FFA Cup 2015 – The Final 32
We’ve taken a quick look at each of the 32 clubs competing in the 2015 edition of the FFA Cup. Giant clubs such as South Melbourne and Heidelberg United are making their first appearances in the competition, whilst Sydney United 58 and Brisbane Strikers make a return. 2014 was a great initial year for the competition but we have a feeling 2015 will be even better.
Club: Adelaide United
Founded: 2003
Previous Best: Winners 2014
Coach: Josep Gombau
How they got there: As an A-League club Adelaide United qualify automatically.
FTS Fact: Sergio Cirio scored in every round of the 2014 FFA Cup.
Club: Brisbane Roar
Founded: 2004
Previous Best: Round of 16
Coach: John Aloisi
How they got there: As an A-League club Brisbane Roar qualify automatically.
FTS Fact: New coach John Aloisi lost a Spanish Cup final with Osasuna
Club: Central Coast Mariners
Founded: 2004
Previous Best: Semi-Finalists
Coach: Tony Walmsley
How they got there: As an A-League club Central Coast Mariners qualify automatically.
FTS Fact: Matt Sim scored four goals in 19 minutes against Palm Beach Sharks in last years FFA Cup
Club: Melbourne City
Founded: 2009 (As Melbourne Heart)
Previous Best: Round of 32
Coach: John Van’t Schip
How they got there: As an A-League club Melbourne City qualify automatically.
FTS Fact: New signing Corey Gameiro scored against City in the 2014 FFA Cup.
Club: Melbourne Victory
Founded: 2004
Previous Best: Quarter finalist
Coach: Kevin Muscat
How they got there: As an A-League club Melbourne Victory qualify automatically.
FTS Fact: Victory made two trips to Western Australia last campaign.
Club: Newcastle Jets
Founded: 2000
Previous Best: Round of 32
Coach: Scott Miller
How they got there: As an A-League club Newcastle Jets qualify automatically.
FTS Fact: Newcastle were the first A-League club eliminated last campaign.
Club: Perth Glory
Founded: 1995
Previous Best: Finalist
Coach: Kenny Lowe
How they got there: As an A-League club Perth Glory qualify automatically.
FTS Fact: Perth played the most (4) away games last campaign.
Club: Sydney FC
Founded: 2004
Previous Best: Quarter Finalist
Coach: Graham Arnold
How they got there: As an A-League club Sydney FC qualify automatically.
FTS Fact: All three cup games ended in 3-1 results
Club: Wellington Phoenix
Founded: 2007
Previous Best: Round of 32
Coach: Ernie Merrick
How they got there: As an A-League club Wellington Phoenix qualify automatically.
FTS Fact: Wellington are the only non Australian club in the FFA Cup
Club: Western Sydney Wanderers
Founded: 2013
Previous Best: Round of 32
Coach: Tony Popovic
How they got there: As an A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers qualify automatically.
FTS Fact: Western Sydney were the only team to be eliminated by a non A-League team.
Club: Gungahlin United Football Club
Founded: Before 1965, renamed in 1997
Previous Best: First Appearance
Coach: Mitch Stevens and Claudio Canosa
How they got there: Defeated Canberra Olympic 2-1, Tigers FC 3-0 and Belconnen United 1-0.
FTS Fact:
Club: Darwin Olympic SC
Founded: 1967
Previous Best: First Appearance
Coach: Steve Lolias
How they got there: Defeated Port Darwin FC 8-1, Casuarina FC 7-2, Celtic FC 5-0
FTS Fact: Darwin Olympic are the first Northern Territory into the competition.
Club: Croydon Kings
Founded: 1950
Previous Best: First Appearance
Coach: Mark Brazzale
How they got there: Defeated Adelaide Comets 6-1, White City 2(4)-2(2), Adelaide City 2-0
FTS Fact: John Kosmina started his career at the club.
Club: North Eastern MetroStars SC
Founded: 1994
Previous Best: First Appearance
Coach: Michael Pirone
How they got there: Winners of 2014 NPL Championship
FTS Fact: Shane Smeltz played 8 games for the club, scoring 2 goals.
Club: South Hobart FC
Founded: 1910
Previous Best: Round of 32
Coach: Ken Morton
How they got there: Defeated Kingborough 4-0, Beachside 4-0, Launceston City 3-1
FTS Fact: The term ‘slice of cheese’ was made famous during last years campaign.
Club: South Melbourne
Founded: 1959
Previous Best: First Appearance
Coach: Chris Taylor
How they got there: Defeated Frankston Pines FC 6-1, Melbourne Knights 3-1, North Sunshine Eagles 8-0
FTS Fact: South Melbourne were named the Oceania club of the Century
Club: Oakleigh Cannons FC
Founded: 1972
Previous Best: First Appearance
Coach: Miron Bleiberg
How they got there: Defeated Richmond FC 0(5)-0(4), Bendigo City FC 5-1, South Springvale SC 2-1
FTS Fact:
Club: Heidelberg United FC
Founded: 1958
Previous Best: First Appearance
Coach: George Katsakis
How they got there: Defeated Langwarrin SC 5-2, Caulfield United Cobras SC 5-0, Goulburn Valley Suns 5-1
FTS Fact: Heidelberg United won the NSL Finals series in 1980.
Club: Hume City FC
Founded: 1979
Previous Best: First Appearance
Coach: Steve Kaya
How they got there: Defeated Geelong SC 4-0, Ballarat Red Devils SC 2-1, Kingston City FC 2-0
FTS Fact: The club will want a home cup tie to show off their recent $12 million upgrade.
Club: Balmain Tigers FC
Founded: 1987
Previous Best: First Appearance
Coach: Joe Di Giulio
How they got there: Defeated North Epping Rangers SC 5-0, Bankstown City Lions SC 3-1, Western NSW Mariners FC 3-0.
FTS Fact:
Club: Rockdale City Suns
Founded: 1969
Previous Best: First Appearance
Coach: Paul Reid
How they got there: Defeated Arncliffe Aurora FC 0(8)-0(4), Sydney University SFC 2-0, Sunderland Sharks 3-0
FTS Fact: Current coach Paul Reid played two games for the Socceroos
Club: Sydney Olympic FC
Founded: 1957
Previous Best: Round of 16
Coach: Grant Lee
How they got there: Defeated Mounties Wanderers FC 3-0, Manly United FC2-1, South Coast Wolves 3-0
FTS Fact: Sydney Olympic FC defeated two 2014 finalists on their way to the final 32 in 2015.
Club: Blacktown City FC
Founded: 1953
Previous Best: Round of 32
Coach: Mark Crittenden
How they got there: Defeated Blacktown Spartans 4-1, Nepean FC 12-1,Northern Tigers 6-0
FTS Fact: Blacktown City attracted the lowest crowd figure of 2014 with just 624 attending their Round of 32 clash.
Club: Sydney United 58 FC
Founded: 1958
Previous Best: Round of 16
Coach: Mark Rudan
How they got there: Defeated Parramatta FC 1-0, North Shore Mariners 1-0, Prospect United 5-0
FTS Fact: Current Sydney FC coach scored 68 goals in 178 appearances for Sydney United 58.
Club: Broadmeadow Magic
Founded: 1966
Previous Best: Round of 32
Coach: Robert Virgilli
How they got there: Defeated South Armidale United FC 7-1, West Wallsend 13-0
FTS Fact: Twenty goals in two days booked the Magic into their second FFA Cup.
Club: Edgeworth FC
Founded:
Previous Best:First Appearance
Coach: Damien Zane
How they got there: Defeated Coffs City United FC 4-0, Adamstown Rosebud FC 3-0
FTS Fact:
Club: FNQ FC Heat
Founded: 2012
Previous Best: Round of 32
Coach: Martin Docherty
How they got there: Defeated Stratford Dolphins, Northern Fury FC 1-0, Frenchville SC 7-1
FTS Fact: Alex Smith scored the clubs only FFA Cup goal last season and will be a player to watch this campaign.
Club: Brisbane Strikers FC
Founded: 1994
Previous Best: Round of 16
Coach: Chay Hews
How they got there: Defeated Brisbane City FC 4-1, Moreton Bay United 2-1, Redlands United FC 4-3
FTS Fact: Brisbane Strikers were the 1996/97 NSL Champions.
Club: Lions FC
Founded: 1957
Previous Best: First Appearance
Coach: Graham Ross
How they got there: Defeated Albany Creek 2-0, Peninsula Power 3-0, Pine Rivers FC 5-0
FTS Fact: The club was founded by a group of Dutch immigrants
Club: Palm Beach SC
Founded: 1966
Previous Best: Quarter Finalists
Coach: Grae Piddick
How they got here: Defeated Broadbeach United SC 3(12)-3(11), SWQ Thunder 1(4)-1(3), Noosa Lions FC1-0
FTS Fact: Palm Beach had to win two penalty shoot outs before qualifying for the final 32.
Club: Sorrento Football Club
Founded: 1972
Previous Best: First Appearance
Coach: Paul Prince
How they got there: Defeated Stirling Lions Soccer Club 5-1, South West Phoenix FC 4-0, Bayswater City SC 1(4)-1(2)
FTS Fact: Former Norwich City striker Grant Holt played for Sorrento in 2001.
Club: Perth Soccer Club
Founded: 1948
Previous Best: First Appearance
Coach: Taki Nicoladis
How they got there: Defeated Fremantle City FC 2-0, Subiaco AFC 1-0, Gwelup Croatia Soccer Club 4-3
FTS Fact: The club resulted in a merger between East Fremantle Tricolore, Perth Azzuri and Balcatta Etna.
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