St George FC

{{Short description|Soccer club based in Sydney, New South Wales}} {{Distinguish|St George City FC}} {{For|football clubs with a similar name|Saint George (disambiguation)}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox football club | fullname = St George Football Club | image = St George FC.svg | upright = 0.7 | alt = A red and green on white circular badge depicting a dragon breathing fire. | nickname = ''Saints'', ''Budapest'' | founded = {{Start date and age|1957|p=yes}} | ground = {{Ubl|Barton Park|Banksia, New South Wales}} | owner = | coach = Brian Brown | league = {{Australian soccer updater|StGeorge}} | season = {{Australian soccer updater|StGeorge2}} | position = {{Australian soccer updater|StGeorge3}} | website = {{URL|https://stgeorgefc.com.au/}}

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'''St George FC''', nicknamed the ''Saints'' or ''Budapest'', is a semi-professional soccer club based in Banksia, New South Wales. Its senior men's team competes in the National Premier Leagues NSW (NPL), in the second tier of the Australian league system. Its senior women's team competes in the Football NSW League One, in the third tier. Both teams play their home games at Barton Park.

Founded in 1957 as '''Budapest''' by Hungarian immigrants following the Hungarian Revolution, the club enjoyed initial success in New South Wales' league and cup competitions. After rebranding as '''St. George-Budapest''', the senior men's team became one of the founding members of the National Soccer League (NSL) in 1977, for which the St George Stadium was built as their home ground. The team played fourteen seasons in the NSL, and won a championship in 1983. Following relegation after the 1990–91 season, it has since remained in the state leagues – its current tenure in the NPL came after securing promotion from Football NSW League One in 2023.

== History ==

[[File:Performance Chart NSL STG.svg|thumb|Chart of yearly table positions for St George-Budapest in NSL]] The club was formed shortly after the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 by Hungarian Immigrants and was originally known as '''Budapest'''. In the 1960s, led by pioneering soccer administrator Alex Pongrass, it became one of the first ethnic clubs in NSW to search for a district to call home and it chose the St George district. It later became known as St George-Budapest before shortening its name to St George some years later. They opened a licensed club, named Soccer House, in the suburb of Mortdale in 1968. In 1969 Frank Arok, the first full-time coach in Australia was appointed, serving two stints as coach, the last ending in 1983 when he left to coach the Socceroos. In between Arok's two stints as coach, Rale Rasic was coach, coaching the club at the same time as he was coaching the Socceroos. In 1971 the club was invited to an international club tournament in Tokyo, Japan. It won and remained the highest ever international achievement by an Australian club side, until South Melbourne FC won the 1999 Oceania Club Championship. However this was surpassed by Sydney FC (Oceania champions) when they finished 5th at the FIFA World Club Cup where, before them, South Melbourne had finished 8th and Western Sydney Wanderers (Asian champions) 6th.

Such was the dominance of St George in those days that up to 10 players on the national team would be St George players. Five of their players were in the Australian side that started against East Germany in the World Cup that year in West Germany, including the vice-captain of the side, the Australian soccer legend Johnny Warren. Another notable player (albeit at a lower level), was football commentator Les Murray. Together with Warren they would become known as "Mr and Mrs Soccer"<ref name="NLA_AndyHarper_MrandMrsSoccer_JohnnyWarrenandLesMurray">{{cite book|url=http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3079890|title=Mr and Mrs Soccer / Andy Harper|last=Andy Harper|year=2004 |author-link=Andy Harper|publisher=National Library of Australia|isbn=9781740512671 |access-date=3 February 2010}}</ref> and would become the faces of soccer in Australia through their commentary work on SBS Television.

[[File:St George Budapest SC - Loog.png|thumb|upright|The club's crest during its tenure in the National Soccer League in the 1980s.]]

In 1975 at the urging of some former Hungarian soccer greats and youth coach Bob Szatmari, the meeting determined to establish the Australian National Soccer League took place at Soccer House with representatives from all founding clubs, including Hakoah Club (later known as ''Eastern Suburbs'' and ''Sydney City'') president and Westfield Group founder and chairman Frank Lowy and Leslie Szatmari. The competition started in 1977 and St. George-Budapest won the competition in 1983. They played in the league until the 1990/91 season. Since then they have played in state competitions. In 2005 the side was controversially axed from the new look New South Wales Premier League and took legal action against the decision along with the Bonnyrigg White Eagles, but were unsuccessful.

===Recent history=== In 2012 St George competed in the New South Wales Super League, the second tier of state soccer, finishing seventh out of twelve clubs and missing out on the finals.<ref>[http://www.sportingpulse.com/comp_info.cgi?client=1-4720-0-207824-0&pool=1&action=LADDER&round=22 Men's Super League 2012 final table]. Retrieved 30 January 2013</ref> In 2013, St George were promoted from the NPL NSW Men's 2 after taking out the league championship, finishing seven points ahead of the second placed Macarthur Rams FC. The club also won the Grand Final, beating the Rams in the semi-final 2–1 and then beating Mounties Wanderers FC 3–1 in the final. The joy was not to last long, though, as in 2014, the club was immediately relegated back to the second tier of soccer in NSW. Managing just four wins and four draws in 22 games, St George finished last in the top tier. The Saints endured another tough season in 2015, finishing third last in the NPL NSW Men's 2.

In 2017 the club played most senior home fixtures out of Seymour Shaw Park, also playing one game at St George Stadium, Fraser Park and Blacktown Football Park. This didn't seem to deter St George as the side finished in 2nd place, losing the semi-final to Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC 4–2.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://websites.sportstg.com/comp_info.cgi?c=1-10179-150720-439113-0&a=LADDER|title=Ladder for 1st - PS4 NPL 2 NSW Men's 2017|website=SportsTG|language=en|access-date=2 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://websites.sportstg.com/team_info.cgi?c=1-10179-150720-439113-25775959&a=SFIX|title=St George FC Season Fixture in Football NSW - NPL|website=SportsTG|language=en|access-date=2 December 2019}}</ref>

Due to the dilapidated state of St George Stadium, the club played senior fixtures out of Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre in 2018 and 2019. In 2018, St George finished in 2nd place in the league and won the NPL NSW 2 grand final, but were not promoted due to the 'Club Championship' ranking which takes into consideration the performance of the U20 and U18 sides. In 2019, St George finished 10th in the 14-team NPL NSW 2 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://websites.sportstg.com/comp_info.cgi?c=1-10179-150720-514690-0&a=LADDER|title=Ladder for 1st - NPL 2 NSW Men's 2019|website=SportsTG|language=en|access-date=2 December 2019}}</ref>

During the 2019 season, St George reached the FFA Cup round of 32 after beating clubs such as SD Raiders, APIA Leichhardt Tigers and Dulwich Hill, but lost to Sydney United 58 in a 5–3 thriller after two goals from Mushi Kokubo and a stoppage time equaliser.

In 2023, St George FC were promoted back into the NSW National Premier League 2024 by finishing 2nd place in League 1, then defeating Mt Druitt Town Rangers in a thrilling play-off series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://footballnsw.com.au/2023/09/09/st-george-fc-back-in-the-top-flight/|title=St George FC back in the top flight|website=footballnsw.com.au|language=en|access-date=20 December 2024|date=9 September 2023|first=Justin|last=Davies}}</ref>

After playing its youth and senior fixtures at Ilinden Sports Centre between 2018 and 2024, in 2025 St George returned to their original location after St George Stadium was redeveloped into the Barton Park Sports Complex.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/from-socceroos-and-pele-to-a-drug-den-now-this-stadium-has-been-reborn-20240430-p5fno4.html|title=From Socceroos and Pele to a drug den. Now this stadium has been reborn|website=smh.com.au|language=en|access-date=20 December 2024|date=8 May 2024|first=Vince|last=Rugari}}</ref>

== Honours == * '''National Soccer League''' **'''Champions:''' 1983 **''Runner-up:'' 1982 * '''NSL Cup''' **''Runner-up:'' 1979 * '''NSW 1st Division/NPL NSW 1''' **'''Champions:''' 1967, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1981 **''Runner-up:'' 1962, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1976 **'''Minor Premiers:''' 1962, 1972, 1976 *'''Federation Cup & Waratah Cup''' **'''Winners''' 1964, 1972 **''Runner-up:'' 1966, 1974 * '''NSW 2nd Division/NPL NSW 2/NSW League One''' **'''Champions:''' 2013, 2018 **'''Minor Premiers:''' 2013

== Season results == {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" ! Season!!League!!Place!!Cup |- | 1961||NSW 1||7th|| |- | 1962||NSW 1||style="background:Gold"|1st|| |- | 1963||NSW 1||6th|| |- | 1964||NSW 1||style="background:Silver"|2nd|| |- | 1965||NSW 1||style="background:Silver"|2nd|| |- | 1966||NSW 1||style="background:#c96"|3rd|| |- | 1967||NSW 1||style="background:Silver"|2nd|| |- | 1968||NSW 1||11|| |- | 1969||NSW 1||style="background:Silver"|2nd|| |- | 1970||NSW 1||style="background:Silver"|2nd|| |- | 1971||NSW 1||style="background:Silver"|2nd|| |- | 1972||NSW 1||style="background:Gold"|1st|| |- | 1973||NSW 1||style="background:#c96"|3rd|| |- | 1974||NSW 1||style="background:#c96"|3rd|| |- | 1975||NSW 1||style="background:Silver"|2nd|| |- | 1976||NSW 1||style="background:Gold"|1st|| |- | 1977||NSL||6th|| |- | 1978||NSL||7th|| |- | 1979||NSL||11th||style="background:Silver"|2nd |- | 1980||NSL||14th|| |- | 1981||NSW 1||style="background:Silver"|2nd|| |- | 1982||NSL||style="background:Silver"|2nd|| |- | 1983||NSL||style="background:Gold"|1st|| |- | 1984||NSL||10th|| |- | 1985||NSL||5th|| |- | 1986||NSL||style="background:#c96"|3rd|| |- | 1987||NSL||style="background:#c96"|3rd|| |- | 1988||NSL||8th|| |- | 1989||NSL||style="background:Silver"|2nd||style="background:#c96"|3rd |- | 1989–90||NSL||10th|| |- | 1990||NSW 1||style="background:#9acdff"|4th|| |- | 1990–91||NSL||10th|| |- | 1992||NSW 1||11th|| |- | 1993||NSW 1||11th|| |- | 1994||NSW 2||10th|| |- | 1995||NSW 1||5th|| |- | 1996||NSW 1||10th|| |- | 1996||NSW 1||style="background:#c96"|3rd|| |- | 1997||NSW 1||9th|| |- | 1998||NSW 1||12th|| |- | 1999||NSW 2||style="background:Silver"|2nd|| |- | 2000||NSW 1||style="background:#9acdff"|4th|| |- | 2000–01||NSW 1||6th|| |- | 2001–02||NSW 1||10th|| |- | 2002–03||NSW 1||9th|| |- | 2003–04||NSW 1||style="background:Silver"|2nd|| |- | 2004–05||NSW 1||8th|| |- | 2005||NSW 1 Champions League||7th|| |- | 2006||NSW 2||10th|| |- | 2006||NSW 2 Group B||5th|| |- | 2007||NSW 2||style="background:#9acdff"|4th|| |- | 2008||NSW 2||6th|| |- | 2009||NSW 2||6th|| |- | 2010||NSW 2||style="background:#c96"|3rd|| |- | 2011||NSW 2||style="background:#c96"|3rd|| |- | 2012||NSW 2||7th|| |- | 2013||NSW 2||style="background:Gold"|1st|| |- | 2014||NPL NSW 1||12th|| |- | 2015||NPL NSW 2||10th|| |- | 2016||NPL NSW 2||9th|| |- | 2017||NPL NSW 2||style="background:Silver"|2nd|| |- | 2018||NPL NSW 2||style="background:Silver"|2nd|| |- | 2019||NPL NSW 2||10th|| |- | 2020||NPL NSW 2||9th|| |- | 2021||NPL NSW 2||''Cancelled''|| |- | 2022||NSW League One||9th|| |- |2023 |NSW League One||style="background:Silver"|2nd|| |- | 2024||NPL NSW||12th|| |}

==First team squad== {{updated|8 April, 2026}} {{fs start}} {{fs player|no= 1|nat=AUS|pos=GK|name=Nicholas Sorras}} {{fs player|no= 2|nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=Rocco Smith}} {{fs player|no= 3|nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=Troy Danaskos}} {{fs player|no= 4|nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=Jayden Seeto}} {{fs player|no= 5|nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=Nicholas Kalogerou}} {{fs player|no= 6|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Patrick O'Shea}} {{fs player|no= 7|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Justin Poon}} {{fs player|no= 8|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Evangelo Souris}} {{fs player|no= 9|nat=AUS|pos=FW|name=Jake Trew}} {{fs player|no=10|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Jaden Casella}} {{fs player|no=11|nat=AUS|pos=FW|name=Anthony Morabito}} {{fs player|no=13|nat=AUS|pos=GK|name=Sebastian La Luz}} {{fs player|no=14|nat=JPN|pos=MF|name=Katsuyoshi Kimishima}} {{fs mid}} {{fs player|no=15|nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=Mark Rodic}} {{fs player|no=16|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Kaidyn Wright}} {{fs player|no=17|nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=Thomas Brown}} {{fs player|no=20|nat=JPN|pos=DF|name=Kota Toyooka}} {{fs player|no=21|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Harry Keys}} {{fs player|no=22|nat=GRE|pos=FW|name=Nikolaos Stavropoulos}} {{fs player|no=23|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Javier Rodriguez}} {{fs player|no=24|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Terry Antonis}} {{fs player|no=25|nat=AUS|pos=FW|name=Harrison Farrow}} {{fs player|no=30|nat=AUS|pos=FW|name=Trelawney Brown}} {{fs player|no=37|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=Jayden Dorevski}} {{fs player|no=40|nat=AUS|pos=GK|name=Marcus Petrovski}} {{fs player|no=88|nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=Chris McStay}} {{fs end}}

== Notable players == thumb|Jonny Warren in 1968 Manfred Schaefer, Johnny Warren and Attila Abonyi were original inductees into the Football Australia Hall of Fame. Later followed Adrian Alston, Doug Utjesenovic, David Ratcliffe, Robbie Slater and George Harris. * {{flagicon|Australia}} Adrian Alston (b. 1949), 1969 to 1972 with the club. Stalwart of the 1974 Australian World Cup side. Played 37 matches for Australia scoring 6 goals. * {{flagicon|Argentina}} Osvaldo Ardiles (b. 1952), one match for St George in 1985,<ref>St George - Marconi 0-1, 10 June 1985, St. George Stadium, Attendance: 4,380 / ''[http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/NSL/1985/1985NSLResults.html#Round14 1985 National Soccer League Results / Round Fourteen]'', OzFootball.Net</ref> loaned from Tottenham Hotspur to the club. World Cup winner of 1978. * {{flagicon|Australia}} Attila Abonyi (1946-2023), 1969 to 1976 with the club. Stalwart of the 1974 Australian World Cup side. Played 61 matches for Australia scoring 25 goals. * {{flagicon|Australia}} Harry Williams (b. 1951), 1970 to 1977 with the club. First aboriginal playing for Australia. Participant in the 1974 World Cup. Altogether six matches for Australia. * {{flagicon|Samoa}} Chris Cahill (b. 1984), 2006 to 2012 with the club. Brother of Australia's all-time top goal scorer Tim Cahill was born in Sydney but played for Samoa 15 times and scoring 7 goals. * {{flagicon|Australia}} George Harris (b. 1949), 1968 to 1979 with the club. Played 28 matches for Australia. * {{flagicon|Yugoslavia}} Dez Marton (b. 1948), 1982 to 1985 with the club. Top-scorer of the club's golden 1980s era. * {{flagicon|Australia}} David Ratcliffe (b. 1957), 1982 to 1986 and 1989 with the club. Played 21 matches for Australia scoring 1 goal. * {{flagicon|Australia}} Manfred Schaefer (1943-2023), 1963 to 1975 with the club. Stalwart of the 1974 Australian World Cup side. The milkman played 49 matches for Australia scoring 1 goal. * {{flagicon|Australia}} Robbie Slater (b. 1964), 1982 to 1986 with the club. Played 44 matches for Australia scoring 1 goal. * {{flagicon|Australia}} Johnny Warren MBE OAM (1943-2004), 1963 to 1974 with the club. Part of the 1974 Australian World Cup side. Played 42 matches for Australia scoring 7 goals. * {{flagicon|Australia}} Doug Utjesenovic (b. 1946), 1971 to 1980 with the club. Stalwart of the 1974 Australian World Cup side. Played 61 matches for Australia scoring 2 goals.

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website|https://stgeorgefc.com.au/|Club official website}} * [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Clubs/S/StGeorgeDH.html OZ Football club page] * [http://www.socceraust.co.uk/NSW/Champions/premier1.htm Socceraust]

{{s-start}} {{succession box|title=NSL Champions|before=Sydney City|after=South Melbourne|years=1983}} {{s-end}}

{{Soccer in New South Wales}} {{NSWPL}} {{National Soccer League}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint George FC}} Category:St George FC Category:National Soccer League (Australia) clubs Category:National Premier Leagues clubs Category:Soccer clubs in Sydney Category:Men's soccer clubs in Australia Category:Association football clubs established in 1957 Category:1957 establishments in Australia FC Category:Diaspora sports clubs in Australia Category:Hungarian-Australian culture Category:Australia–Hungary sports relations