Canberra Eclipse FC

The Canberra Eclipse (founded in 1996 as the ACT Academy of Sport) were a women's association football club that represented the city of Canberra and the Australian Capital Territory in the now defunct Women's National Soccer League. The Canberra Eclipse played in all 8 seasons of the WNSL, winning the Championship during the 2001–02 season, and finishing runners up in 1998–99. The club featured several players that would go on to represent the Matildas, and are considered to be the forerunner for the professional W-League club Canberra United FC.

Canberra Eclipse
Full nameCanberra Eclipse Football Club
Founded1996 (As ACT Academy of Sport)
Dissolved2005
GroundAustralian Institute of Sport
McKellar Park
Capacity3,500
LeagueWomen's National Soccer League

History
18-year old Munoz would score the only goal in Canberra's 2002 Grand Final win

The Women's National Soccer League was founded in 1996 by the Australian Women's Soccer Association (AWSA), and was the first women's association football competition to be held nationally in Australia. The 6 foundation clubs, broken up into two conferences of 3 teams each were representd by the individual states elite Academy of Sports. The ACT was to be represented by the Australian Institute of Sport.[1]

The 1998–99 season saw the club adopt the moniker of the Canberra Eclipse, as clubs in the competition sought to move away from their academy roots, and attempt to garner interest and visibility on the league[2] The club would go on to win its first silverware, winning the regular season, however losing to the SA Pirates 2–0 in the grand final.[3] Further success would come during the 2001–02 season, as the beat the NSW Sapphires in the Grand Final[4] having gone into the final classed as underdogs,[5] with 18-year old telent Caitlin Munoz scoring the only goal of the game.[2]

Honours
  • WNSL:
    • 1st place, gold medalist(s) WNSL Champions (1): 2001-02
    • 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runners-up (1): 1998-99

Notable Players

Managers
Canberra Eclipse list of managers
YearsName
1996-1998England Chris Tanzey
1998-1999Australia Ian Murray
2000Australia Rod Lynes
2001-2002Australia Clive MacKillop

References
  1. "The first national women's championships". Football Australia. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  2. Gorman, Joe. "The Long Read: A players' history of Australian football's first women's national league". Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  3. "Women's National League Table". OzFootball. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  4. Odong, Ann (19 May 2016). "Matildas "Old Girls": Sacha Wainwright, defender". SBS. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  5. "Sapphires have sparkle to eclipse rival". The Age. 9 March 2002. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  6. "Sacha Wainwright". Football Australia. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  7. Odong, Ann. "LISA CASAGRANDE INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME". The Womens Game. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
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