Thornbury Athletic FC

The Thornbury Athletic Football Club is an Australian semi-professional soccer club based in the Melbourne suburb of Reservoir, operating under license from Football Victoria.[3][4] With its senior men's squad currently competing in the northern conference of Victorian State League Division 4,[5] the club was established by members of the Melbourne's Italian community in 2014.

Thornbury Athletic FC
Full nameThornbury Athletic Football Club[1]
Nickname(s)Reservoir, Swifts[2]
Short nameTAFC
Founded2014
GroundLE Cotchin Reserve
Head CoachWalter Costantini
LeagueVSL 4 North
201912th
WebsiteClub website

History

Origins and first season (2014–2015)

The club was founded in late 2014 by present head coach Walter Costantini after placing an advertisement on Gumtree to set up a soccer club in Melbourne's northern suburbs. With a squad size of approximately forty four players consisting of twenty five different nationalities, the club entered the amateur competition league 'VicSoccer' in which the senior squad were premiers of their division one league. Following this feat, Thornbury applied for Football Victoria's Victorian State League Division 5 for the 2016 season, then the seventh tier in Victoria, and was accepted.[6]

Victorian State League 4 and 5 (2016–2019)

Thornbury's senior squad made its debut in Victorian state soccer on 2 April 2016, defeating Heidelberg Eagles 3–1 at their home venue of IW Dole Reserve.[7] At the conclusion of the season, the senior squad finished sixth out of eleven.[8] The club also fielded a team in the Metropolitan League 6 North-West competition, who finished last of nine teams.[9]

The 2017 season proved to be more difficult for Thornbury with its senior squad finishing second last on the table.[10] The season was also notable for its senior squad being defeated 0–18 at home to eventual premiers Craigieburn City.[11] The difficult season saw a recruitment drive leading up to the 2018 season, which saw the senior men's squad finish second on the ladder and be promoted to the Victorian State League Division 4, the seventh tier of Victoria football.

In the 2019 season, the club finished last out of twelve teams. Thornbury avoided relegation due to Football Victoria restructuring competitions, and introducing the National Premier Leagues Victoria 3, the new third of Victoria for the 2020 season.

Honours
Runners-up (1): 2018 (North)
  • VicSoccer Division 1 (first amateur tier)
Premiers (1): 2015

References
  1. "ABN Lookup". Abr.business.gov.au. 1 November 2014.
  2. Michell, Tim (24 September 2018). "Thornbury Athletic's stunning turnaround". Heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  3. "Victorian Football Club Archive - Thornbury Athletic to Upfield". Ozfootball.net. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  4. "Thornbury Athletic FC". Websites.mygameday.app. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  5. "Ladder for POSTPONED - Men's State League 4 North". Websites.mygameday.app. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  6. Michell, Tim (3 May 2016). "Thornbury's swift progress". Heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  7. "2016 Victorian State League Division 4 North - Season Results". Ozfootball.net. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  8. "Ladder for Zagame's Men's State League 5 North". Websites.sportstg.com.
  9. "Ladder for BOF.com.au Metropolitan League 6 North-West". Websites.mygameday.app. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  10. "Ladder for Men's State League 5 North". Websites.sportstg.com.
  11. Michell, Tim (20 August 2017). "Champion runs riot in 18-0 rout". Herald Sun.
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