South Coast United SC
South Coast United Soccer Club (formerly known as South Coast Croatia Soccer Club) is an Australian soccer club from the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club was founded in 1984 by Wollongong's Croatian Australian community. The club plays in the Illawarra Premier League.
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| Nickname(s) | Croatia, SCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1984 | ||
| Ground | Sir Ian McLennan Park | ||
| Capacity | 500 Seated , 5000 Standing | ||
| Chairman | Vlado Skara | ||
| Manager | Greg Valic | ||
| League | Illawarra Premier League | ||
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History
Founded in 1984 by Croatian migrants as South Coast Croatia Soccer Club, the high point in the club's history came in 1987 when the club won its only Illawarra Premier League
South Coast Croatia were forced to change their name to South Coast United for the 1994 season a very unpopular move by Soccer Australia but with the end of NCIP the South Coast United Momci (scUm for short) the clubs active support branch want the club to return to its original name.
South Coast United were previously in the Illawarra Conference League, or Division 1 as it was previously known. In 2004, United were minor premiers of the Illawarra Conference League, and gained promotion to the Illawarra Premier League, but lost the Grand Final to Helensburgh 4–1.
South Coast United/Croatia is a regular participant of the Australian-Croatian Soccer Tournament although never having won the tournament in Division 1 the club has won Division 2 and Masters Titles with the most recent examples being 2011 at Edensor Park and 2014 at Ian Mclennan Park respectably.
The club hosted the Australian-Croatian Soccer Tournament in 1994 and 2014
South Coast United formed a junior club under their name and were brought into the FSC junior football competition in 2016.
Supporters
The club has a predominantly Croatian Australian fan base as the club was founded by Croatian migrants.
Achievements
| Year | Division | Name/Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Second Division | Grand Final Champions |
| 1985 | Second Division | Renato Bettoncelli, Player of The Year |
| 1985 | Reserve Grade Second Division | Grand Final Champions |
| 1986 | First Division | Grand Final Champions |
| 1986 | Reserve Grade First Division | Grand Final Champions |
| 1987 | Premier Division | Premiers |
| 1987 | Premier Division | Grand Final Champions |
| 1987 | Premier Division | Neil Williams, Player of The Year |
| 1987 | Premier Division | Joe Coelho, Top Goalscorer |
| 1987 | NSW Ampol Cup | Champions |
| 1988 | Corrimal Leagues Club Knockout | Champions |
| 1988 | Charity Shield | Champions |
| 1989 | Premier Division | Premiers |
| 1989 | Premier Division Grand Final | Runners Up Lost to Wests/Figtree |
| 1990 | Corrimal Leagues Club Knockout | Champions |
| 1990 | Premier Division | Joe Coelho, Top Goalscorer |
| 1990 | Bert Bampton Cup | Runners up lost to Cringila United 3-2 aet |
| 1990 | Youth Cup | Champions |
| 1991 | Premier Division | Runners Up |
| 1991 | Premier Division | Joe Coelho, Top Goalscorer |
| 1992 | Second Division | Runners Up |
| 2004 | District League | Premiers |
| 2004 | District League Grand Final | Runners up lost 4-1 to Helensburgh |
| 2004 | District League | Denis Jurjevic, Neville Arrowsmith Medal/Player of The Year |
| 2004 | District League | Denis Jurjevic, Top Goalscorer |
| 2005 | Premier League | Denis Jurjevic, Player of The Year |
| 2006 | Youth Cup | Champions |
| 2008 | Premier League | Michael Šantalab, Player of The Year |
| 2008 | Youth Grade | Julian Minutillo, Top Goalscorer |
| 2011 | Premier League | Gregory Valic, IPL Best and Fairest |
Home ground
South Coast United have played out of Ian McLennan Park since their inception in 1984. For a majority of the 2018 season, United played out of Dandaloo Oval due to the redevelopment of Ian McLennan Park which included the laying of a synthetic pitch.
Notable former players
| Mile Jedinak (MF) - Spent 2005 with South Coast United, Former Socceroos Captain Jedinak Led Australia to Asian Cup victory in Sydney in 2015. |
| John Sturm (FW) - 35+ Years Service |
| Zvonko Usljebrka (FW) - Leading goal scorer in the Illawarra Premier League |
| Joe Coelho (FW) - Former Golden Boot winner with a record 29 goals |
| Mirko Sola (MF) - Dynamic Midfielder and Former Captain of the Club |
| Neil Williams (MF) - Championship winning coach and former Welsh Youth International |
| Michael Santalab (DF) - Former NSL player with Sydney United 58 FC (Croatia) 1996/97 Minor Premier Winner , George Naylor Medal Winner 2008 , Former Olyroos Player , Former Captain/Coach of South Coast United for 8 Years |
| Denis Jurjevic (FW) - Former Golden boot winner in District League and Premier Division also winning player of the year in both in 2004 and 2005. |
| Brendon Santalab (FW) - Asian Champions League winner with Western Sydney Wanderers played for the club in 2004. Currently playing for Caroline Springs George Cross FC in Victorian State League 1. |
Current Notable Players
| Cho Byung-Kuk (DF) - Asian champions league winner in 2002 with Suwon Blue Wings and playing 13 games for South Korea scoring 1 goal against Lebanon in World Cup 2006 qualifiers. |
Divisional history
| Year | Division | Points | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Community League | N/A | Promoted |
| 1985 | Second Division | N/A | Grand Final Winners,Place Unknown |
| 1986 | First Division | N/A | Grand Final Winners,Place Unknown |
| 1987 | Premier Division | N/A | 1st (Premiers) ,Grand Final Winners |
| 1988 | Premier Division | N/A | N/A |
| 1989 | Premier Division | 47 | 1st (Premiers) |
| 1990 | Premier Division | 46 | 3rd |
| 1991 | Premier Division | 51 | 2nd (South Coast Croatia were demoted to Division Two) |
| 1992 | Second Division | 45 | 2nd (Promoted) |
| 1993 | First Division | 48 | 5th (South Coast Croatia become South Coast United for 1994) |
| 1994 | First Division | 41 | 3rd (Promoted) |
| 1995 | Premier Division | 22 | 12th |
| 1996 | Division 1 – IFA | 31 | 5th |
| 1997 | Illawarra Conference League | 40 | 8th |
| 1998 | Illawarra Conference League | N/A | N/A |
| 1999 | Illawarra Conference League | 35 | 5th |
| 2000 | Illawarra Conference League | 35 | 9th |
| 2001 | Illawarra Conference League | 32 | 5th |
| 2002 | Illawarra Conference League | 39 | 7th |
| 2003 | Illawarra Conference League | 35 | 9th |
| 2004 | Illawarra Conference League | 62 | 1st – Premiers and Promoted |
| 2005 | Illawarra Premier League | 42 | 5th |
| 2006 | Illawarra Premier League | 35 | 9th |
| 2007 | Illawarra Premier League | 49 | 5th |
| 2008 | Illawarra Premier League | 36 | 9th |
| 2009 | Illawarra Premier League | 36 | 3rd |
| 2010 | Illawarra Premier League | 21 | 11th |
| 2011 | Illawarra Premier League | 29 | 7th |
| 2012 | Illawarra Premier League | 20 | 10th |
| 2013 | Illawarra Premier League | 17 | 10th |
| 2014 | Illawarra Premier League | 36 | 5th |
| 2015 | Illawarra Premier League | 26 | 8th |
| 2016 | Illawarra Premier League | 20 | 10th |
| 2017 | Illawarra Premier League | 18 | 9th |
| 2018 | Illawarra Premier League | 18 | 10th |
| 2019 | Illawarra Premier League | 21 | 10th |
| 2020 | Illawarra Premier League | - | - |