Nickname(s) Hajduk Chairman Tony Dorotić Founded 2008 | Ground Capacity 1000 Manager Stuart Munro Capacity 1,000 | |
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Full name Dandenong City Soccer Club League National Premier Leagues Victoria 2 Ground Frank Holohan Soccer Complex | ||
Dandenong City Soccer Club, formerly known as Chelsea Hajduk, is an Australian association football club from Melbourne, Victoria. The club's home is at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex in the suburb of Endeavour Hills. The club was founded in 1981 as Parkmore Hajduk, then was renamed Chelsea Hajduk by the Croatian Australian community in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs. In 2008 Chelsea Hajduk merged with Dandenong City.
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The club participates in the National Premier Leagues Victoria 2 as a member of the East conference.
History
Dandenong City were relegated from the State League One in 2012, having just been promoted from the State League Two South-West the year prior. City finished in 11th place in the 12th team league, with only rivals Springvale White Eagles FC finishing lower.
In 2013, Dandenong City finished in second place in the Victorian State League 2 Two South-East, but missed out on promotion to State League 1 after losing a playoff against Avondale FC.
This was not to matter, though, as through City's acceptance into the National Premier Leagues Victoria 1 in 2014 meant that the club jumped from the old third to the new second tier of football in Victoria. In City's maiden campaign in NPL1, the side endured a largely challenging campaign, finishing 10th in the 14 team competition. Ivan Duzel led the side throughout 2014, but departed at season's end. The club found success in the promotion of young players in the senior squad, with Marko Stevanja, Nick Glavan and Damian Miskulin all impressing with the first team and going on to sign with National Youth League sides Melbourne City FC (Stevanja) and Melbourne Victory FC (Glavan and Miskulin).
In late 2014, Dandenong City appointed Aaron Healey as the head coach for the upcoming 2015 season. Healey was previously the club's technical director. The NPL1 division split into an East and West conference in 2015, with both conferences compromising of 10 teams, playing each team in their own conference twice and the teams in the opposite conference once. Dandenong finished 3rd in the East conference, seven points off the second placed Melbourne Victory FC Youth. A highlight of the season came in a 5–0 win over promoted side Melbourne Victory at the Frank Holohan Soccer Complex.
In the off-season, Hajduk lost players such as Sean Seavill and Alex Rojas, replacing them with the likes of Mate Eterovć from Richmond SC and David Morović from Nunawading City FC, with the spine of the squad remaining largely the same as the previous season. On deadline day, Dandy's reputation for youth development was enhanced as young right back Bradley Clarke was signed by Melbourne City FC NPL. Dandenong experienced an inconsistent first half of the season, entering the mid-season transfer window in 4th place in NPL2 East, with 7 wins, 2 draws and 5 losses, 12 points off the promotion play-off second place. In the transer window, City added Amir Osmančević from local rivals Dandenong Thunder and Ross Frame from Oakleigh Cannons. Dandenong City finished the 2016 season in 3rd place, 21 points off second-placed neighbours Dandenong Thunder. Following the side's final round 3–2 loss to Box Hill United, City announced the departure of senior coach Aaron Healey and his assistant Gerry McDonagh.
For the 2017 NPL2 East season, City announced that Stuart Munro had been appointed as the club's new senior head coach. with former Melbourne Victory midfielder Tom Pondeljak named as his assistant. Dandy started its 2017 recruitment in sensational fashion, securing the services of Adelaide United FC A-League championship winning winger Mate Dugandzic.
Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Honours
Bayside Football Association
Senior team finishing position
Hajduk Parkmore merged with Chelsea
Hajduk Chelsea merged with Dandenong City