Melbourne City FC are an Australian women's football club affiliated with Melbourne City FC. 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 city centre. Founded in 2015, it became the tenth team to compete in the W-League, the top division of women's football in Australia. The head coach of the team is Joe Montemurro.
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.[1] Only months after their takeover of Melbourne City FC, they followed likewise in Australia, contacting the FFA regarding entering a team into the W-League to be affiliated to the Melbourne side.[2]
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.[2]
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.[3] 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.[4] After Lisa, 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.[5] 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.[6][7]
The club created history in its inaugural 2015-16 season, winning all 12 of its regular season games and achieving success in the 2016 W-League Grand Final, completing a perfect season.[8]
Players
Current squad
- As of 30 October 2015[9]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Managerial staff
Honours
Broadcasting
Since the inaugural season in 2008, the national public television network, ABC, broadcast one match a week per team. In November 2014, ABC announced a decision to cease broadcast of the league at the end of the 2014 season as part of widespread budget cuts.[10] Ahead of the 2015–16 season, it was announced that pay-TV network Fox Sports would televise one W-League match a week.[11] ABC also rejoined the broadcasting arrangement ahead of the 2015–16 season, being entitled to air one live match of the round in conjunction with Fox Sports.[12]
League results
Correct as of 31 January 2016 (end of 2015/16 season).
See also
Notes
- ↑ Includes any goals scored in finals series matches.
References
External links
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