George Tsamouras Football Journey

Congratulations to u16s Newcastle Olympic who secured the Premiership in their age group.

Congratulations to the players, coaching staff and parents.

Good luck in the upcoming Finals series.

Source: Tom Tsamouras

Newcastle Olympic has become the first club to be crowned Club Champions in both Women’s and Men’s football in the same year.

Fresh from winning the Herald WPL Premiership and Grand Final a week ago, Olympic have secured their 10th Men’s Club Championship, with 5 of those in the 7 years of the NPL era.

In winning this unique ‘double’, Newcastle Olympic has today reinforced its position as the leading all-round club in Northern NSW. The Club Championship aggregates the performance of club teams through all 7 men’s and 4 women’s premier competitions from 1st Grade through to the youth grades. It is a demonstration of strength across the whole club.

“To be the first club to win both women’s and men’s Club Championships in the same season, to have all of our premier teams in the finals series, is a fantastically proud achievement for Olympic”. said Mr Sofianos.

“The key word here is ‘Club’. This involves a commitment by everyone at our club that goes well beyond one team. It requires a high level of excellence across all our eleven premier senior and youth women’s and men’s teams.” said Club President George Sofianos.

“From the day we committed to entering the WPL, our focus has been on building ‘One Club’ – women, men, girls and boys. From first grade through to youth grades. While we are obviously thrilled at winning these premierships and championships, what is even more important is that we have integrated everyone into the one premier club.” said Club President George Sofianos.

source: Tom Tsamouras

Congratulations to Newcastle Olympic’s Jemma House who won three awards in the 2020 Herald Women’s Premier League Season.

Golden Boot with 33 goals
Player of the Grand Final
2020 PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Congratulations Jemma.

source: Tom Tsamouras

Terrible weather was matched by a weekend Newcastle Olympic would rather forget. On Saturday Reserve Grade were beaten in the Major Semi-final by Lambton Jaffas and First Grade had the same misfortune on Sunday at the hands of Maitland FC.

NPL:

1st Grade – Minor Semi Final
Olympic 0-4 Maitland

Reserve Grade – Major Semi-Final
Olympic 1-2 Lambton Jaffas

Under 18s – Round 16
Olympic 4-2 Charlestown

NPL Youth:

Round 20  Newcastle Olympic vs Broadmeadow Magic at Darling St Oval on Saturday 24^th October.

All matches were washed out by the rain.

Source: Tom Tsamouras

NEWCASTLE OLYMPIC V MAITLAND FC

DARLING STREET OVAL – SUNDAY 2.30PM

Newcastle Olympic will host Maitland in a do-or-die minor semi-final at Darling Street Oval on Sunday.

The two sides had differing results in their previous finals games but both will be determined to stay in the hunt to chase the championship.

Newcastle Olympic endured a 3-1 loss to Broadmeadow Magic last weekend but earned another shot after finishing third on the table.

On the other side, Maitland overcame Charlestown Azzurri, winning on penalties to advance to week two of the finals.

Newcastle will now feel the intensity of a sudden death playoff but will go in confident after doing the double over the Magpies this season.

Olympic defeated Maitland on separate occasions in 2020 including a 4-0 win earlier in the season at Darling Street Oval.

But Maitland have won their last four games in a row and are well accustomed to the pressure cooker of finals football.

Newcastle Olympic interim coach Alex Tagaroulias said he was wary of Maitland’s strengths.

“We have to take our opportunities and it shows the importance of taking chances from the Magic game,” Tagaroulias said.

“As far as Maitland are concerned, beware of the wounded tiger. Some people have got injuries but they have got enough ammunition to make life difficult.

“Now we’ve got to try and beat them a third time and we have to do it again.”

source: https://northernnswfootball.com.au/

NPL:

1^ST GRADE: Minor Semi-Final

Newcastle Olympic vs Maitland kick off 2:30PM on Sunday 25^th October at Darling St Oval4

Reserve Grade: Major Semi-Final

Newcastle Olympic vs Lambton Jaffas kick off 3:00PM on Saturday 24^th October at Jack McLaughlan Oval, Edgeworth.

U18s: Round 16

Charlestown Azzuri vs Newcastle Olympic kick off 5:00PM on Sunday 25^th October at LMRFF, Speers Point.

NPL YOUTH: Round 20

Newcastle Olympic vs Broadmeadow Magic on Saturday 24^th October at Darling St Oval

U16s kick off at 3:00PM

U15s kick off at 1:00PM

U14s kick off at 11:00AM

U13s kick off at 9:00AM

SAP: Round 17

U9s Blue kick off at 9:00AM at Johnston Park vs Charlestown, on Saturday 24^th October.

U9s White kick off at 9:00AM at Johnston Park vs Charlestown, on Saturday 24^th October.

U10s White kick off at 12:15PM at LMRFF vs Mid Coast on Sunday 25^th October.

U10s Blue kick off at 1:00PM at LMRFF vs Charlestown, on Saturday 24^th October.

U11s White kick off at 5:00PM at LMRFF vs Newcastle SAP Girls on Thursday 22^nd  October.

U11s Blue kick off at 10:00PM at The Gardens vs Wallsend on Sunday 25^th October.

Source: Tom Tsamouras

Current WPL Club Champions Newcastle Olympic FC are seeking expressions of interest for the following position for the 2021 season:

Women’s Premier League & Girls SAP Programme Coaches

 Expressions are to be emailed to: registrar@nofc.com.au

Please ensure you outline current/previous coaching history.

Ideally, candidates should hold the current minimum coaching qualification, and be willing to undertake any necessary accreditation requirements.

All applications will be treated confidentially.

Any enquiries can be directed to:
Paul Devitis (WPL Technical Director) 0434 192 457
Alex Tagaroulias (Club Technical Director) 0497 897 716

source: Tom Tsamouras

Broadmeadow Magic vs Newcastle Olympic 3-1

Broadmeadow Magic are one game away from a grand final berth after downing arch rivals Newcastle Olympic 3-1 in an exhilarating qualifying final at Magic Park on Saturday night.

The latest edition of the derby shaped up to be a sensational game and the two sides delivered another quality spectacle.

Both sides looked destined to go into the break all square before Jarred Baker scored a long-range curler which nestled into the top corner to give Magic the lead at the break.

Magic were on their way when Sam Walker scored his goal in the 73rd minute with a great touch and finish before Mitch Rooke sealed the victory a few minutes later with a great solo run and strike.

Dino Fajkovic scored a late consolation goal for Olympic after great build up play by Kent Harrison but it was the red of Broadmeadow who progressed to the major semi-final.

Broadmeadow will take on premiers Edgeworth in a mouth-watering battle to determine the first grand finalist while Olympic will get another shot against Maitland.

Source: https://northernnswfootball.com.au/

NPL Northern NSW
1st Grade Broadmeadow vs Newcastle Olympic 3-1
Goal: Dino Fajkovic

Under 18s Newcastle Olympic vs Adamstown 1-0

NPL YOUTH:

Round 19: Edgeworth vs Newcastle Olympic

U16s Olympic won 2-0

U15s Olympic lost 1-0

U14s Olympic won 3-1

U13s drew 1-1

Source: Tom Tsamouras

Newcastle Olympic completed what coach Harmonie Attwill described as “a fairytale” first season in Herald Women’s Premier League by sealing the premiership-championship double with a 3-2 win over Warners Bay at Macquarie Field on Sunday.

The grand final was tipped to be a thrilling affair with the league’s two most prolific goalscorers lining up in opposing sides in Jemma House for Olympic and former National Women’s Soccer League player Jen Hoy in Panthers colours. And they did not disappoint.

House has proven the difference on many occasions for Olympic this year and the classy striker produced another player of the match performance to set up the victory. She scored twice in the first half as the premiers took a 2-1 lead into the break then crafted the third as Olympic skipped out to a 3-1 lead before the Panthers struck back then applied a mountain of pressure.

“It was an excellent game,” Attwill said post-match. “Warners Bay played excellent. They were dangerous all over the park and very structured. It was hard to break them down but luckily we did.

“You can’t expect 10 opportunities in a grand final – they’re going to be few and far between. So it was more a matter of taking the opportunities when they came. Or if we felt like that weren’t happening, we really had to create. And credit to Jemma. I’ve said that about her before – if something’s not going her way she finds a way to make it. And I do think she was the difference for us today.”

The game was only five minutes old when House volleyed into the net from close range after Georgia Amess broke down right, beat the Panthers defence then crossed the ball into the box.

Hoy equalised in the 13^th when she chipped an advancing Olympic goalkeeper Natalie Wiseman then sped away from the defence and buried the ball into the far corner.

House headed into the net from a Georgia Little corner in the 41^st minute.

Wiseman parried away Hoy’s long-range shot in the 53^rd before denying Annika D’Amico with a diving save to her right in the 57^th.

Olympic midfielder Laura Hall scored with a tap-in in the 65^th after House unleashed a long-range effort which hit the right post then the left before being pushed off the line by Panthers’ shot-stopper Ally Boertje.

Panthers midfielder Elodie Dagg scored in the 67^th then came close to tying the game up in the 80^th when her free kick was tipped over the bar by Wiseman. A long-range effort from Hoy was cleared off the line by Brooke Summers with five minutes remaining.

Warners Bay coach Craig Atkins was disappointed to lose but full of praise for a team he rebuilt this season after the departures of a host of talent.

“It was a fantastic effort from our girls and they showed why they deserved to be here,” Atkins said.

“They never gave up. They were fighting to the death and that’s the culture we’ve created this year. We’re looking forward to next year.

“We’ll celebrate the season tonight. No one expected us to be here but we did. We always had that belief.”

Earlier, Adamstown beat Olympic 2-1 to win the reserve-grade grand final, Merewether downed Olympic 4-2 in the 17s decider and United were 3-2 winners over Mid Coast in 14s.

source: https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/

Newcastle Olympic 3-2 Warners Bay FC

Newcastle Olympic completed an historic double with a 3-2 win over Warners Bay in the Herald Women’s Premier League grand final on Sunday.

The win put the icing on the cake for the women from Darling Street, who secured both the premiership and championship in their inaugural season in the competition.

The league’s two leading goal scorers, Olympic’s Jemma House and Warners Bay’s Jen Hoy, found the back of the net within the opening 12 minutes as a strong crowd at Macquarie Field were treated to a thrilling, end-to-end battle between the two star studded sides.

There was action aplenty from the opening whistle as Panthers’ captain Elodie Dagg pushed the Olympic defence deep onto its own line, while a long-range effort from Ellie Brown struck the post.

The decider’s opening goal came six minutes into the match as House found the final touch on a pinpoint cross from Georgia Amess. The delicate volley from House gave the premiers a one-goal advantage.

Warners Bay wasted no time in finding an equaliser. A bolting run from Sophia Laurie played Hoy into space, with the former W-League player too good for the Olympic defence as she weaved her way past goalkeeper Nat Wiseman.

Georgia Little left nothing to chance as she gave a way a free kick just outside the penalty area. The shot from Warners Bay’s Annika D’Amico sprayed over the bar.

Olympic returned serve on the scoreboard as the half neared completion. House was again on the end of a near perfect cross from Little, making the half-time score 2-1 to Olympic.

Momentum reflected a pendulum in the second half as Warners Bay appeared certain to level the score. Hoy and D’Amico peppered the opposing goal mouth as Hoy found the posts, while D’Amico sprayed a long-range effort over the bar.

And just as Warners Bay looked destined to score, Olympic found themselves deep in Panthers territory. A powerful strike from House found the post, only to deflect into the opposite post. Panthers keeper Ally Boertje unable to clear the ball as Laura Hall tapped in to extend the margin for Olympic.

Dagg gave the Panthers hope of a comeback as she switched a midfield turnover into a genuine chance. The following strike enough to reduce the deficit to 3-2.

Amess came from the field with an injury as House found her name in the referee’s book. The substitutions continued as Little made way for Stacey Day.

The closing stages were spectacular as Warners Bay pressed deep into the opposing half. Dagg looked certain to score as her strike forced a diving save from Wiseman, before Olympic’s Brooke Summers made a scrambling save to avoid the game going into extra-time.

A last-minute long-range effort from Hoy was not enough to square the score as Olympic recorded a memorable 3-2 win.

Source: https://northernnswfootball.com.au/

1st Grade – CHAMPIONS 🏆 and PREMIERS 🏆
Newcastle Olympic 3-2 Warners Bay
Goals: Jemma House x 2, Laura Hall

Reserve Grade
Newcastle Olympic 1-2 Adamstown Rosebud
Goals: Sophie McDonald

Under 17s
Newcastle Olympic 2-4 Merewether
Goals: Grace Hole, India Dos Santos

Our WPL teams are proudly sponsored by Sangerz

Source: Tom Tsamouras

GRAND FINAL

NEWCASTLE OLYMPIC FC V WARNERS BAY FC
MACQUARIE FIELD – SUNDAY 5.30PM

 After more than 220 days since the first round of the Herald Women’s Premier League, 14 regular season rounds and a gruelling three-week finals campaign, the race for the championship title has come down to this. Premiers Newcastle Olympic against challengers Warners Bay at Macquarie Field.

Never in its history has the Herald Women’s Premier League been played so deep into spring, nor in recent memory has the race for the title been so tight at the end of the regular season.

The premiers, Newcastle Olympic, go into Sunday’s game as the favourites, though if 2020 has taught us anything, it is to expect the unexpected.

“The girls are quite proud of their achievement and for us, you just look at the start of the season, not really knowing too much of what we were able to produce through the year,” Olympic coach Harmonie Attwill said ahead of the decider.

“We’ve progressively got better which is what you want to do.”

High pressure training scenarios have been a feature of finals preparation for the women in blue, who finished the regular season on top of the table.

“We go about it by setting a bit of a scene. If you are 1-0 down, what are you going to do? Really trying to get the girls to step through how they respond,” Attwill said.

Despite the occasion, the preparation will not change at Adamstown Oval as Olympic look to put the perfect signature on an already spectacular season.

“We will just prepare the same way we have for every other game,” Attwill said.

“It’s never about how important the game is. It is just a game and we just need to focus each week on ensuring we are able to deliver all the things we practice.

“We’ll do our normal two training sessions. We’ll just do what we’ve been doing and just make sure the girls enjoy that they’re about to play a grand final.”

Olympic have become known for attacking prowess throughout season 2020 while the defensive block, led by captain Sophie O’Brien, has set a high benchmark for opposing sides.

“I like us to not just be predictable. For the opposition to not always know where people are going to play, or what area of the field we’re going to target,” Attwill said.

And while grit and determination have seen Olympic clamber out of several tough matches, Attwill believes patience, discipline and togetherness will determine the result on Sunday.

“If we don’t win the game then we weren’t the better team on the day but if we can just follow the three principles we’ve followed all year, I definitely think we have a good chance to be successful,” she said.

“It’s been tough. Those couple of games I think about. Against Magic, we’re down 2-0 at half-time, we had to turn it around and it was a real test of the girls’ character to do that.

“Our second game against Adamstown, we didn’t play our best football. After that game we had a bit of a team building session just to reassess and make sure everyone was really clear on their role.

“To the girls’ credit they’ve always responded to whatever it is we try and discuss.

“What we do as a group will determine whether we are successful.”

At the other end, Warners Bay have an opportunity to write themselves into the record books and become the first fourth-placed finisher in the competition’s history to win the ultimate prize.

“There’s no pressure on us. I think the pressure will be on Olympic. They’ll be going in as favourites. That’s fine by us,” Warners Bay coach Craig Atkins said.

“If we can put in another character-building performance like we did on the weekend [against Broadmeadow] and keep working as a strong unit, I can’t see why we can’t get the result on Sunday.

“We’re going to have to be very structured defensively. And very effective with communication and transitions.

“For us, it’s going to be that intensity, the communication and the ball playing. We know once we get that ball on the ground and we start knocking it around we can compete with any football team in the league.”

The Panthers finished the regular season with eight wins, one draw and five losses. A fortnight ago they left Merewether United reeling in the minor semi-final, before scoring a win for the ages over Broadmeadow Magic in the preliminary final.

“It was another fantastic performance [against Magic], a terrific performance from the girls,” Atkins said.

“It was that character. We were under the pump for what would have been 15 minutes. Magic had corner after corner. That desperation I’ve asked for in semi-finals football, the girls were just all over it, they were everywhere.”

At season’s start, Atkins heralded a new era for the Panthers as fresh faces flooded John Street Oval. Now, with a full season as head coach almost under his belt, Atkins is on the verge of one of the great championship wins.

“I always believed that we could do it. But it was always going to take time. As a coach to watch all that be put in practice now, it’s been a fantastic ride,” Atkins said.

“The momentum has been building for a number of weeks now. We had to make sure we got to the finals first. We knew, if we put in a good performance in the finals, anything can happen.

“If it does come off, it’s going to be very well deserved.”

HEAD to HEAD

Round 3 – Warners Bay 0-4 Newcastle Olympic at John Street Oval

Round 10 – Newcastle Olympic 7-2 Warners Bay at Darling Street Oval

Road to the grand final

Newcastle Olympic

Preliminary Final – Newcastle Olympic 2-1 Broadmeadow Magic (after extra-time) at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility

Warners Bay

Minor semi-final – Merewether United 2-6 Warners Bay at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility

Preliminary final – Broadmeadow Magic 4-5 Warners Bay at Magic Park

In the lower grades, Newcastle Olympic take on Adamstown Rosebud JFC in the reserve grade grand final, Merewether United face Newcastle Olympic in the under-17s decider and Mid Coast FC meet Merewether United in the under-14s grand final.

All four matches will be available to watch live on Bar TV, which will also be streamed through the Herald Women’s Premier League Facebook page.

Source: https://northernnswfootball.com.au/