Nickname(s) Zebras Founded 1948 Manager Fausto De Amicis | Website Club home page Ground CB Smith Reserve | |
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Full name Moreland Zebras Football Club League National Premier Leagues Victoria | ||
Moreland Zebras FC is an Australian soccer club based in Moreland, Melbourne. The club currently competes in the National Premier Leagues Victoria 2. Moreland play out of CB Smith Reserve in Fawnker.
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Club history
Moreland Zebras FC was formed in 1948, originally known as Juventus Melbourne, playing in the famous Black & White strip, a tradition that still continues. The club was known for most of its history as Brunswick Juventus based out of the City of Moreland. After a series of mergers firstly in 1997 between several clubs based in the Italian community of Melbourne, namely Brunswick Juventus, Box Hill Inter and Bulleen Lions.
In 2007, after the break-up of the Bulleen Zebras, the club moved to Epping Stadium in the City of Whittlesea and the club was renamed to the Whittlesea Zebras FC. The 2007 season saw the team finish the Victorian Premier League as runners-up. After beating Green Gully SC 2–1, through goals from Hamlet Armenian and Steve Martin, and Preston Lions FC 2–1 at the next step of the finals series through another goal each from Armenian and Martin, the Zebras met Preston once more in the grand final at Bob Jane Stadium, Albert Park. In front of 4,500 people, Whittlesea went down 3–1 as Makedonia's Zoran Petrevski ran riot.
In 2009, manager Ivan Jolic was dismissed after Round 5 with the club going on to appoint Ange Postecoglou. The high profile manager was unable to halt the early season slump and the club were relegated from the Victorian Premier League.
In 2011, the club was crowned Victorian State League Division 1 champions. After being crowned champions, club members decided at the annual general meeting that the future of the club would prosper back where it all began, in the City of Moreland. The club's name was then changed to Moreland Zebras FC and played out of DeChene Reserve in Coburg (part of the City of Moreland).
In 2015, the club's seniors moved into the state of the art facilities at CB Smith Reserve, while the juniors continued to be based out of DeChene Reserve. The Zebras finished in second place in the NPL 1 West division in 2015, qualifying them to a playoff match against Melbourne Victory's NPL team. Despite scoring early, the Zebras lost the game 2–1 and so remained in the NPL1 division for 2016, now named NPL2.
After the departure of senior head coach Danny Gnjidic at the end of the 2016 NPL2 West season, in which Moreland finished in 5th place, the Zebras appointed former player Fausto De Amicis as the new manager of the first team.
Stadium
Moreland Zebras currently plays its home games at CB Smith Reserve Stadium, Jukes Road in Fawkner and its junior division occupy De Chene Reserve, in Coburg. The senior Zebras play home games at CB Smith Reserve Stadium. It has a capacity of 2,000.