Europa Point F.C.

Europa Point F.C. is a football team from Gibraltar. The club currently plays in the Gibraltar National League the top senior tier of association football in Gibraltar. They also participate in the Rock Cup, the territory's primary cup competition.

History

The club formed in 2014 amidst the growing interest in association football on the territory of Gibraltar. The club held trials specifically aimed at bringing in youth team players that had been released by professional sides in England and Spain with the goal of getting them back into competitive football, with club founder John Gontier having formerly worked with such players while working for League Football Education. Before their maiden season, the club also announced a partnership with Chesterfield F.C., Chesterfield in Football League One, League One, where the English side has first option on any Europa Point player.

After a strong start to the season, including a tight promotion challenge against Gibraltar United F.C., Gibraltar United, the club narrowly missed out on promotion, finishing third in the league despite having the strongest goalscoring record in the Gibraltar Second Division. Despite missing out on promotion on the final day of the season, the club did end the season with silverware as they beat promoted side Angels F.C., Angels 5–3 in a thrilling Gibraltar Division 2 Cup final that went to extra time.

After missing out on promotion in 2014–15, Europa Point were crowned champions of the 2015–16 Gibraltar Second Division after an unbeaten league campaign (W17 D5) and completed the double by retaining the Gibraltar Second Division Cup by beating F.C. Bruno's Magpies, Bruno's Magpies 3–2 A.E.T in the final. In preparation for the new season in the Premier Division they have signed many players including ex-Norwich City F.C., Norwich City players George Jermy and Tom Walters. However, the players failed to impress and despite substantial changes in playing and coaching staff throughout the season, Europa Point finished bottom of the Premier Division and were relegated.

On 1 November 2017, it was announced that an American consortium headed by Peter Grieve and Corey Woolfolk had purchased a controlling stake in Europa Point. Woolfolk took over as chairman of the club, while John Gontier moved to CEO. On 10 November, Joaquin Rodriguez was announced as the new Head of Commercial and Football Operations. As part of the takeover, Europa Point became a partner club to Bantu Rovers in Zimbabwe. Gontier negotiated to re-take control of the club in early 2019, helping the club to a second-place finish in the league.

In the inaugural season newly formed Gibraltar National League, Europa Point started poorly under former Gibraltar national football team manager Allen Bula. However, the appointment of ex-Leyton Orient F.C., Leyton Orient boss Ian Hendon in late November 2019 saw a significant upturn in results, only for the season to be voided by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In July 2020, Andrew Pritchard purchased a majority stake in the club, while John Gontier stayed on as minority shareholder. Following the end of the 2020–21 Gibraltar National League, 2020–21 season, Gontier sold his remaining stake in the club to focus on Gibraltar Women's Football League side Gibraltar Wave F.C., Gibraltar Wave. In November 2021, former Charlton Athletic F.C., Charlton Athletic player and Kemi City F.C., Kemi City chairman Mark Tivey was announced as the club's new co-owner and technical director. However, this ownership was short lived and in July 2022, a Swedish consortium led by Pär Magnus Roos took over the club.

In July 2023, Swedish coach Dalibor Savić was appointed head coach, with player Ryan McCarthy becoming player-assistant manager. In his first season in charge, aided by a number of high-profile Scandinavian signings such as Johan Andersson (footballer, born May 1995), Johan Andersson, Johannes Ström and former Norway national football team, Norway international Thomas Drage, Europa Point secured a top 6 finish in the Gibraltar Football League for the first time in their history.

Seasons

Current squad

First team

''Correct as of 31 July 2023.''

Club staff

Honours

*Gibraltar National League, Gibraltar National League – Challenge Group
**Runners-up (1): 2019–20 Gibraltar National League, 2019–20
*Gibraltar Second Division
**Winners (1): 2015–16
**Runners-up (1): 2018–19 Gibraltar Second Division, 2018–19
*Gibraltar Division 2 Cup, Gibraltar Second Division Cup
**Winners (1): 2014–15,Europa Point FC see off Angels FC after Extra Time
Gibraltar FA. 20 April 2015 . 2015–16

Notes

References

External links

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{{Authority control

Association football clubs established in 2014
Football clubs in Gibraltar
Gibraltar National League clubs
2014 establishments in Gibraltar