Three Titles In A Row

Sale United Football Club has started the 2015 season on a positive note after winning the prestigious ‘Jamie Kendall Cup’ on the weekend. 

The Grand Final between Sale United FC and Croydon City SC was one of the best finals seen on the Godfrey Baldwin Reserve in many years.  The close encounter was physical and was played at a very high standard.  Both Clubs played a good brand of football, all the while keeping possession, using set plays, and attacking with force.  The winning goal came with five minutes left on the clock when Ross McWhirter intercepted a forward passand then went around Croydons Luke Fowlerand sent a pinpoint pass down the wing to Tommy Nguyen.  Being outnumbered immediately didn’t worry Nguyen at all, who controlled and then with one sweeping move, flicked the ball across to the centre of the park to an oncoming Ashley Ross.  Who then, with what can only be described as supreme dominance and professional accuracy, chested the ball and continued to direct the entire passage of play when he ran on, and at the optimum time, smashed the ball over the keeper and into the net.  The immediate goal celebration was one of true class and in pure James Lebron style. It was a definite crowd pleaser.

The game continued with Croydon throwing everything it had to try and equalise.  To which they almost did, if not for the flying save from Sale keeper, Jacob Richardson, who sent the ball over the bar from a strong shot off Croydon’s Captain, Sean Perrin.  The whistle went soon after and the Sale Spectators were ecstatic for the Clubs third Kendall Cup Championship title in a row.

Congratulations are also extended to the three referee’s selected to do the main final.  Tim Manly as the Centre Referee with Jasmine Steger and Jaiden Unmack as Assistants.

The Kendall Cup tournament has been held in honour of former player, Jamie Kendall, for the past twenty four years.  His mum, Elaine, is the clubs special guest on the day and is always on hand to present the Cup to the Champions. The club held a six team tournament to give every team a minimum of four games each with the top four moving into the semi finals.  The final ladder before the finals was:

1-Croydon City SC  8.5 pts (+7)

2-ACT Lanyon United FC  8.5 pts (+2)

3-Sale United FC  7 pts (+5)

4-Moe United SC  4.5 pts (-1)

5-Traralgon Olympians SC  4.5 pts (-4)

6-East Gippsland SC  1 point.

In a repeat of last years Kendall Cup Final, the first semi final was between Sale and Lanyon.  Sale was keen to overcome the opposition and was focused from the first whistle.  The result?  A 3-0 win and a berth in the grand final.  Goalscorer was Adam Buchanan with a hattrick. 

Croydon defeated Moe United in the second semi final to progress to the main final. This was Croydon’s first Kendall Cup invitation and are coached by former Sale City Player, Marcus Stergiopolous.  Stergi (as he is known around the club and with strong ties to the Sale community) went on to play in the National Soccer League where he is renowned for scoring a goal in the 1998 NSL Grand Final for Carlton SC v South Melbourne.  Stergi ran on and slammed the ball into the net with his first touch after Mark Bresciano laid off a cross into his path.   He would then go on to be offered overseas contracts at clubs such as Bradford City, Brunei, Lincoln FC and Kingz FC before returning to Australia and playing in the Victorian Premier League, winning a Premiership with Dandenong Thunder and then embarking on a coaching career in Melbourne and now at Croydon. 

Stergi has already had success at Croydon when he took over the helm in 2013 and the following year won the State League 4 East Championship title and are now promoted to State league 3 South East for the upcoming season.  Croydon City Arrows is also where former Melbourne Victory and Socceroo’s striker Danny Allsopp plays. The club has already accepted an invitation to participate in the tournament in 2016.

Other Awards presented on the day as follows:

Player of the Tournament: Ashley Ross (Sale United FC).

Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Jacob Richardson and Alan Harris (Sale United FC)(tied).

Goldenboot Award:    Seedorf  (Croydon), Masih Safi (Croydon) and Adam Buchanan (Sale United FC) (tied).


Sale’s, Graham Young shrugs off Croydon’s Captain, Sean Perrin


Sale United


Croydon City




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