Australian semi-professional soccer club
Football club
NorthEastern MetroStars |
| Full name | North Eastern MetroStars Soccer Club |
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| Nickname(s) | Metro |
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| Founded | 1994 as Metro Knights
1999 as North Eastern MetroStars |
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| Ground | T.K. Shutter Reserve[1] |
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| Capacity | 1,000 |
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| Chairman | Rob Rende |
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| Manager | Danny Graystone |
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| League | NPL South Australia |
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| 2023 | 1st of 12 (premiers) |
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| Website | Club website |
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North Eastern MetroStars Soccer Club, commonly known as MetroStars, is an Australian semi-professional soccer club based in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1994, the club currently competes in the National Premier Leagues South Australia, with matches played at the T.K. Shutter Reserve in the north-eastern suburb of Klemzig. It has generally been a strong club and has dominated in the top division of South Australian Football.
History
The club was initially known as the Metro Knights before a name change in 1999 to avoid a naming conflict with the Para Hills Knights. A verbal agreement with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars of Major League Soccer was reached to rename the team to the North Eastern MetroStars. Committee members that founded the club were Peter Pipicella, Andrew Perrone, Tony Taormina, Ady DiBartolo, Frank Calipari and Rob Rende and the requirement was that the passion for good value soccer and love of the game would always be the driving force behind the club. [2]
It started playing in Division 2 of the Saturday Amateur league in 1995, won promotion into Division 1, and quickly became the dominant side in the league.
The club entered the SASF State League in 1999 and won promotion to the Premier League in its first season.
MetroStars has subsequently cemented its position in the top South Australian football league and has developed into one of the league's leading clubs. During the formation of the FFSA and the Super League, MetroStars supported the federation, and in early 2006 was the first club to become a member.
They have recently become a more dominant force in the Super League over the last few years winning in both the senior and reserves squads. They have also produced young talents such as Jason Spagnuolo, Fabian Barbiero[3] and Francesco Monterosso, all who have been recruited by Adelaide United, whilst Adriano Pellegrino and Shane Smeltz have gone onto other A-League clubs' books.[4]
On 25 August 2012 they won the Federation Cup final against Para Hills Knights for the third time.
In September 2012, the club won its third League championship. MetroStars won back to back National Premier Leagues South Australia Minor Premierships in 2013 and 2014.
In October 2014, MetroStars defeated New South Wales outfit Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1–0 to claim the NPL National Championship.[5]
In June 2016, MetroStars defeated Adelaide Comets 1–0 at Hindmarsh Stadium to win the FFSA Federation Cup and qualify for the FFA Cup.[6]
In June 2017, MetroStars defeated Adelaide City 2–0 at Hindmarsh Stadium to win the FFSA Federation Cup and qualify for the FFA Cup Round of 32 for the third year running.[7]
Current squad
- As of 26 February 2023[8]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
