Charlestown United

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Charlestown United S.F.C.
2008 Season

Full name

Charlestown United Senior Football Club

Nickname(s)

The Hammers,
Charlie United,
The Irons

Founded

1900

Ground

Charlestown Oval (Under Redevelopment)
(Capacity 55,000)

Manager

Johnny O

League

Northern NSW ID3

2007

Northern NSW ID3, 2nd





Home colours





Away colours

Charlestown United Senior Football Club are an amateur football team based in Charlestown, New South Wales. Known as 'The Hammers', they currently compete in the Northern New South Wales Football Interdistrict 3rd Division. The club was formed in 1900, and has given birth to some of football's finest names. They play their home games at Charlestown Oval, a.k.a. 'Hammers Stadium'.

While their club history is sketchy, scholars maintain that the club is nicknamed 'The Hammers' as they have played in maroon and sky blue club colours like their namesake in England, West Ham United, since 1973.

In the 2007 season, Charlestown United finished 2nd in the league in 1st grade, but were knocked out in the Preliminary Final of the finals series, whilst their Reserve grade side also finished 2nd in the league, and have made the Grand Final, to be played this Saturday, September 8, at Edgeworth Oval.

1 Current Squad
2 2007 Season
3 External links

[edit] Current Squad

No.		Position	Player
		GK	Justin Carlier
		GK	Shane Phillips
		DF	Robert Wilson (Res. Grade Captain)
		DF	Richard Mullins
		DF	Dylan Jones
		DF	Craig Cullen
		DF	Nathan Bray
		DF	Jason Barnes (1st Grade Captain)
		DF	Michael King
		DF	Ben Archibald
		DF	Daniel Milne
		DF	Dane Cook
		MF	Luke Powell
		MF	Luke Henley

No.		Position	Player
		MF	Tony Rhodes
		MF	Mark Conway
		MF	Simon Bosevski
		MF	Chris Aspinall
		MF	Shane Bray (Res. Grade VC)
		MF	Peter Boskovic
		MF	Yazan Othman
		MF	Brendan Botha
		FW	Christopher Matthews (1st Grade VC)
		FW	Volkan Canli
		FW	Dogukan Canli
		FW	Phil Dean
			John Owen (Coach)

Out of this current squad, the team produced 16 different goalscorers, leading Charlestown United to have the deadliest attack in both 1st Grade (71 scored) and Reserve Grade (51 scored).

[edit] 2007 Season

After the disappointment of being relegated in the 2006 season, The Hammers recruited smartly by signing a new coach, new sponsors and some smashing new players. As a result of this, Charlestown United experienced a change in fortunes this season, and at the midway point of the 2007 season, both 1st Grade and Reserve Grade sat proudly atop the table. Due to a turn in form, some bad luck, and some controversy, Charlestown United eventually finished 2nd in both Grades, 1 point behind Newcastle University in both grades. In the final series, both grades faced University in the Major Semi-Finals. 1st Grade suffered a 4-2 loss, while Reserve Grade triumphed 3-0 over University. Unfortunately, Charlestown United lost 1-0 to Valentine in the 1st Grade Preliminary Final on Sunday, September 2, 2007. Charlestown United take on University in the Reserve Grade Grand Final on Saturday September 8, at Edgeworth Oval, Kick-off is at 12:45pm.

[edit] First Grade

2007 1st Grade Team

Charlestown United's 1st Grade side started the season in scintillating fashion, topping the league after winning 11 from their first 12 fixtures. The only loss in that period, a 6-1 drubbing, came at the hands of University, and when the teams met for a second time, an understrength Charlestown United succumbed 5-0. With only 3 games to play, The Hammers sat comfortably 2 points in front of University, but controversy and drama ensued, and the season ended in disgrace. After an 'error' by the Football Association led to University gaining 3 extra points for reasons unknown, it rendered the final games of the season meaningless, as University had subsequently been gifted the league title, and thus handed promotion.

Despite this unfortunate political situation, The Hammers have enjoyed a highly successful 2007 season, playing some high quality football worthy of being crowned Champions. They also possessed the deadliest strikeforce in the League, with forwards Christopher Matthews and Dogukan Canli both setting the league alight, each contributing over 20 goals to the team's cause.

ID3 First Grade Final League Table

#	Club	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	University	18	15	1	2	52	46
2	Charlestown United	18	15	0	3	44	45
3	Valentine	18	13	1	4	31	40
4	Weston	18	12	1	5	39	37
5	South Wallsend	18	10	0	8	14	30
6	Tenambit	18	5	3	10	-20	18
7	Rutherford	18	5	2	11	-35	17
8	Cardiff	18	4	2	12	-41	14
9	Greta Branxton	18	4	1	13	-36	13
10	Wickham	18	1	1	16	-48	4

[edit] Reserve Grade

2007 Reserve Grade Major Premiers

After winning 9 of their first 10 fixtures, Reserve Grade were sitting pretty on top of the table with only 8 games left to play. Tragically, their form dipped, and they dropped points in 5 out of the remaining 8 games, suffering 3 losses and 2 draws, including a heart-breaking 4-2 loss on home soil to hand the Minor Premiership, on the final day of the season, to University.

Despite their end of season slump, Reserve Grade produced another fine season with a mixture of some very good, and some very average football. Up front, Phil Dean contributed 14 goals, propelling him to second in the league's top scorer charts.

ID3 Reserve Grade Final League Table

#	Club	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	University	18	13	0	5	24	39
2	Charlestown United	18	12	2	4	29	38
3	Greta Branxton	18	12	2	4	24	38
4	Valentine	18	10	4	4	11	34
5	Tenambit	18	10	2	6	13	32
6	South Wallsend	18	10	1	7	15	31
7	Cardiff	18	4	4	10	-9	16
8	Weston	18	5	0	13	-28	15
9	Rutherford	18	3	2	13	-39	11
10	Wickham	18	2	1	15	-40	7

[edit] Finals Campaign

After the disappointment of finishing second in both grades, Charlestown United took on University in both the 1st Grade and Reserve Grade Major Semi-Finals, played at Ray Watt Oval on Saturday, August 25th.
In 1st Grade, Charlestown United held their own for large periods of the game, but missing a penalty didn't help their cause, while University made the most of their chances, but the 4-2 scoreline flattered University in the end.
After this loss, Charlestown United would played Valentine in the Preliminary Final, who beat Weston in the Minor Semi-Final. Despite having beaten Valentine 4-3 (A) and 2-0 (H), Charlestown United never really lived up to their billing, and a late goal to Valentine was enough to settle the match, Valentine prevailing 1-0 in a dull match, ending 1st Grade's 2007 season.
In the Reserve Grade Major Semi-Final, Charlestown United produced a professional performance as they dispatched of University 3-0, to progress straight to the Grand Final, where they will square off again with University, after they beat Valentine in the Reserve Grade Preliminary Final.