Coogee United Football Club was formed by Tony Pengue and Paul Smith in 2003 by a merger of members of the Charing Cross Soccer Clubs (Charing Cross was also latterly known as Coogee Prisoners Soccer Club) and Guitar Crazy SC. Members of both the Charing Cross and Guitar Crazy Soccer Clubs were once one and the same when both played under the name of Coogee Legion Soccer Club. Got that...?! Ok, read on!
This Club was formed back in the early 70's, and was once referred to as the Liverpool of the Eastern Suburbs, as they won virtually every Competition entered. Those halcyon days are slowly returning in the club's new guise, with the introduction of some great coaches in recent seasons.
In the past few seasons Coogee United have participated in numerous Grand Finals, ranging from Premier League Reserves to First Division All Age Women. In season 2009 the Club had a couple of "firsts"... Coogee United were represented in the Premier League Semi Finals and the 0/35 won the First Division and in doing that became the first Coogee United team to represent the ESFA at Champion of Champions level, which is the pinnacle of Association organised Football in the State.
Coogee United Football Club introduced a women's team in 2003, which consisted mainly of a group of girls that were sick of just watching their partners play on a Sunday and decided to form a team themselves. The girls went from strength to strength in their first couple of years, winning the Second Division Women's competition in their first season, and the following year making the Semi Finals in First Division!
On the back of this success, in 2005 Coogee United introduced another two womens' teams to the ESFA Competition, with one of these teams going on to win the Third Division Women's Competition. Clearly the men have a fight on their hands for the true powerbase of the club!
For the first time in the history of this great Club, 2006 saw the introduction of Junior Teams to the ESFA competition. This was a long held dream come true for many in the club, who can now watch their own sons and daughters wear the famous colours with as much pride as they once did. Simon Preston and Mark Gannon deserve the thanks of everyone for their tireless efforts in getting this great addition to the club off the ground.
2007 will also see the launch of another exciting new arm to the club, with Coogee United entering two top grade teams into the newly formed ESSFA Saturday Premier League. This league is being billed as showcasing the highest quality football the Eastern Suburbs has to offer, and will be a great addition to the local football landscape for those wanting to truly test themselves at the top level. To win a Premier League for Coogee United is now the ultimate dream for Jake Peacock and Ryan O'Grady as they enter their inaugural season.
Coogee United currently, then, has 18 teams in total, consisting of 2 Premier League teams, 5 All Age Men Teams, 2 O/35 Men Teams, 2 All Age Women Teams and 7 Junior teams, which makes Coogee United one of the biggest clubs in the Eastern Suburbs Soccer Football Association.
Coogee United play in the same colours (black and white stripes) as Juventus from Italy and Newcastle Utd from England. Both these clubs are well known to have copied their kit (b&w stripes) from the world's oldest football team, Notts County FC (UK div2), see link: wikipedia.org/wiki/Notts_County_F.C. (many thanks to Richard Jones for the info)
Virtually every Sunday and every second Saturday you will find members of the club wearing their famous strip with pride at their home ground of Heffron Park. The canteen at the ground also has the best BBQ'd gourmet sausages in the Eastern Suburbs! The facilities are without doubt some of the best in the area and parking is never a problem.
So, come down and get involved with your local club and become part of the great tradition that is Coogee United.
Long live the Black and Whites!
Pre 2003 - Guitar Crazy, Coogee Legion SC and Charing Cross Soccer Clubs
1986 1st Div Men Premiers
1986 2nd Div Men: Grand Final Winners
1986 3rd Div Men: Grand Final Winners
1990 1st Div Men: Grand Final Winners
1990 2nd Div Men: Grand Final Winners
1991 2nd Div Men: Grand Final Winners
1992 3rd Div Men: Grand Final Winners
1994 1st Div Men: Grand Final Winners
1997 2nd Div Men: Runners Up
2000 2nd Div Men: Runners Up
2001 2nd Div Men: Grand Final Winners
2002 6th Div Men: Grand Final Winners
Post 2003 - Coogee United
2003
2nd Div Women: Grand Final Winners
6th Div Men: Runners Up
2004
4th Div Men: : Grand Final Winners
4th Div Men: Grand Final Runners Up
6th Div Men: Grand Final Runners Up
8th Div Men: Grand Final Runners Up
2005
2nd Div Men: Grand Final Runners Up
6th Div Men: Grand Final Winners
0/35 Div 2: Grand Final Runners Up
3rd Div Women: Competition Winners and Grand Final Winners
2006
0/35 Div2: Comp Runners Up & Grand Final Winners
Div 5: Grand Final Winners
Div 7A: Comp Runners Up
Div 6: Comp Runners Up
U10's: Grand Final Runners Up
2007
U/11: Grand Final Winners
Premier League Reserves: Grand Final Winners.
Div 2: Competition Winners and Grand Final Winners.
Div 4: Grand Final Winners
Div 6: Grand Final Runners Up
0352: Grand Final Winners
2008
Div 1: Competition Winners/Grand Final Winners
Div 3: Competition Winners/Grand Final Runners Up
Div 5: Competition Winners/Grand Final Winners
Div 8: Competition Winners
Div 9: Grand Final Winners
035 Div 2: Grand Final Winners
SW1: Grand Final Runners Up
12 Girls Div 3: Grand Final Winners
2009
035 Div 1: Competition Winners/Grand Final Winners
Premier League Reserves: Competition Winners/Grand Final Runners UP
Div 9: Competition Runners Up/Grand Final Winners
12 Girls Div 2: Competition Winners/Grand Final Runners Up
10 Boys Div 3: Competition Winners
Tony Pengue
Joined the Coogee Legion SC in 1986 playing for the Division 1/2 teams, he continued playing till 1998 and then injuries set in and cut his playing days short. He has been known to 'help out' when teams are short but is more content to be sitting in the canteen sipping on red wine than lacing up the boots.
Tony has coached many teams in these years and in 1996 Tony took over the President's role from David Jones and kept the Club running to where its now.
Mark Gannon
Joined the Coogee Legion SC in 1983, Mark was a main link in the back 4 of the 1st division Team for many years. Mark has also coached a number of Teams. Mark is one of the people responsible for the establishment of the Coogee United Junior's.
Jim Tweedie
Joined Coogee Legion SC in the late eighties and enjoyed many years as a player of the 2nd Division team. Jim has been known to help the Club financially and this has always been appreciated by all.
Jim is holidaying somewhere in Asia.
Colin Toohey
Joined Coogee Legion SC in the early nineties, Colin was a member of the Div 2/3 teams as a player. Colin continued playing until 2006 when he decided to retire.
There is strong mail that Colin will be joining one of the teams in the future.
Darren DePater
Joined Coogee Legion SC in the late eighties and played many matches for the Div 2/3. Darren also played some 0/35 matches later on in his life.
Darren went on to wear the Black top, yeah he became one of the better Referee's in the Eastern Suburbs.
Brett Lilley
Joined Coogee Legion SC and played most of his matches in Div 2, until he turned 35 and found the going a little easier in the 0/35's, good decision Brett as you have gone on and met a great bunch of lads.
Brett is a current 0/352 player.
Leo List
Joined Coogee Legion in the early eighties, Leo was known as the flying Austrian for many years! Leo was a main part of the Glory Days, played most of his early days in Div 1, Leo is now enjoying the life in the 0/35's with Brett, together they have enjoyed a few good years with their new team mates.
Leo is a current 0/352 player.
Jim Bevk
Joined Coogee Legion SC in the late eighties playing mostly in Div2/3, Jim was known as the drag back king for many years! He is still known to take the piss out of his younger opponents when given the chance. Like Tony injuries cut Jim's playing days short.
Jim is still a keen supporter who is always watching the games and having a beer.
Mario Pengue
Joined Coogee Legion SC in the early nineties, Mario started off in between the sticks but in his older days is part of the lower grades back 4 and is known as the 'Baresi' of Coogee United FC.
Mario was "sacked" by his team mates in 2005 for being to 'lippi' so he turned his sights to coaching where he has won 3 of the past 5 season competition's with various teams. Mario is a vital member of Coogee United FC.
In memory of the following players who played under the Coogee umbrella but who have since passed on to a better place.
All you boys have been missed!