West Adelaide
Formed 1962
The club was formed in 1962 by an amalgamation of 2
clubs, West
Adelaide Soccer Club and Hellenic
Athletic & Soccer Club.
They were founder members of the NSL in 1977 and
competed in the NSL until 1998-99 apart from a couple of seasons from 1987 to
1989 and again in the
1990 and 1991 seasons.
West Adelaide changed their name to the West Adelaide
Sharks in an attempt broaden their appeal outside their
Greek base but this failed and the senior arm of the club stopped playing in 1998-99.
In 2008 after
10 years there is again a Senior club competing in the South Australian State League.
Background
Formed 1962
The club was formed as an amalgamation between West Adelaide Soccer Club
(formed 1910) and Hellenic Athletic & Soccer Club (formed 1945 as Olympic
Soccer Club). Hellas was supported by the local Greek community. The
almalgamated club played under the name West Adelaide Hellas, and quickly became
one of the dominant clubs in the South Australian 1st Division, winning six
titles from 1966-76. Joining the NSL as a foundation member in 1977, in 1978 the
club became the only non-Sydney based team to win the NSL championship in the
years 1977-1983, a late goal by Vic Bozanic earning a draw against local rival
Adelaide City on the final day of the season, which was enough to win the title
by a point from Sydney City.
From 1979 until 1986 however, the club struggled, with a best finish of
seventh in 1979 for that era, and a failure to make the finals in the conference
system years of 1984-86 making them a prime candidate as one of the clubs to be
dumped back to the state leagues when the NSL reformed its conference system
back to a single division. A three season spell in the South Australian 1st
Division followed, which saw two titles and a second place finish. Re-instated
to the NSL for the 1989/90 season, the club performed poorly finishing 13th, and
was bumped back to the state league for another two year spell, where they won
another two titles.
West Adelaide were once again re-instated into the NSL for season 1991/92,
and despite another 13th place finish, the club managed to reach the finals in
two of the three following seasons. During this time the club also changed its
name to the Adelaide Sharks in an attempt to broaden its appeal outside its
Greek migrant base. But gradually declining performances on the field, and a
worsening financial situation off it, saw the club's senior arm fold at the end
of 1998/99 season. The West Adelaide Juniors continued and finally in 2008 were
reinstated with seniors, the West Adelaide Soccer Club are currently in the
South Australian State League competition.
