On 18th April, APIA Leichhardt FC – one of the most successful football clubs in Australia – will be celebrating its 70th year with a glamorous gala event at La Montage Function Centre.
The names of the former players who wore the maroon and sky blue colours of the club just roll off the tongue – including Stan Ackerley, Leo Baumgartner, Col Bennett, Arno Bertogna, Archie Blue, George Blues, Fillipo Bottalico, Mark Brown, Rod Brown, Alex Bundalo, Terry Butler, Ricard Campana, Ernie Campbell, Paul Carter, John Doyle, Stan Foster, Johnny Giacometti, Sebastian Giampolo, Joey Gibbs, Terry Greedy, Pat Hughes, Audauto Iglesias, Karl Jaros, Peter Katholos, George Keith, Billy Kerklaan, Lawrie McKinna, Danny McKinnon, Graham McKinnon, David McQuire, Ross Maiorana, Brad Maloney, Jean-Paul de Marigny, Joe Marston, Bruce Morrow, Tony Morsello, David Muir, George Nuttall, Phil O’Connor, Peter Ollerton, Franco Parisi, Tony Pezzano, Mark Pullen, Nick Rizzo, John Roberts, Billy Rogers, Jim Rooney, Bill Rorke, John Russell, Jim Sambrook, Marshall Soper, Darren Stewart, Brian Taylor, Cliff Van Blerk, Jason Van Blerk, Walter Valeri, Willie Wallace, John Watkiss, Vernon Wentzel, Peter Wilson, Johnny Wong and Charlie Yankos.
The significance of this milestone is not lost on long serving President, Tony Raciti, who has been associated with the club since 1977 and is leading the charge for APIA’s participation in the National Second Tier Competition commencing in March, 2025.
Although there is a lot of work to be done before next March, Raciti goes about his work with his usual determination to ensure the club is fully prepared for the task ahead.
In this interview with Roger Sleeman, Tony Raciti discusses the significance of APIA’s longevity in Australian football, the state of play for the Club’s National Second Tier effort and conveys his thoughts about all things football in Australia.
ROGER SLEEMAN
On the 70th anniversary of the club, what feelings are evoked?
TONY RACITI
The club has shown incredible stability in this time and we’re on target to enjoy another 70 years of prosperity.
The function on 18th April will be recognition of the club’s achievements over the 70 years and the large assembly of former and current players, supporters and sponsors will be a testimony to the continuing success and ambition of the club, particularly with the start of the National Second Tier.
R.S.
Is the original reason for the club’s formation still relevant today?
T.R.
It was originally formed as a sporting social club but obviously football was centre stage.
Today, the social aspect is not so evident as we’re a football club first and foremost providing a focus for the sport in the inner west for thousands of people, including players and supporters.
It’s now a firm fabric in local society.
Although the club has a strong Italian heritage, especially dating back to the 50’s and 60’s, there was also a strong Scottish and English influence which is still prevalent today.
Interestingly, if you examine the data base of registered players at the club, there are roughly 75% of Anglo Saxon and others of non Italian background which confirms we’ve fully integrated into the local community.
R.S.
You’ve been with the club since 1977.
What changes have you seen in this period?
T.R.
The fact we were incurring substantial losses in previous years, despite always meeting our debt, was not ideal. However, we are no longer incurring annual losses but breaking even or making small surpluses.
Lambert Park had never been subsidized by the local council until 2014 when the club was granted a $2.4 million government grant to upgrade the facility, the clubrooms and playing surface.
The club currently has an asset register which exceeds $6 million dollars and fortunately the local council is to provide funds to upgrade our synthetic surface and drainage. They will contribute $1.8 million dollars with the club funding $500,000.
Fortunately, we’ll be playing at Leichhardt Oval next year in the N.S.T. and we have seven other grounds available in the area as registrations are growing rapidly.
To meet the demand, we’re hiring school grounds for training , including Concord High School four nights a week which has been funded by the junior and women’s section of the club who have banded together to raise $45,000 for lighting at the school.
R.S
Does Football NSW do enough to support your club and NPL Clubs in general?
T.R.
Unfortunately, the landscape has changed in the last decade or two and the makeup of the board requires more people with a football background.
Currently, there are a number who don’t have the knowledge of football history and club operations.
Nevertheless, Football NSW are a governing body with a strong management structure in a game which is bursting at the seams in N.S.W.
R.S.
Can the National Second Tier be a natural progression from the NPL?
T.R.
Absolutely.
It will support and underpin the A-League and provide advancement for clubs who want to grow further on a national stage.
In recent years, there’s been a deterioration in criteria observed for the NPL so the NST will provide an opportunity for clubs with ambition to achieve a higher position in the game and to evolve further in a much stronger competition with better training and playing facilities.
R.S.
Can the clubs raise sufficient capital to fund their place in the N.S.T.?
T.R.
I’ve been personally impressed with the clubs involved in the process and have no doubt the clubs will be financially stable, particularly with their fund raising activities.
From an APIA standpoint, we’ll be the first sporting club in Australia to be owned by the community via public shareholding.
This process hasn’t been launched yet because we haven’t finalised our prospectus which has to be approved by ASIC.
Initially, we are limited by law to twenty shareholders who have committed $500,000 so we can submit our bank guarantee to the F.A. to play in the N.S.T.
Beyond the approval of the prospectus, we’re confident we can increase our shareholding to 1000 by the end of 2024.
We also have strong corporate sponsorship to the tune of $800,000 per annum and with the move to Leichhardt Oval next year, the 2,500 under cover seats will be sold by end of January, 2025 which will give the club an injection of $1,000,000, adding to other revenue streams.
R.S.
Are all your supporters and sponsors fully behind the N.S.T. ?
T.R.
Very much so and they see the club is well managed with a strong board.
For the past decade, the club has been a powerhouse in first grade as well as juniors, SAP, women’s and girls.
Currently, there are twelve other clubs knocking on the door to be included beyond the initial eight accepted, so this speaks volumes for the interest in the N.S.T.
Obviously, only four of those clubs will be accepted in the 2025 competition because there can’t be a 20-team League in the first season.
The FA have been totally co-operative as a governing body which will guarantee the League has direction, stability, and good management, providing better marketing opportunities for the clubs, especially blanket television broadcasting.
Regrettably, in the initial stages there will be no money for the N.S.T. flowing from the broadcast deal.
R.S.
In view of the troubled A-League, will the football public warm to the NST?
T.R.
I believe they will and when promotion and relegation is introduced both Leagues will boom.
With the cost of licences in the A-League, it was premature to introduce promotion and relegation immediately.
Critically, there will be a higher level of competition on view in the NST.
R.S.
Can the A-League overcome its current problems to ensure there is no delay in the start of the NST?
T.R.
The NST will definitely commence next year.
It should be remembered there are thriving clubs like Sydney FC, Wanderers and Melbourne Victory and the remainder are working hard to improve their lot.
I wish I had $15 million to purchase Newcastle Jets because it’s a strong football area.
The purchase of Perth Glory by the Pellegra Group is also a perfect example of the willingness of substantial investors to support the game.
R.S.
Currently NPL playing times vary greatly.
Do you expect there will be uniformity in the NST whereby all games start at 3pm on the weekend?
T.R.
There is only one time to play these matches which should be at 3 or 3.30 pm on a Sunday afternoon.
You’re looking for trouble playing outside these times when you’re playing in winter so APIA will be abiding by these times.
