SSC Yugal

S.S.C. Yugal
Full name Dalmatinac, Yugal, Ryde-Yugal, Yugal-Prague, S.S.C. Yugal, Auburn Yugal, Liverpool Yugal
Founded 1957
Dissolved 1992
Ground Liverpool Showground, E.S. Marks Field, Concord Oval, Mona Park, Ernie Smith Reserve

Sydney Soccer Club Yugal is a defunct association football club from Sydney, Australia. The club, formed by Yugoslav immigrants in the mid-1950s, was originally known as Dalmatinac. It competed initially in the Granville District competition before joining the New South Wales Federation of Soccer Club's Second Division Competition in 1958, the same year as other former giants of soccer in New South Wales, Pan-Hellenic, later known as Sydney Olympic FC and Polonia.

The Club held fierce rivalries with Croatia Sydney and Avala, due to these club's large Croatian and Serbian supporter bases and Yugal's Yugoslav supporter base. They merged with former Champion Club Prague to be known as Yugal-Prague from the 1973 season until late in the 1970s when they became known as Sydney Soccer Club Yugal. The Yugal-Prague licensed Club was originally located in Pagewood, and later as S.S.C. Yugal the licensed club moved to Haymarket.

The Club struggled to survive once the Former Yugoslav States began to gain Independence, in the late 1980s and early 1990s they attempted mergers with Auburn and Liverpool before ultimately disbanding in 1992.

History

Yugal, formerly called Dalmatinac, came into being in 1956 when several young Yugoslav immigrants got together to kick a football around a park in Liverpool. Martin Batistic first thought of forming a club and as a player and an organiser he did much to help put the club on its feet. It was one of life’s tragedies that Martin died in 1959 so did not live to see the fulfillment of his ambitions for the club. Another tireless worker for the club was Ivan Pudarich, who was first a player, then became President in 1958.

The Club soon attracted the interest of some local compatriots. Anton Curac, George and Maurice Posa, Peter Pecotich, Frank Stanich and Morrie Kastelin were active committee members in the early days.

Dalmatinac entered the Granville District Junior competition in 1957 and won the Robinson Cup. The following year they were granted admission to the NSW Federation of Soccer Clubs and won their way to Second Division where they met with moderate success.

During 1960, the club strengthened its committee, Mick Alagich was elected Secretary and Dr. Lintner was elected President and the club was successful in securing the use of Concord Oval. It was then decided to change the name of the club to Yugal, the aim to become representative of the whole Yugoslav community in Sydney.

In 1960 Yugal added three top class players imports from Yugoslavia – Boris Krstulovich, captain-coach and centre-half, Sam Ivanisevic, a clever inside forward, and Tony Nincevich, a prolific goal-scoring centre-forward.

Other additions to the side in 1960 were Kurt Spiegel, goalkeeper and Frank Aranyi, wing-half, both from Hakoah, Johnny Mucillo, winger from Auburn, and Brian Robinson, winger from Manly.

These seven players together with Jakov Fiajmenco, Luci Bogdanovich, Steve Lorik, Peter Grbavac, Mike Petkovich and Andy Novak, formed the squad that for most of the season kept Yugal on top of the second division competition.

A notable addition to this squad was Tihomir "Tika" Jelisavčić (Yelisavcich), a brilliant inside-forward who played and toured the world with top Yugoslav club Partizan and who was flown to Sydney just in time to help Yugal win the all-important game against Balgownie and win promotion to the First Division.

Yugal's first match in the top flight took place at Lambert Park against APIA Leichhardt on Saturday April 7, 1962, and recorded a tragic 1–5 loss before a crowd of 2,400. The Club's first success in the First Division came at the expense of future long-time rivals St. George Budapest (then known solely as Budapest), at Macarthur Park (now F.S. Garside Park), 4–3 before a crowd of 2,676. Yugal's goal scorers that day were T. Jelisavcic 3 and M. Stojanovic.

Honours

See also

References

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