Perth Soccer Club is an Australian professional soccer club based in West Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1987 as the result of a merger between three local sides, though its pre-merger history is regarded to be that of Perth Azzurri after taking full control of the club in 2002. Perth currently competes in the National Premier Leagues Western Australia, with matches played at Dorrien Gardens.[1]
History
The club was formed in 1987 as a result of a merger of Perth Azzurri (formed 1948), East Fremantle Tricolore (formed 1953) and Balcatta Etna (formed 1977). After numerous meetings and discussions the new club known as, named Perth Italia Soccer Club, was formed.[2][3] Of the three clubs that merged, Perth Azzurri was the most successful club having won 11 league titles.[4]
The club had its beginnings when a group of boys joined with the initial intention of starting an Australian rules football club.[5][6] The club faced friction from the footballing establishment which disapproved of Azzurri's passionate style of play.[3] Between 1953 and 1987 East Fremantle Tricolore also won six league titles, including three straight wins between 1963 and 1965.[4] Balcatta Etna had the least success, with only one league title.
Representatives from all three clubs strongly contributed in establishing the finest club and facilities in Western Australia. In the late 1980s the club registered the name Perth United in anticipation of joining the National Soccer League.[7][8] However the club never managed to join the national league.
In 1991 Balcatta Etna left the merged club. In 1995 it was decided to change the name to Perth Soccer Club in order to broaden its appeal to a more mainstream audience.[9][10] In 2002 Azzurri fully merged with Perth SC to become the club it is today,[11] with East Fremantle Tricolore leaving the merged club to play in their own right in 2004.
Men's team
Current squad
As of 21 August 2022
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Night Series Cup – 1962, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1981
Night Series – 1989, 1990, 1992, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Women's team
The Perth SC Women's team are one of the inaugural teams in the new National Premier Leagues WA Women competition (which commenced in 2020), and is a part of the National Premier Leagues Women’s structure. The team is coached by Peter Rakic with Jessica Byrne as his assistant. The Perth SC women's team finished second in the NPLW WA in the 2022 season.[12]
Current squad
As of 21 August 2022
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
^Moore, David; Miller, William J (1996). "The Lads in Action: Social Process in an Urban Youth Subculture". Journal of Contemporary Ethnography. Newbury Park, California: Sage Publications. 24 (4). ISSN0891-2416.
^Krieder, Richard (1996). A Soccer Century. SportsWest Media. p. 52. ISBN978-0-646-29376-9.
