Parramatta Football Club, commonly known as Parramatta Melita Eagles or just Melita, are a semi-professional Australian

soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...

club based in South Granville,

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

. The club was established by Maltese migrants in 1956 and played several seasons in the

National Soccer League The National Soccer League (NSL) was the top-level soccer league in Australia, run by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL, the A-League's predecessor, spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977 until its d ...

, winning the NSL Cup twice. Later they were in the

New South Wales Premier League The National Premier Leagues NSW is a semi-professional soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. The competition is conducted by Football NSW, the organising body in New South Wales (the other being the National Premier Leagues Northern ...

, which the club won on six occasions. The club currently competes in the

NSW League Two The NSW League Two Men is an Australian semi-professional association football league comprising teams from New South Wales. The league sits at Level 3 on the New South Wales league system (Level 4 of the overall Australian league system). The c ...

(formerly National Premier Leagues NSW 3).

History

The club was formed in 1956 as Melita Eagles United Soccer Football Club by Maltese immigrants after the amalgamation of two Maltese clubs; Malta Eagles (Established 1952) and Melita Soccer Football Club (Established 1953). Prior to their amalgamation, these two clubs were the fiercest of rivals, competing in the Eastern Suburbs Soccer Football Association (ESSFA). Melita Eagles have had a long and distinguished career in NSW soccer history. Their origins in the Maltese community stretch way back to the formation of the original NSW Federation of Soccer Clubs in 1957. Along with higher profile clubs like Prague, Hakoah, APIA Leichhardt, St George, Pan-Hellenic and others, it was part of the original breakaway movement which led to the end of the old NSW Soccer Football Association in January 1957. The club was previously known as Melita Eagles United Soccer Football Club, Melita Eagles-Newtown, Parramatta Melita Eagles, Parramatta Eagles, PCYC Parramatta Eagles.

2007–2012

After having been relegated at the end of the 2006 season from the NSW Premier League, the club evolved into PCYC Parramatta Eagles FC with the backing of the NSW

Police Citizens Youth Club Police & Community Youth Clubs (PCYC) or Police and Community Youth Clubs are a network of Australian non-profit, community organisations, founded in New South Wales. In some states such as NSW, they are constituted as an Incorporated Association. ...

, and competed in the

NSW Super League The NSW League One Men is an Australian semi-professional association football league comprising teams from New South Wales. The league sits at Level 2 on the New South Wales league system, behind the National Premier Leagues NSW, (Level 3 of th ...

in 2007. The Eagles qualified for the finals series in all four seasons under PCYC, suffering defeats in the 2008 and 2009 Grand Finals. As a result of the first team finishing as Premiers in 2010, the club was promoted back to the Premier League. In 2011, a new partnership was formed between Parramatta Melita Eagles Sports Club and Granville and Districts Soccer Football Association (GDSFA), in which the club became known as Parramatta FC. Although the first grade team finished at the bottom of the NSW Premier League ladder in 2011, strong performances by the Under 20 and Under 18 teams ensured that the club remained eligible to play Premier League football in 2012, due to the state's system of promotion and relegation. The Eagles weren't so lucky in 2012, suffering relegation.

2013–Present Day: National Premier Leagues NSW Introduction

In 2013, the Eagles would return to the second division, now labelled the NPL NSW 2, after the introduction of the

National Premier Leagues The National Premier Leagues (NPL) is a national association football competition in Australia which acts as the second tier of the sport in the country below the A-League. The NPL consists of the highest level state league in each state-based ...

, finishing just outside finals contention. Parramatta made amends in 2014, finishing as Minor Premiers and nine points clear at the top of the table. Sadly, Parramatta would lose their Grand Final, but would return to the

National Premier Leagues NSW The National Premier Leagues NSW is a semi-professional soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. The competition is conducted by Football NSW, the organising body in New South Wales (the other being the National Premier Leagues Northern ...

competition for the 2015 season. Surviving relegation on the final day in 2015, and then missing out on the finals series after being just outside the top five for much of the 2016 season, 2017 was the season the club hoped to finally qualify for NPL1 finals football for the first time since the 2002/03 season. What was to come would be a first in the club’s 60 year history and a shock to every supporter. Already struggling at the bottom of the table, an exodus of senior players occurred during the mid season transfer window. Although performances had improved, the team could not avoid finishing bottom of the table and suffering relegation. Under a new board led by businessman, local community leader and GDSFA treasurer, Steve Elriche, there was hope heading into the 2018 season. The season started very promisingly, however, as the season wore on, the lack of depth in the three senior squads began to reveal issues due to the events which occurred in 2017. The mid season transfer window saw all three grades, in particular 1st Grade, look to strengthen their squads, but the player point system which clubs were to abide by proved a massive obstacle for our club. Sadly, missed opportunities in matches throughout the season cost Parramatta, finishing last on the Club Championship table for the second season in a row, and suffered a successive relegation. While 2019 saw an improvement in the club's performance, Parramatta FC's 1st Grade side could not grab enough wins throughout the regular season to avoid relegation once again, a rare third successive relegation occurred. With the bottom five NSW NPL3 clubs on the Club Championship table to be dropped to compete in the NSW NPL4 competition for the 2020 season (Due to Football NSW's proposed restructuring), the Eagles would finish third last.

Honours/Highlights

*IFFHS World Top 100 Clubs **Twice named (2): 1993 (Ranked 90 & 98) *

National Soccer League Cup National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...

**Winners (2): 1990–91, 1993–94 **Runners-Up (1): 1992–93 *National Soccer League Challenge Cup **Winners (1): 1994 *Maltese Cultural Cup **Winners (1): 2020 *Umbro International Cup **Winners (1): 1977 * NSW Waratah Cup **Runners-Up (1): 1996 *NSW Ampol Cup **Runners-Up (2): 1978, 1979 *

**Premiers (6): 1980, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1997, 2001–02 **Champions (6): 1985, 1988, 1989, 1996, 1997, 2001–02 **Grand Finalist (4): 1980, 1983, 1986, 1999 *

NSW League One The NSW League One Men is an Australian semi-professional association football league comprising teams from New South Wales. The league sits at Level 2 on the New South Wales league system, behind the National Premier Leagues NSW The Nationa ...

**Premiers (3): 1977, 2010, 2014 **Grand Finalist (3): 2008, 2009, 2014 *

**Premiers (1): 1961

Divisional History

*1957–1958: NSW Division Two (NL1) *1959–1961: NSW Division Three (NL2) *1962–1966: NSW Division Two (NL3) *1967–1970: NSW Division One (NPL) *1971–1977: NSW Division Two (NL1) *1978: NSW Division One (NPL) *1979–1982: NSW State League (NPL) *1983: NSW Division One (NPL) *1984: National Soccer League (NSL) *1985–1989: NSW Division One (NPL) *1989–1995: National Soccer League (NSL) *1996–2000: NSW Super League (NPL) *2000–2006: NSW Premier League (NPL) *2007–2010: NSW Super League (NL1) *2011–2012: NSW Premier League (NPL) *2013–2014: NSW National Premier League 2 (NL1) *2015–2017: NSW National Premier League 1 (NPL) *2018: NSW National Premier League 2 (NL1) *2019: NSW National Premier League 3 (NL2) *2020–2021 : NSW National Premier League 4 (NL3) *2022: NSW League Three (NL3) *2023: NSW League Two (NL2)

Notable Internationals

Argentina * Hector Martinez Australia *

Ahmad Elrich Ahmad Elrich ( ar, أحمد الريش; born 30 May 1981) is an Australian professional association footballer who plays as a right winger for Australian club Parramatta FC. Born in Australia to Lebanese parents, Elrich represented his native co ...

Alan Hunter (Australian association footballer) Alan Hunter (born 30 July 1964) was an Australian soccer player who played for several National Soccer League (NSL) clubs, most notably for the Brisbane Strikers. Hunter was born in Northern Ireland. He won the Joe Marston Medal for best af ...

* Andrew Callanan *

Anissa Tann Anissa Tann (born 10 October 1967) is an Australian soccer coach and former player. As a powerful defender, she represented Australia in the 1995 and 1999 FIFA Women's World Cups as well as at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Tann married Steve Darby ...

Attila Abonyi Attila Abonyi (born 16 August 1946 in Budapest) is a former Hungarian-born Australian soccer manager and player and played for the Australia national team. Abonyi made his senior international debut for Australia in 1967 at age 20, and h ...

Aytek Genc Aytek Genc ( tr, Aytek Genç; born 3 February 1966) is a former Australian association football, soccer player and was the coach of the Sydney Olympic FC in the NSW Premier League. Considered one of the most technically gifted players in the Aus ...

* Cliff van Blerk * David Lowe *

Erik Paartalu Erik Endel Paartalu (born 3 May 1986) is an Australian professional footballer of Estonian descent who plays as a defensive midfielder. He has played professionally in Scotland, Australia, China, Qatar, South Korea, Thailand and India. Club ca ...

Gabriel Mendez Gabriel Mendez (born 12 March 1973) is a former Australian association football player. An attacking midfielder, the much-travelled Mendez is a former player of Admira Wacker and Notts County in Europe and for Malaysian side Kedah FA. He is a ...

* George Haniotis *

Glenn Gwynne Glenn Gwynne (born 22 February 1972) is an Australian former soccer player who played at both professional and international levels as a defender. Career Born in Mossman, Gwynne played at club level in Australia for Brisbane United, Parram ...

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* Howard Tredinnick *

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Joe Spiteri Joseph Spiteri (born 6 May 1973) is an Australian former soccer player who played at both professional and international levels as a striker. Personal life Spiteri is of Maltese descent and lives in a Maltese neighbourhood of a Sydney subu ...

* John Davies *

Mark Bridge Mark Robert Bridge (born 7 November 1985) is an Australian professional football (soccer) player who plays as a striker for NPL club Mounties Wanderers. Bridge is the Western Sydney Wanderers' first ever goalscorer, earning himself the nickn ...

Mark Milligan Mark Daniel Milligan (born 4 August 1985) is an Australian former professional footballer. Starting his career as a defender, Milligan has spent much of his later career playing as a midfielder. He is currently a football expert commentary and ...

Marshall Soper Marshall Soper, born 12 May 1960, is a former football (soccer) and Australia International. A bustling but skilful centre-forward with a reputation for hot-headedness, he was originally from the Hunter region, 2 hours north of Sydney. In 198 ...

Matthew Bingley Matthew Bingley (born 16 August 1971) is an Australian former soccer player. A utility who can play in midfield or defence, he has played over 300 matches in nearly 20 years at the highest level of domestic football in Australia. Bingley also ma ...

Matthew Jurman Matthew John Jurman ( ; ) is an Australian soccer player who plays as a centre-back and captains A-League club Newcastle Jets. Club career Youth career After graduating from Westfields Sports High School in 2007, Jurman furthered his football d ...

Mitchell Duke Mitchell Thomas Duke (born 18 January 1991) is an Australian international soccer player who plays for Machida Zelvia in the J2 League. Duke was born in Liverpool, New South Wales and played youth soccer with Paramatta Eagles before starting ...

Nathan Burns Nathan Burns (born 7 May 1988) is a retired Australian professional footballer who last played for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League and the Australian national team. Club career Adelaide United He formerly played for Parramatta Eagles and t ...

Oliver Bozanic Oliver John Bozanic (born 8 January 1989) is an Australian Association football, football player who plays as a midfielder for Perth Glory FC, Perth Glory, on loan from Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Western Sydney Wanderers. Bozanic was born in ...

Peter Katholos Peter Katholos ( el, Πέτρος Κάθολος; born 18 March 1961) is an Australian former soccer player. He was a member of the Socceroos, Australia's national soccer team, throughout the 1980s during which time he made 22 international app ...

Robert Wheatley Robert Wheatley (born 17 January 1962) is a former Australian football player. He went on to make 9 appearances (5 'A' matches) for the Socceroos The Australia men's national soccer team represents Australia in international men's soccer. ...

Saso Petrovski Sasho Petrovski ( mk, Сашо Петровски, ''Sašo Petrovski'') (born 5 March 1975) is an Australian football (soccer) player who plays for South Coast Wolves. Petrovski has two caps for the Australian national team. Petrovski was know ...

Shannon Cole Shannon Cole (born 4 August 1984) is a former professional footballer turned coach. Club career Cole's early football career saw a series of stints with NSW state league clubs, in particular APIA Leichhardt, Dulwich Hill, Rockdale City Suns an ...

* Sharon Dewar *

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Terry Greedy Terry Greedy (born 27 August 1955) is an Australian retired soccer player who played as a goalkeeper. He represented the Australian national team between 1983 and 1985, making 16 international appearances. At club level, he played in the National ...

Tony Franken Anthony (Tony) Franken (born 11 January 1965) is a former Australian goalkeeper. Biography He represented Australia on 14 occasions between 1984–1992 and represented his country at Under-20 level at the 1983 World Youth Cup Finals in Mexic ...

* Tracey Wheeler *

Walter Ardone Walter Ardone (born 30 January 1972) is a former Australian professional association football, soccer player who was a midfielder. Club career Ardone played early football for Sydney Olympic FC, Sydney Olympic, making his National Soccer League ...

Austria * Karl Jaros Cameroon * Cyrille Ndongo-Keller Guinea *

Ballamodou Conde Ballamodou "Balla" Conde (born 18 October 1973, in Conakry) is a retired Guinean footballer, who played as a midfielder. Club career Conde made his professional debuts at the age of 16 with Horoya AC in the Guinean League, making a substantial ...

Lebanon *

Michael Reda Mohammad Taan Reda ( ar, محمد طعان رضا; born 30 December 1972), commonly known as Michael Reda, is a former professional association football player who played as a midfielder. Born in Australia, Reda represented Lebanon at the 2000 ...

Yahya El Hindi Yahya Mosbah El Hindi (; ar, يحيى مصباح الهندي, ; born 24 September 1998) is a footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for club Ansar. El Hindi began his senior career at Sydney Olympic in 2017, before moving to Parram ...

Malta * Fred Falzon *

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* Joe 'il Faqi' Farrugia * Joe 'Ginger' Zammit *

Ray Farrugia Raymond "Żażu" Farrugia (born 1 October 1955 in Floriana, Malta) is a football coach and former player He had been the head coach for the Malta national football team from 2 May 2018. to the end of 2019. Club career Ray Farrugia started out ...

New Zealand *

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Philippines * Dominic del Rosario Poland *

Jarosław Nowicki Jarosław Nowicki (born 11 January 1961 in Warsaw) is a retired Polish football player. He began his career in Zawisza Bydgoszcz and later played in Poland for ŁKS, Jagiellonia and Lechia. He won the NSL Cup in 1991 with Parramatta Eagles. ...

Uruguay *

Washington González Washington González (born 6 December 1955) is a Uruguayan footballer. He played in 32 matches for the Uruguay national football team from 1978 to 1983. He was also part of Uruguay's squad for the 1979 Copa América The 1979 edition of the Co ...

Wales *

Trevor Edwards Leonard Trevor Edwards (born 24 January 1937) is a former Wales international footballer. A defender, he played his club football for Charlton Athletic. He was part of the Wales squad for the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden Sweden, form ...

References

External links

* https://parramattafc.com.au/ * https://www.facebook.com/ParramattaFC/ * https://www.facebook.com/parramatta.melita.eagles/
History of Parramatta Eagles
{{National Soccer League National Premier Leagues clubs Association football clubs established in 1956 National Soccer League (Australia) teams New South Wales Premier League teams Soccer clubs in Sydney 1956 establishments in Australia Sport in Parramatta