{{Redirect|Green Gully|the locality|Green Gully, Victoria}} {{more footnotes needed|date=February 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Green Gully | image = Green Gully SC.png | upright = 0.9 | fullname = Green Gully Soccer Club | nickname = Cavaliers, Gully | founded = {{Start date and age|1955|df=yes}} | ground = Green Gully Reserve, <br> [[Keilor Downs]] | capacity = 10,000 | chairman = Anthony Klotz | manager = [[Andy Vargas (footballer)|Andy Vargas]] | league = {{Australian soccer updater|GreenG}} | season = {{Australian soccer updater|GreenG2}} | position = {{Australian soccer updater|GreenG3}} | website = {{URL|http://www.greengullysc.com.au/}} | pattern_la1 = | pattern_b1 = _3whitestripes | pattern_ra1 = | body1 = 46AD82 | leftarm1 = 46AD82 | rightarm1 = 46AD82 | shorts1 = FFFFFF | socks1 = 46AD82 | pattern_la2 = | pattern_b2 = | pattern_ra2 = | leftarm2 = 808080 | body2 = 808080 | rightarm2 = 808080 | shorts2 = 808080 | socks2 = 808080 }}
'''Green Gully Soccer Club''' is an Australian [[association football]] club based in [[Melbourne]]. Green Gully is one of the largest clubs in Melbourne, having participated in the now defunct [[National Soccer League]] between 1984 and 1986. The club currently competes in the [[National Premier Leagues Victoria]], with matches played at Green Gully Reserve in [[Keilor Downs|Keilor Downs, Victoria]]. Green Gully have won the Victorian state league title nine times, second only to [[South Melbourne FC]] with ten.<ref>{{cite web|title=Past Victorian Champions|url=http://www.mfootball.com.au/past-victorian-champions/|website=MFootball|access-date=18 February 2016|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305220243/http://www.mfootball.com.au/past-victorian-champions/|url-status=live}}</ref> It is one of seven state league teams to eliminate an A-League team in the [[FFA Cup]], alongside [[Blacktown City FC]], [[Heidelberg United FC]], [[Redlands United FC]], [[Adelaide City FC]], [[Bentleigh Greens SC]] and [[APIA Leichhardt FC]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Westfield FFA Cup wrap: Round of 32 MD 3|url=http://www.theffacup.com.au/article/westfield-ffa-cup-wrap-round-of-32-md-3/i3axqz2xjo7f1ambrguotsobv|website=FFA Cup|date=August 2016|publisher=Football Federation Australia|access-date=4 August 2016|archive-date=13 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813233128/http://www.theffacup.com.au/article/westfield-ffa-cup-wrap-round-of-32-md-3/i3axqz2xjo7f1ambrguotsobv|url-status=live}}</ref>
==History== ===Early history=== The club was established as Ajax Soccer Club in 1955 by Maltese immigrants.<ref name="Green Gully Club History">{{cite web|title=Green Gully Club History|url=http://www.greengully.com/ssl/article_12.shtml|website=Green Gully Soccer Club|access-date=19 August 2016|archive-date=10 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810132200/http://www.greengully.com/ssl/article_12.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> In honour of the Maltese [[Floriana F.C.|Floriana]] club, Ajax SC adopted their familiar green and white playing strips.<ref name="Green Gully Club History" /> The club was renamed to Green Gully Ajax SC when it moved to its current home ground at Green Gully Reserve in 1966, in the West of [[Melbourne]] suburb of [[Kealba, Victoria|Kealba]].<ref name="Green Gully Club History" /> In 1972, the City of Keilor Council laid down two full size football pitches and constructed a large dressing room facility which included showers and toilets.<ref name="Green Gully Club History" /> The "Ajax" was dropped in 1982.<ref name="Green Gully Club History" />
The club competed in the [[National Soccer League]] of Australia (NSL) from 1984 to 1986 and attracted some great players such as [[George Campbell (footballer born 1957)|George Campbell]] from Preston (originally from Aberdeen), and Scott Fraser from Rangers.{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}} Green Gully is a 'Sister Club' with [[Sunshine George Cross FC|Caroline Springs George Cross]], It is believed that both Green Gully and Caroline Springs Georgies adopted the Same kit as a [[Maltese Premier League]] club [[Floriana F.C.|Floriana]], Floriana is one of the oldest clubs in [[Malta]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}}
Green Gully have been Victorian Champions in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2010 and 2011.{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}}
===Recent history=== [[File:Green Gully Reserve August 2016.jpg|thumb|Panorama of Green Gully Reserve with Green Gully hosting [[Central Coast Mariners]] in the [[FFA Cup]], August 2016]] Gully placed third in the league in 2012 and made it all the way to the preliminary final, but went down to [[Dandenong Thunder SC|Dandenong Thunder]]. After a fifth placed league finish in 2013, Gully exited the finals series at the first stage after a 1–0 loss to [[South Melbourne FC|South Melbourne]].
Green Gully had their bid for a place in the inaugural [[National Premier Leagues Victoria]] accepted and entered the competition in 2014. The NPLV replaced the old VPL. The Cavaliers finished in 10th place in the new 14 team competition in 2014, and finished in 7th place the following year, just missing out on the finals series. Bob Stojcevski departed the club mid-season after an extended period of poor form, with [[Rodrigo Vargas (soccer, born 1978)|Rodrigo Vargas]] (as player-coach) and Stephen Downes taking on the head role to see out the season.
In October 2015, Green Gully announced that former [[Oakleigh Cannons FC|Oakleigh Cannons]] boss [[Arthur Papas]] would lead the club in the [[2016 Football Federation Victoria season|2016 NPL Victoria]] season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.greengully.com/ssl/article_633.shtml |title=Papas the new couch at Green Gully |access-date=26 October 2015 |archive-date=17 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117034147/http://www.greengully.com/ssl/article_633.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Papas brought in the likes of former [[Brisbane Roar]] youngster [[George Lambadaridis]], former [[Melbourne Heart FC|Melbourne Heart]] midfielder [[Kliment Taseski]] and Japanese left-back [[Yohei Iwasaki]] for the 2016 campaign.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kulas|first1=Damir|title=Pair join Gully as Papas completes squad|url=http://www.cornerflag.com.au/pair-join-gully-as-papas-completes-squad/|website=The Corner Flag|access-date=16 February 2016|archive-date=23 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223191546/http://www.cornerflag.com.au/pair-join-gully-as-papas-completes-squad/|url-status=live}}</ref> Gully qualified for the national stage of the [[2016 FFA Cup]], drawing [[A-League]] side [[Central Coast Mariners]] in the Round of 32 and became at the time only the second member federation club to beat an A-League club when Liam Boland's 92nd minute long-range goal saw the Cavaliers win the tie 2–1 in front of 900 people at Green Gully Reserve.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-03/green-gully-dumps-mariners-from-ffa-cup-in-massive-upset-thanks/7684286 |title=FFA Cup: Green Gully ousts Mariners thanks to wondergoal (ABC News) |website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=2 August 2016 |access-date=3 August 2016 |archive-date=5 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805113328/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-03/green-gully-dumps-mariners-from-ffa-cup-in-massive-upset-thanks/7684286 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the Round of 16, Gully came up against local rivals and NPL Victoria compatriots [[Melbourne Knights FC]]. Despite the hosts taking a 1–0 lead early on at [[Knights Stadium (Melbourne)|Knights Stadium]], a Nicholas Krousoratis goal wedged between a Liam Boland brace saw the visitors progress to the quarter-finals of the competition in front of 2,472 people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theffacup.com.au/matchcentre/Melbourne-Knights-v-Green-Gully/883885|title=Melbourne Knights vs Green Gully, FFA Cup, Round of 16, 30th Aug 2016|date=31 July 2017|access-date=31 August 2016|archive-date=2 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902142335/http://www.theffacup.com.au/matchcentre/Melbourne-Knights-v-Green-Gully/883885|url-status=live}}</ref> Gully were handed its first interstate opponent in the final eight, when it drew [[National Premier Leagues Capital Football|NPL Capital Football]] side [[Canberra Olympic FC|Canberra Olympic]], losing 1–0 in Canberra.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theffacup.com.au/article/westfield-ffa-cup-quarter-final-draw-revealed/13a7fz8yu85821ucyewzhaxfob|title=Westfield FFA Cup quarter-final draw revealed|date=30 August 2016|access-date=31 August 2016|archive-date=2 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902013708/http://www.theffacup.com.au/article/westfield-ffa-cup-quarter-final-draw-revealed/13a7fz8yu85821ucyewzhaxfob|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theffacup.com.au/match/canberra-olympic-v-green-gully-ffa-cup-27-09-2016/888616|title=Canberra Olympic vs Green Gully, FFA Cup, Quarter Finals, 27th Sep 2016|website=FFA Cup|date=31 July 2017|language=en|access-date=23 September 2018|archive-date=17 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317043543/http://www.theffacup.com.au/matchcentre/Canberra-Olympic-v-Green-Gully/888616|url-status=live}}</ref> In the league, Gully finished in 5th place, losing 5–2 to Oakleigh in the elimination final.
On 23 February 2017, it was announced that Papas would be leaving his position as manager of Green Gully to join [[Saudi Professional League]] club [[Ettifaq FC]] as assistant coach to former Villareal coach [[Eelco Schattorie]] for the remainder of the Saudi Professional League season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Star FFA Cup coach heads to Saudi club|url=http://www.a-league.com.au/article/star-ffa-cup-coach-heads-to-saudi-club/g4ne43v6sqpb1qy8mg2h78srp|website=A-League|date=23 February 2017|publisher=Football Federation Australia|access-date=23 February 2017|archive-date=24 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224051902/http://www.a-league.com.au/article/star-ffa-cup-coach-heads-to-saudi-club/g4ne43v6sqpb1qy8mg2h78srp|url-status=live}}</ref> He was replaced by Green Gully's U20's Head Coach Brian Vanega.<ref>{{cite web|title=Arthur Papas signs with Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Pro League|url=http://www.greengully.com/papas-joins-al-ettifaq|publisher=Green Gully SC|access-date=23 February 2017|archive-date=23 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223213852/http://www.greengully.com/papas-joins-al-ettifaq|url-status=live}}</ref> Gully finished in fifth place in the league, losing 4–0 to [[Bentleigh Greens SC|Bentleigh Greens]] in the elimination final.
In 2018, Papas retook the senior coaching job, but again departed, joining Schattorie at [[NorthEast United FC]] in the [[Indian Super League]]. Stephen Downes, who won the Victorian Premier League in 2011 and Dockerty Cup in 2013 with Gully, took over as manager of the club. Gully finished the season in 12th place, winning just one of its last 16 games. The 12th-placed finish meant that Gully went into the promotion-relegation playoff, where the took on [[Moreland City FC]] at [[AAMI Park]]. Gully, who were 2–0 down, scored in the 91st and 94th minute to take the game to extra time, where Krousoratis eventually scored a winner for Green Gully, retaining the club's top flight status.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dailyfootballshow.com/green-gully-stage-a-miracle-to-survive-npl-victoria-promotion-and-relegation-playoff/|title=Green Gully stage a miracle to survive NPL Victoria Promotion and Relegation Playoff {{!}} Daily Football Show|last=Lynch|first=Joey|website=dailyfootballshow.com|access-date=23 September 2018|archive-date=23 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923085607/https://dailyfootballshow.com/green-gully-stage-a-miracle-to-survive-npl-victoria-promotion-and-relegation-playoff/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2019, Harry Ho made his debut for the Senior team. Playing in defensive midfield as he made an instant impact with the team claiming a 3–0 victory against Bentleigh Greens.
==Rivalries== The '''Green Gully Cavaliers''' have many rivalries, the biggest of the rivalries are the [[Sunshine Georgies|Sunshine George Cross FC]] with most games containing controversy.{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}} Other [[Victorian Premier League]] Clubs that are rivals include [[Melbourne Knights]], [[South Melbourne FC]] and Non-Victorian Premier League rivalries include [[Keilor Park SC]] and the [[St. Albans Saints]]. {{Citation needed|date=August 2015}}
==Kit supplier== The Kit Supplier for the Green Gully Cavaliers is Kappa, Kappa is the match day kit supplier and training kit supplier. Green Gully's matchday kit is green with white stripes, while the shorts and socks are just green. The green gully juniors also have their kit supplier as Kappa.
==Current squad== {{updated|28 March, 2026}} {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no= 1|nat= AUS |name=Luka Romic|pos=GK}} {{Fs player|no= 2|nat= AUS |name=[[Judd McDougall]]|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no= 3|nat= SSD |name=Amanhom Khamis|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no= 4|nat= ENG |name=Taofiq Olomowewe|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no= 5|nat= AUS |name=Jalil Regague|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no= 6|nat= AUS |name=Matthew Crooks|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no= 7|nat= SSD |name=[[Kur Kur]]|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no= 8|nat= AUS |name=Ashton Ahluwalia|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no= 9|nat= SOM |name=Bilal Habib|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no=10|nat= AUS |name=[[Gianluca Iannucci]]|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no=11|nat= SCO |name=[[Scott Lochhead]]|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=12|nat= AUS |name=Phillip Pannuzio|pos=DF}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=16|nat= AUS |name=[[Josh Hope (soccer)|Joshua Hope]]|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=17|nat= AUS |name=Elioan Kifle|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=18|nat= NZL |name=Nathan Simes|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no=19|nat= SAM |name=Rushonn Tafunai|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=20|nat= NZL |name=Wan Gatkek|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no=21|nat= AUS |name=Tom Woerndl|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no=22|nat= AUS |name=[[Michael Weier]]|pos=GK}} {{Fs player|no=23|nat= SWE |name=Oskar Karlsson|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=24|nat= AUS |name=Cooper Head|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=25|nat= AUS |name=Diego Cuba|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=41|nat= SOM |name=[[Yusuf Ahmed]]|pos=FW}} {{Fs end}}
==Honours== *'''[[National Soccer League]] Participants''' [[National Soccer League 1984|1984]], 1985, 1986 *'''Victorian Premier League (State League)''' Champions 1981, 1982, 1983, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2010,2011 *'''Victorian Premier League (State League)''' Minor Premiers 2004, 2005, 2008, 2011 *'''Victorian Premier League (State League)''' Finalists 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2006 *'''Victorian Premier League (State League)''' Runners Up 1987 *'''Victorian Metropolitan League Division 1''' Champions 1976 *'''Victorian Metropolitan League Division 2''' Champions 1971 *'''Victorian Metropolitan League Division 3''' Runners Up 1966 *'''[[Dockerty Cup]]''' Winners 1981, 1982, 1986, 2004, 2013 *'''Dockerty Cup''' Runners up 2016 *'''Victorian Ampol Night Soccer Cup''' Winners 1979, 1981, 1983
==Individual honours== *'''Bill Fleming Award''' *1980 – Jimmy Dunne *1982 – Paul Lewis *1983 – Paul Lewis *2005 – [[Rodrigo Vargas (soccer, born 1978)|Rodrigo Vargas]] *'''Victorian Premier League Coach of the Year''' *1999 – Ian Dobson *'''Victorian Premier League Top Goalscorer of the Year''' *1982 – Paul Lewis *1983 – Paul Lewis *1991 – [[Sash Becvinovski]] *1992 – [[Sash Becvinovski]] *'''Victorian Premier League Goalkeeper of the Year''' *2000 – Robert Brian *2008 – Steven Tilovski *'''Victorian Premier League Under 21 Player of the Year''' *2003 – [[Simon Storey]] *'''Weinstein Medal winners''' *1980 – Danny Beranic *'''Jimmy Rooney Medal''' *2003 – [[Simon Storey]] *2005 – Brandon Vassallo *2010 – Graham Hockless *2011 – Stephen Downes
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website|http://www.greengully.com/}} * [http://websites.sportstg.com/team_info.cgi?c=0-10178-0-513758-21697630&a=TEAMHOME Green Gully at Football Federation Victoria website] * [http://www.aussiekits.com/green_gully/green_gully.htm History of Green Gully Soccer Kits]
{{National Premier Leagues Victoria}} {{AUS fb state Vic}} {{National Soccer League}}
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1955]] [[Category:National Soccer League (Australia) clubs]] [[Category:National Premier Leagues clubs]] [[Category:National Premier Leagues Victoria]] [[Category:Soccer clubs in Melbourne]] [[Category:Men's soccer clubs in Melbourne]] [[Category:1955 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Sport in the City of Brimbank]] [[Category:Maltese diaspora]] [[Category:Diaspora sports clubs in Australia]]