season.

"It was a fantastic way to start the year against a Lennox side that will be very competitive this year," Ambler said.

Strong showings from Arthur up front and midfielders Joel Perkins and Francis highlighted a strong team performance from Villa, which looks like it could be even stronger than last year when it reached the semis for the first time.

Thistles could easily have scored more goals in their 3-0 home win over a rebuilding Ballina.

But goals from strikers Matt Armstrong, Nathan McCann and Jake Nind proved enough.

Wide defenders Zac Wilson and Jeremy Sullivan created plenty of space with overlapping runs, while central defenders Max Hospers and Matt Cramp also looked solid.

"Our ball retention was pretty good and we created plenty of chances that went untaken, so overall I was happy with the effort," Blues coach Rod Lees said.

"But Ballina showed plenty of heart and never stopped trying."

Does Danny Allsopp still play for Croydon City Arrows? Wasn't someone on here in RMIT FC? They're playing on sunday.

Are Wallsend FC the oldest club competing in the competition this year?

Probably. The only older club I can think of is Balgownie Rangers, but they're not taking part.

Not bad that 120 year old team is playing in a 2 year old comp, ran by an 11 year old body. :P

Shit yeah. Allsopp to score a hatrick

Edited by TheSelectFew: 19/2/2015 06:25:11 PM

That would be me. Why would Allsopp play 4th div???

Wouldn't even make my 5th div side

That would be me. Why would Allsopp play 4th div???

Wouldn't even make my 5th div side

FFA Cup: Earlwood Wanderers FC becomes focal point of football as tournament is launched
CHRIS GEORGAKOPOULOS CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN EXPRESS FEBRUARY 20, 2015 12:00AM SHARE


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The rich football history of Earlwood Wanderers Football Club was on show when the FFA Cup was launched at Earlwood Oval yesterday.

Established in 1946 by returned soldiers from World War II, the club has produced five Socceroos and last year had more than 700 registered players in the Canterbury District Soccer Football Association.

Former Wanderers Johnny Warren, Johnny Watkiss, Peter Raskopoulos and current Sydney FC player Bernie Ibini went on to represent Australia.


Warren played youth football with the club before going to represent Australia at the World Cup in 1974.

Raskopoulos, 52, also played youth football with the Wanderers before a decade long career with Sydney Olympic in the old National Soccer League.

He represented Australia 14 times — twice as captain.


Johnny Warren in action.
Raskopoulos was on hand to help launch the second instalment of the nationwide FFA Cup along with FFA chief executive David Gallop and Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou.

SOCCEROO CAPTAIN TRAINS EARLWOOD JUNIORS

“It’s a great day for not only me but for everyone that put in the hard yards from many years ago,” Raskopoulos said.

“To see the FFA, Fox Sports, and Westfields here to launch the FFA Cup is unreal.”


“I have very fond memories of the club as a youngster like when we won the Champion of Champions trophy in 1975 as a 13-year-old.

“But it was more about being the ethnic kid and the acceptance the club showed.

“At the time the club was an Anglo Saxon based club with Mr Sheehan being the president, secretary was Mr Brown but they accepted us and showed us respect, guidance and love.”


Earlwood Wanderers FC was established in 1946 but FFA officials found evidence that football started in the region as early as 1912.

Today, several signed jerseys, photos and memorabilia are on display showing the club’s history

The Wanderers have a chance to add to their history when they compete in the fourth round of the FFA Cup this year.

Their senior team is set to face the winner of the clash between State League side Hurstville FC and Manly Vale FC.


The prize every football team in the nation is vying for — the FFA Cup. Picture: Craig Wi
The prize every football team in the nation is vying for — the FFA Cup. Picture: Craig Wilson
“At least you have bragging rights as in 10 or 20 years time no one is going to know who you lost to or beat to get to a specific round so we can brag that we got through to round four,” he said.



Other local clubs competing in the national knockout competition are Panania RSL, Yagoona Lions, Chullora Wolves, Bankstown Sports Strikers, Padstow United and Hurlstone Park Wanderers.

Belmore-based NSW National Premier League Sydney Olympic will enter at a latter round, before A-League clubs join the competition.

IMO it's absolutely ridiculous that teams in the likes of Wagga or Albury are expected to play in the same comp as Sydney sides when the ACT is just down the road. Capital Football should have been expanded to include the Riverina like in Rugby.