George Mamacas has been named as the president of the new
club formed by the merger of Southern Championship club Olympia FC Warriors and
NPL Tasmania outfit Clarence Zebras.
Clarence Zebras joint president, Nick Di Giovanni, has
been announced as the new vice president.
The new club’s name has officially unveiled as Clarence
Olympia FC Zebras.
The new club will be launched officially in early Dcember.
The merger between Clarence Zebras and Olympia FC Warriors,
which was approved by the two clubs’ boards on Sunday, has now entered the ‘due
diligence’ stage.
*****
Kingborough Lions United, who came fourth in the 2024 NPL
Tasmania season, have announced their new senior coach.
He is Jon Fenech, who was assistant at the Serbian-backed
Queensland club, St George Willawong FC.
The following is the media release issued by the club yesterday:
Kingborough Lions United FC is set to embark on an exciting new chapter, appointing Jon Fenech, an accomplished football professional with a strong background in both playing and coaching, as Head Coach of their National Premier League (NPL) team.
Jon is a UEFA-qualified coach and an active member of the
UK Professional Footballers Association.
He is currently studying a Postgraduate Diploma in Global
Football Sport Directorship and has been shortlisted to commence his UEFA A
License Course in 2025.
He comes to Kingborough following 8 years in Queensland
football. Club President Brian Downes said: “Jon brings a wealth of football
experience to the role, having played for Blackpool FC and Fleetwood Town in
his native United Kingdom, and represented Malta at the international level.”
Most recently, Jon has been part of the highly successful
coaching team at St George Willawong FC.
He played a key role in their 2024 season in which the club
won both the Football Queensland Premier League 1 & Queensland Champions
League Finals, in addition to competing in the FQPL1 Grand Final at Suncorp
Stadium.
Brian said: ‘We were delighted to have very strong
interest in the Head Coach role from right around the world but Jon’s community
oriented values and commitment to building a strong club environment stood out
to us.
“We were impressed by the breadth of Jon’s football
experience but his enthusiasm for taking the Lions to the next level in every
way made him the right choice for our Club”.
Jon is excited to be making the move to Tasmania, saying: "This feels like the perfect next step
in my coaching journey. While it’s
difficult to leave the Queensland football family that has supported me, I
couldn’t resist the opportunity to take on this particular Head Coach role with
Kingborough Lions United Football Club.
“I’m highly motivated to collaborate with key stakeholders
within the club and help achieve their goals, not just for the NPL program, but
also for the wider community initiatives the club supports.
“I look forward to applying my experience from winning
environments and contributing to the club's continued growth and success."
Jon’s appointment signals a new era for Kingborough Lions United FC, as they aim to build on their recent achievements and continue their upward trajectory in Tasmania’s National Premier League competition.
28 comments:
What are the recent 'achievements' ? Just out of curiosity
Cannot wait to see the strip
Mamacas and DJ - should not be allowed near football clubs
Clarence Olympia Football Club Zebras
Almost as bad as ATM Machine
Could be making two cup finals in thr same season, Hope this helps👍
I’m sorry. But that name makes no sense. Can you imagine someone asking you who you go for? Um
Clarence United 3 clubs in Clarence United into one
The sad thing is the name won’t be the worst thing about the merger.
To add to my previous comment Howrah and Clarence where first Two soccer clubs in Clarence area
Karl I think Eastern Suburbs may have been the first.
Anon 8 37. There must be many other clubs who have also achieved alot in years gone by but never won anything according to your comment. Strange how some clubs judge success by achieving reaching cup finals but losing them all.
Eastern suburbs was the first
Phoenix was before clarence
Eastern Suburbs 1972
A lot of negativity about this merger, but at least with George's money in the frame they might be able to field a competitive team for a change and it should strengthen the league. Since the first merger, Clarence Zebras have been completely mediocre for their entire existence in the NPL, the only time they've been a threat to get points in games is against the even weaker Launceston sides. Can understand people involved in the clubs being against it, but from an outsiders perspective, this is definitely an improvement.
Thank you
Sort of. Phoenix was a breakaway group from Eastern Suburbs in 1978. Eastern Suburbs changed their name to Clarence City in 1981. A few years later Clarence and Phoenix merged back into the one club, maybe 1984, not sure of exact year, which I believe is the origin of the current Clarence club.
You have no idea.
Relying on 1 persons money is not a sustainable model for a club. What happens when the money stops? Clubs go straight back to struggling to survive
Cleary you don’t have a clue. If a club has never reached a laka cup final it is obviously an achievement to do so. Make some achievements in your life and you’ll start to understand.
Anon 5.35
How did those finals go? Classic borough person to put any stock in the summer cup.... oh wait because that's your clubs only achievement in the last 25 years.
I’m sure you play for Clarence and celebrate your amazing history on the side of the road at Rosny.
Anon 1.32pm
Or I could play for Devonport or Glenorchy and understand what real achievement is.
Doubt it mate, if you played for a successful club you’d understand rome isn’t built in a day.
Doubt you’ve made many achievement in your life.
So, Olympia FC.
Based in Clarence with a Zebras mascot.
Change the mascot in a few years time and we’re done.
I for one can't wait to support the Clarolympizebras bahahahaha
A bit of history from a "Century of Soccer" by Chris Hudson.
Clarence United
Clarence United started life as "Phoenix Clarence Lauderdale United" (PCL United) or "Phoenix". Founded in 1978 it had in turn "risen out of the ashes" of three Eastern shore-based clubs-Clarence, Phoenix Rovers and the junior club, Lauderdale. Clarence were previously known as Eastern Suburbs, a moderately successful club in the seventies. They were founded in 1971 and played in division two until the club gained promotion in 1975. Unable to keep their place in the higher grade, Eastern Suburbs were relegated the following year. The club however, had won the division two knockout cup in consecutive years (1972 and '73) and again in 1977.
They changed their name to Clarence when the Eastern shore municipality became known as the same. Clarence too, had moderate success in the early eighties prior to amalgamation.
Hobart Olympic
Hobart Olympic were originally founded in 1957 as "The Grecians" and in their first competitive season only entered the annual knockout cup. A year later the club, under the new name of "Olympia", were accepted into the southern division two and won the title, but did not gain promotion into division one due to a format change.
The club, desperate for top-flight soccer, then amalgamated with City-United from division one and changed their name to City Olympia. By the end of 1960 however, the club had dropped "city" from their title.
A bit of deja vu?
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