Adelaide United FC (A-League Women)

Adelaide United Football Club is an Australian women's soccer team based in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 2008, it is the affiliated women's team of Adelaide United. The team competes in the country's premier women's soccer competition, the A-League Women.

Adelaide United Women
Full nameAdelaide United Football Club
Nickname(s)The Reds
Founded2008; 16 years ago (2008)
GroundMarden Sports Complex, Adelaide
Capacity6,000
ChairmanNed Morris
Head CoachAdrian Stenta
LeagueA-League Women
2022–238th of 11
WebsiteClub website
Current season

History edit

Establishment edit

Adelaide United's women's team was formed in 2008 with the inception of the W-League, becoming one of the founding eight teams.[1] The inaugural set up saw North Eastern MetroStars coach Michael Barnett take charge[2] with ex-Adelaide United player Richie Alagich take up the assistant coach role and Matildas stalwart Dianne Alagich named as captain.[3]

2008–2011 edit

Adelaide's first game was on 25 October 2008 against Queensland Roar at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre, which ended in a 4–1 loss with Sharon Black getting the consolation goal.[4] The first win came in Round 2 against the Newcastle Jets at Hindmarsh Stadium, a hard-fought 3–2 win thanks to a hat-trick from Sandra Scalzi.[5] The Reds followed this up with another 3–2 win over Sydney FC before failing to win any of their next seven league games, finished last in the eight-team competition in their inaugural season.

After a disappointing inaugural season drastic changes were made to the playing staff including the retirement of experienced campaigners Sharon Black and Dianne Alagich to create a youthful team for the 2009 season.[6][7] Despite the new look squad Adelaide continued to struggle in the league failing to win any of the first 5 games which included a record equaling defeat against Sydney FC on 1 November 2009.[8] The first goal of the 2009 season was scored by Tenneille Boaler against Newcastle Jets in the round 6 clash at the Wanderers Oval the game ended in a 3 – 3 draw handing Adelaide its second point of the year.[9] The season didn't get any better for Adelaide as they failed to win a single game in the second season but thanks to an unlikely 2 all draw with power house team Brisbane Roar they finished the season in 7th place their best ever finish to date.[10]Most Valuable player for 2009 season Racheal Quigley.

The 2010–11 season was even worse for Reds as they lost all ten of their W-League matches. They only scored four goals and finished with a disappointing −32 goal differential; they tied their worst defeat with a −1 loss to Newcastle in round nine. Coach Michael Barnett was let go at the end of the disappointing season, and was replaced by David Edmondson.

Adelaide continued to struggle through most of the 2011–12 season as they opened the campaign with six more losses, scoring four goals during that time while letting twenty-one in. This was better pace than the previous season, though, and the Reds showed significant improvement in on-field play versus 2010–2011, cited as being "unlucky" to not come away with at least a point on multiple occasions. They finally snapped their winless and losing streaks, at 34 and 18 games respectively, with a 1–0 defeat of the Perth Glory in round eight, taking them off the bottom of the table for the first time since November 2009.[citation needed]

Following Adelaide United taking control of the women's team, their first move was signing Mark Jones as the head coach.[11]

Stadium edit

Adelaide United WFC used to play their home games at Hindmarsh Stadium where they sometimes play a curtain-raiser to A-League games. As of the 2017/18 season, they play their home games at Marden Sports Complex. In the 2016/17 season, Hindmarsh Stadium was questioned about having portable change rooms for the women's team when there is a double header with the A-League side. This resulted in Adelaide WFC having no matches scheduled during the next season.[12][13]

Players edit

First-team squad edit

As of 14 May 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
1GK  AUSAnnalee Grove
2DF  AUSEmily Hodgson
3FW  AUSMeleri Mullan (scholarship)
4DF  AUSErin Kontoutsikos (scholarship)
5MF  AUSSarah Morgan
8MF  AUSEmily Condon
10FW  AUSChelsie Dawber
11FW  AUSIsabel Hodgson (captain)
12MF  JPNNanako Sasaki
13DF  AUSElla Tonkin
No.Pos. NationPlayer
15FW  AUSKatie Bowler (scholarship)
16MF  AUSDylan Holmes (vice-captain)
17DF  AUSZoe Tolland (scholarship)
20MF  AUSMiley Grigg (youth)
21GK  AUSClaudia Jenkins (scholarship)
22MF  AUSEmilia Murray (scholarship)
27MF  AUSSian Dewey (youth)
28FW  AUSChrissy Panagaris (scholarship)
32MF  AUSMadeleine Wright

Former players edit

For notable current and former players, see Category:Adelaide United FC (A-League Women) players.

Managers edit

Current technical staff edit

PositionName
Head coachAdrian Stenta[14]
Assistant coachMichele Lastella
Assistant coachAlice Gorman
Goalkeeper coachRian Del Nido

Manager history edit

As of 24 January 2021
NameFromToGamesWonDrawnLostRef.
Michael Barnett1 July 200830 June 2011302424[15]
David Edmondson31 August 201113 January 2013223019[16][17]
Ross Aloisi22 August 201328 July 2015246513[18][19]
Jamie Harnwell30 July 201530 June 201612345[20]
Mark Jones7 September 201622 September 20160000[21]
Hussein Skenderovic5 October 201630 June 201712354[22]
Ivan Karlović1 July 20174 August 2020248412[23]
Adrian Stenta4 August 20202716110[24]

Colours and badge edit

Since its inception Adelaide United has played in a predominantly all-red home kit. For the inaugural season the away kit consisted of a white top and socks and red shorts; during the 2009 season the away kit changed to a black top with red shorts and socks. The badge is heavily based on the Adelaide United men's team, with the logo being encased in a W-League shield; as is the case with every other W-League club.

Records edit

Chart of yearly table positions for Adelaide United in A-League Women
SeasonLeague/DivisionLeague PositionPlay-offsTop scorersHead Coach
2008–09W-League8th of 8Victoria Balomenos, Sandra Scalzi (4)Michael Barnett
2009W-League7th of 8Racheal Quigley (5)
2010–11W-League7th of 7multiple players scoring 1 goal
2011–12W-League7th of 7Marijana Rajcic (3)David Edmondson
2012–13W-League8th of 8Racheal Quigley, Sarah McLaughlin (4)
2013–14W-League6th of 8 Kristy Moore (3)Ross Aloisi
2014W-League7th of 8 Kristy Moore (3)
2015–16W-League5th of 9Rosie Sutton, Abby Dahlkemper (5)Jamie Harnwell
2016–17W-League6th of 9Adriana Jones (9)Hussein Skenderovic
2017–18W-League9th of 9 Makenzy Doniak (7)Ivan Karlović
2018–19W-League6th of 9 Veronica Latsko (9)
2019–20W-League8th of 9 Mallory Weber (4)
2020–21W-League5th of 9Chelsie Dawber (5)Adrian Stenta
2021–22A-League Women3rd of 10SF Fiona Worts (13)

Last updated 18 December 2011

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Westfield W-League officially launched". A-League. 20 October 2008. Archived from the original on 7 November 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
  2. ^ "MetroStars Coaches". MetroStars. 14 January 2009. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
  3. ^ "Former Matilda named as Reds' W-League Captain". Adelaide United. 10 September 2008. Archived from the original on 12 March 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
  4. ^ Forsaith, Rob (25 October 2008). "Roar fires early". A-League. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
  5. ^ "Scalzi fires United home". A-League. 1 November 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Lady Reds to take off against Jets in Westfield W-League". Adelaide United. 30 September 2009. Archived from the original on 12 March 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  7. ^ "Di Alagich ends amazing career in football". Adelaide United. 30 September 2009. Archived from the original on 12 March 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  8. ^ Ormond, Aiden (1 November 2009). "Sydney destroys Adelaide". A-League. Archived from the original on 7 November 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  9. ^ Hughes, Mark (7 November 2009). "Goals galore for Jets, Reds". A-League. Archived from the original on 7 November 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  10. ^ Guoth, Nick (5 December 2009). "Adelaide United Women go down to Canberra United". Adelaide United. Archived from the original on 20 February 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
  11. ^ "Mark Jones to lead Adelaide United in 2016/17". The Women's Game. 7 September 2016.
  12. ^ "Adelaide-United'-W-League-side-has-taken-games-away-from-the-dog-track-to-the-eastern-suburbs". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  13. ^ "W-League: Reds come home". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Service. 30 October 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2009.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "United appoint Head of Women's Football and announce new Head Coach". Adelaide United. 4 August 2020.
  15. ^ "Matilda Named Captain For Adelaide". FTBL. 10 September 2008. Adelaide United Women's Team Coach Mike Barnett
  16. ^ "FFSA name new coach of Reds' W-League team". Adelaide United. 31 August 2011.
  17. ^ "Edmondson ends tenure at Football Federation SA". Adelaide United. 13 January 2013.
  18. ^ Migliaccio, Val (22 August 2013). "Ross Aloisi appointed coach of Adelaide United's W-League team". The Advertiser.
  19. ^ "Ross Aloisi and Melissa Barbieri depart Adelaide United". The Women's Game. 28 July 2015.
  20. ^ "Adelaide United appoint Jamie Harnwell as new coach". The Women's Game. 30 July 2015.
  21. ^ "Mark Jones to lead Adelaide United in 2016/17". The Women's Game. 7 September 2016.
  22. ^ Odong, Ann (7 October 2016). "Adelaide United appoint Huss Skenderovic as head coach for Season 9". The Women's Game.
  23. ^ Migliaccio, Val (9 July 2017). "Ivan Karlovic is the Adelaide United women's team's new boss". The Advertiser.
  24. ^ "United appoint Head of Women's Football and announce new Head Coach". Adelaide United. 4 August 2020.

External links edit