Melbourne City FC (W-League)

Melbourne City FC W-League
Full name Melbourne City Women's FC
Founded 2015 (2015)
Ground CB Smith Reserve (2,000)
AAMI Park (30,050)
Lakeside Stadium
Manager Rado Vidošić
League W-League
2016–17 Champions (play-offs)
4th (league)
Website Club website

Melbourne City FC, also known as the Melbourne City Women or simply as City, represents Melbourne City in the W-League, the top division women's football (soccer) league in Australia. Founded in 2015, the club has its training and administration based at the City Football Academy in Melbourne and plays home games at both the CB Smith Reserve in the northern suburb of Fawkner and at AAMI Park near the Melbourne city centre. The head coach of the team is player Jess Fishlock. [1]

History

Following on from their purchase of and investment into Manchester City in England, City Football Group turned their eyes to investment into the women's game as well, funding a serious overhaul of the Manchester club's female affiliate.[2] Only months after their takeover of the men's team Melbourne City FC, they followed likewise on the women's side, contacting the FFA regarding entering a team into the W-League to be affiliated to the men's Melbourne side.[3]

After a year of negotiations, their involvement was sealed with an announcement that a women's team competing under the name Melbourne City FC would compete in the W-League as of the beginning of the 2015–16 season.[3]

Foundations and immediate success

Melbourne City CEO Scott Munn revealed that his club had been in consultation with Football Federation Australia (FFA) for over 12 months regarding the introduction of a new W-League side.[4] In July 2015, Melbourne City Women's FC made Matildas co-captain Lisa De Vanna their first-ever signing. She is widely regarded as one of the world's best women's strikers.[5] After De Vanna, the club's next foundation signings were Laura Alleway and Brianna Davey. In September 2015, Young Matildas Larissa Crummer, Alex Chidiac, Beattie Goad and former Adelaide United defender Monique Iannella joined the club.[6] Matilda Steph Catley also signed up in September. Regarded as a Matlidas' fan favourite, Catley created history when she was voted as the first female to appear on the cover of the video game FIFA 16.[7][8]

The club created history in its inaugural 2015–16 season, winning all 12 of its regular season games to become Premiers (regular-season winners) and becoming Champions by winning the 2016 W-League Grand Final, completing a perfect season.[9] In the following season, City suffered a six-match winless run during the middle part of the season before storming back into the finals series and claiming a second successive championship in the 2017 Grand Final. This achievement meant the club was equal with several other clubs for the greatest number of championships won in the league.[10]

Players

Current squad

Melbourne City's Women squad, updated 20 August 2018.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Australia GK Lydia Williams (on loan from Houston Dash)
2 Japan DF Yukari Kinga
3 United States DF Lauren Barnes (on loan from Seattle Reign FC)
4 United States FW Ashley Hatch (on loan from North Carolina Courage)
5 Australia MF Lia Muldeary
6 Australia MF Aivi Luik
7 Australia DF Steph Catley (Captain, on loan from Orlando Pride SC)
10 Wales MF Jess Fishlock (on loan from Seattle Reign FC)
11 Australia MF Rhali Dobson
12 England FW Jodie Taylor (guest player)
No. Position Player
13 New Zealand FW Rebekah Stott
14 Australia DF Alanna Kennedy
15 Australia MF Amy Jackson
16 Australia MF Sofia Sakalis
17 Australia FW Kyah Simon
18 Australia DF Hayley Richmond
19 Australia DF Tyla-Jay Vlajnic
20 Australia GK Emily Shields
Australia MF Tameka Butt
Australia MF Elise Kellond-Knight

Notable former players

Below is a list of notable footballers who have played for Melbourne City. Generally, this means players that have played 50 or more first-class matches for the club, have at least one senior international cap or have made significant contributions to the club's history.

Australia Australia
Japan Japan
Mexico Mexico
New Zealand New Zealand
Scotland Scotland
United States United States
Wales Wales

Managerial staff

Position Name
Head Coach Australia Rado Vidošić
Assistant Coach Australia Melissa Hudson
Team Manager Australia Louisa Bisby

Honours

Broadcasting

For the 2018–19 season, all matches are scheduled to be broadcast on pay-TV network Fox Sports and the My Football app., with one match per week free-to-air on SBS.[11] In addition, ESPN+ will broadcast at least 17 W-League matches in the 2018-19 season. [12]

League results

Correct as of 12 February 2017

Season League Finals Series Top scorer
Pld W D L GF GA Pts Position Player(s) Goals[nb 1]
2015–16 121200384361stChampionsLarissa Crummer11
2016–17 126241914204thChampionsJess Fishlock8
2017–18 126242015204thChampionsJess Fishlock8

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Includes any goals scored in finals series matches.

References

  1. ↑ "Jess Fishlock takes over as Melbourne City coach".
  2. ↑ "Manchester City aim for Women's Super League success too". BBC. 24 January 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Melbourne City FC set to field W-League team in 2015". melbournecityfc.com.au. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "Melbourne City to join W-League next season". SBS. 14 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "Melbourne City FC signs inaugural W-League player". Football Federation Australia. 14 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "Melbourne City sign four more W-League signings". Football Federation Australia. 10 September 2015.
  7. ↑ "Steph Cately to be on FIFA 16 cover". Daily Mail Australia. 10 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "Melbourne City signs Steph Cately for 2015/16 W-League season". Football Federation Australia. 16 September 2015.
  9. ↑ "W-League grand final: Melbourne City beat Sydney FC". ABC News. 31 January 2016.
  10. ↑ "W-League grand final: Melbourne City first club to win two titles in a row". ABC News. 12 February 2017.
  11. ↑ Jacob Windon (6 September 2018). "Don't miss a game How to watch every Westfield W-League 2018/19 match live". Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  12. ↑ "ESPN+ Acquires Broadcast Rights to Westfield W-League in the United States". August 10, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
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