Dandenong Thunder SC

Dandenong Thunder SC

Full name	Dandenong Thunder Soccer Club
Nickname(s)	Thunder, Prishtina
Founded	1970; 55 years ago (1970)
Ground	George Andrews Reserve, Dandenong, Victoria
Capacity	5,000
Manager	Adam Piddick
League	NPL Victoria
2024	10th of 14
Website	dandenongthunderfc.com.au
Home colours Away colours

Dandenong Thunder SC is a soccer club from Dandenong, a suburb in the South-East region of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. They are an Albanian Australian-backed club. Thunder compete in the National Premier Leagues Victoria.

In 2012, Dandenong claimed the famous treble of the Victorian Premier League Minor Premiership, the Football Federation Victoria State Knockout Cup and the VPL championship.^[1]

History

The club was founded by Albanian migrants^[2] in 1970 as South Dandenong. Some of the club's founders were Qamil Rexhepi, Amet Coca, Shaban Musa, Hamz Veseli and others.^[1] The club sometimes had the additional name Prishtina added to support the 1981 student protests campaigning for Kosovan independence in Pristina, Kosovo.^[1] Fadil Muriqi, a prominent 1980s soccer midfielder from Kosovo played at the club.^[1]

Club membership is mainly composed of Albanians with origins from Kišava (Albanian: Këshavë), a village in south-western North Macedonia.^[3] The committee of Dandenong Thunder, an influential organisation among Dandenong Albanians has it stipulated in the club constitution that only individuals with Albanian origins can be on its board.^[3] The grounds of Dandenong Thunder host the Qamil Rexhepi Cup, named after one of the club's founders Qamil Rexhepi and is played annually in January^[1] between local Albanian Melbourne based soccer clubs. Club grounds are also used by Albanians for community events and other functions, often organised by the local Albanian-Australian Community Association.^[4] The club logo is the Albanian double-headed eagle from the Albanian flag.^[5] Dandenong Thunder is primarily backed and supported by Albanian Australians living in Melbourne.

Early years

South Dandenong started competing in the Victorian District League East Division, which was the 6th tier of football (soccer) in Victorian Football Pyramid. They played in the Provisional leagues until merging with Richmond United, and played under that name for the 1987 season in the 8th tier Provisional League Division 3. The following season, they were renamed back to South Dandenong and started the rise through the divisions. By 1992 they had reached State League Division 3, and from 1994 they continued their rise managing to get promotion to a higher level each year until they reached the Victorian Premier League, the highest level in Victoria, in 1998.

2000–2013

South Dandenong returned to the Victorian Premier League in 2001 but were relegated again as the season ended.

At the end of the 2000 season, South Dandenong underwent a name change, becoming Dandenong Thunder for the 2001 season. They spent the next seven seasons in the Victorian State League Division 1. The Club began spending more on players in 2007, bringing in Veton Korcari from Richmond SC and Louis Brain, a former A-League player for Adelaide United and were promoted from State League 1 in 2008.

Thunder surprised everyone in their return to the top flight, clinching the 2009 Victorian Premier League Minor Premiership with a lead of 12 points. Thunder managed to go undefeated for the first 15 rounds of the season, taking their running total to 31 games undefeated, stretching back to Round 5 of the 2008 season. Individual player achievements included youngster Jack Hingert being selected to play for A-League side North Queensland Fury and Joey Di Iorio winning the golden boot. Despite their season long domination, Thunder eventually lost the Grand Final to Altona Magic SC on penalties.

In the 2012 season, Thunder managed a famous treble, the first in their history. They won the Victorian State Knockout Cup, beating Port Melbourne Sharks in the Grand Final on penalties, the Minor Premiership and the Championship, beating Oakleigh Cannons 2–1 in the Grand Final at AAMI Park. This was their first ever VPL Championship.

National Premier Leagues Victoria

In late 2013, the club had their bid for a place in the National Premier Leagues Victoria accepted and competed in the top tier of the NPL Victoria in 2014. Thunder placed 9th in the 14 team league in 2014. Young winger Matthew Millar was the club's top goalscorer with seven goals, also winning the NPL Rising Star award.

In 2015, Thunder slashed its budget in an attempt to reduce club debt, and replaced many higher earners with young and inexperienced but talented players. Then manager Dean Hennessey also departed, joining Hume City, and the club brought in Stuart Munro as the new head coach. The season didn't go to plan, though, with the team struggling to put together good performances. Relegation was confirmed in Round 25, when the side lost 3–0 to North Geelong Warriors.

Dandenong Thunder soccer ground (left) and its clubhouse and ground (right)

In the off-season, Thunder named Huss Skenderovic as the coach for the 2016 NPL1 season,^[6] and announced the signings of former Melbourne Victory FC player Kristian Sarkies,^[7] former Socceroo Simon Colosimo and English striker Brandon Barnes.^[8] Dandenong Thunder opened its NPL2 East campaign with 15 consecutive wins, before a 3–3 draw against NPL2 West leaders Whittlesea Ranges. On 14 April, Dandenong were deducted three league points after being found guilty by the Football Federation Victoria tribunal of fielding ineligible player Amir Osmančević in Round 1, where he should have sat out through a suspension accumulated the previous season while at his previous club.^[9] Thunder's first loss of the season came in Round 21, when it unexpectedly went down to Box Hill United 2-1.^[10] Thunder lost three more games in the final seven games of the season, leading to Kingston City winning the league title on the final match day of the season.^[11] Dandy's second place finish meant it went to the NPL2 promotion playoff, facing North Geelong Warriors, whom they had beaten 2–0 at Elcho Park earlier in the season. Despite going into the clash as favourites, Thunder went down 4–1, North Geelong condemning the side to NPL2 football for the second season running.^[12] At the end of season awards night, Thunder marksman Barnes took out both the league Top Goalscorer, with an NPL2 record 41 goals, and league Best and Fairest awards.^[13]

Dandenong Thunder lost senior head manager Huss Skenderović as he joined Adelaide United FC to become the A-League side's head W-League and National Youth League coach.^[14] Thunder began its preparations for 2017 by appointing Italian Giuseppe Anastasi as its new head coach for the 2017 NPL2 East season.^[15] Thunder had to change coaches just a few weeks later, as Anastasi was unable to travel to Australia due to family reasons. Dandenong reacted by appointing Gianfranco Impellizzeri to the helm.^[16] The race to promotion from NPL2 East was contested for most of the season between Thunder and neighbours Dandenong City SC. Led by Barnes, who scored 35 goals in 28 games, winning the league golden boot again, Thunder achieved promotion by taking out the NPL2 East title.^[17]

Despite promotion, Thunder and Impellizzeri parted ways in the off-season and the club appointed Andy Vargas as the new head manager. Thunder started the 2018 NPL season with four consecutive losses, including an embarrassing 9-0 loss to South Melbourne at home. Thunder won six of its next nine games and pulled itself well clear of the relegation zone. On 7 June 2018, Veton Korcari ceased playing with Thunder to take up the recently vacated coaching role. Korcari had been a long-serving and well regarded player at Thunder. Thunder finished the season in 8th place^[18] with Barnes taking out the league golden boot for the third season running, scoring 22 goals.^[19]

In 2019, Thunder avoided automatic relegation on the final day of the home-and-away season with a 4-1 win over Melbourne Knights FC.^[20][21] The result sent Thunder to the promotion-relegation playoff, where they defeated FC Bulleen Lions at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium 1-0 through a Barnes goal.^[22] Barnes finished 3rd in the league Golden Boot race, scoring 19 goals.^[23] After the season, it was announced that Barnes would be leaving the club after scoring 119 goals in 116 games.^[24] A week later, it was announced that head coach Korcari would also be leaving the club by mutual consent.^[25]

Current squad

As of February 2024^[26]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  AUS Pierce Clark 2 MF  AUS Joseph Romero 3 DF  AUS Daniel Alessi 4 DF  AUS Sevdin Ismaili 5 DF  AUS Mersim Memeti 6 MF  AUS Gavin De Niese 7 FW  SRI Wade Dekker 8 MF  AUS Aidan Edwards 9 FW  AUS Sanih Zijai 10 FW  ENG Deri Corfe 11 FW  AUS Ali Sulemani

No. Pos. Nation Player 12 MF  AUS Birkan Kirdar 13 DF  AUS Ben Djiba 14 MF  ENG Danny Dixon 15 MF  AUS Joshua Karantz 16 MF  AUS Muamet Selimovski 17 MF  AUS Liron Azizi 22 MF  AUS Jay Romanovski 23 FW  AUS Jordan Smylie 24 DF  AUS Aaron Evans 38 MF  AUS Enis Ismaili 49 MF  AUS Adrian Mefaili

Previous players

See: Dandenong Thunder SC players

Honours

• 2017– NPL Victoria 2 Champions
• 2012– Victorian Premier League Premiers
• 2012– Victorian Premier League Minor Premiers
• 2012– Dockerty Cup Winners (FFV State Knockout Cup)
• 2009– Victorian Premier League Minor Premiers
• 2008– Victorian State League Division 1 Runners-Up
• 2000– Victorian State League Division 1 Champion
• 1997– Victorian State League Division 1 Champion
• 1996– Victorian State League Division 2 Runners-Up
• 1995– Victorian State League Division 3 Runners-Up
• 1991– Victorian State League Division 4 Runners-Up
• 1990– Victorian Provisional League 1 Champion
• 1989– Victorian Provisional League 2 Runners-Up
• 1988– Victorian Provisional League 3 Champion

Individual honours

• 2016– NPL2 Best and Fairest: Brandon Barnes^[27]
• 2016– NPL2 Players' Player of the Year: Brandon Barnes^[27]
• 2016– NPL2 Golden Boot: Brandon Barnes^[27]
• 2016– NPL2 Goalkeeper of the Year: Fraser Maclaren^[27]
• 2014– NPL Rising Star Winner: Matthew Millar
• 2012– Jimmy Rooney Medalist: Nate Foster
• 2012– Jimmy McKay Medalist: Shane Rexhepi
• 2012– Victorian Premier League Goalkeeper of the Year: Stuart Webster
• 2012– Victorian Premier League Coach of the Year: Chris Taylor
• 2012– Victorian Premier League Leading Goal Scorer: Luke Sherbon
• 2012– Bill Fleming Media Award Player of the Year: Luke Sherbon
• 2009– Victorian Premier League Coach of the Year: Stuart Munro
• 2009– Victorian Premier League Leading Goal Scorer: Joe Di Iorio

Top goal-scorers

• 2017– Brandon Barnes 35 goals (Awarded League Golden Boot)
• 2016– Brandon Barnes 41 goals (Awarded League Golden Boot)
• 2015– Yusuf Ahmed 11 goals
• 2014– Matthew Millar 7 goals
• 2013– Unknown
• 2012– Luke Sherbon 21 goals (Awarded League Golden Boot)
• 2011– Luke Sherbon 14 goals
• 2010– Jamie Reed 6 Goals
• 2009– Joe Di Iorio 18 Goals (Awarded League Golden Boot)
• 2008– Ryan Davidson 11 Goals
• 2007– Veton Korcari 10 Goals (Runner up in the league)
• 2006– Ryan Davidson 9 Goals
• 2005– Leon Buhic 9 Goals
• 2004– Veton Korcari 9 Goals
• 2003– Miles Tidd, Joey Di Iorio 11 Goals
• 2002– Alfonso Opazo 10 Goals
• 2001– Boris Ovcin 4 Goals
• 2000– Victor Korkaric 17 Goals
• 1999– Nick Van Egmond, Billy Wright 7 Goals
• 1998– Pino Corallo, Reshat Mezensof 11 Goals
• 1997– Billy Wright 28 Goals (Top scorer in the league)
• 1996– Billy Wright 30 Goals (Top scorer in the league)
• 1995– Billy Wright 27 Goals (Joint Top scorer in the league)
• 1994– Billy Wright 22 Goals (Top scorer in the league)

Club Champion Award

• 2012 – Luke Sherbon
• 2011 – Shane Rexhepi
• 2010 – Levent Osman
• 2009 – Levent Osman
• 2008 – Levent Osman

References

1. Rexhepi, Nizami (31 August 2021). "Historia e vendosjes së 4 mijë shqiptarëve në qytetin Dandenong" [The history of the settlement of 4 thousand Albanians in the city of Dandenong] (in Albanian). Diaspora Shqiptare. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
2. Ahmeti 2017, p. 56.
3. Ahmeti 2017, p. 233.
4. Ahmeti 2017, pp. 56, 233.
5. Ahmeti, Sharon (2017). Albanian Muslims in Secular, Multicultural Australia (Ph.D.). University of Aberdeen. p. 214. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
6. "Promotion the aim for Thunder's new coach – Corner Flag". Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
7. "Thunder signal promotion push with key signings – Corner Flag". Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
8. "NPL 2 East side Dandenong Thunder signs Simon Colosimo". Greater Dandenong Leader. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
9. "Thunder deducted points for fielding ineligible Osmancevic". The Corner Flag. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
10. Lim, Jordan. "Elmazovski and Thunder ready to bounce back". The Corner Flag. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
11. Odell, Thomas. "Dandy ready to do it the hard way". MFootball. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
12. Frederico, Tom. "Anderson the hero as North Geelong defeat Thunder in NPL 2 playoff". MFootball. Archived from the original on 25 September 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
13. Frederico, Tom. "2016 Gold Medal night award winners". MFootball. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
14. "Reds announce Hussein Skenderovic as Head of Youth Development and Women's Football". Adelaide United FC. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
15. Kulas, Damir. "Thunder appoint Italian Anastasi as manager". The Corner Flag. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
16. "Impellizzeri takes charge after Thunder forced into coaching change". The Corner Flag. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
17. "Ladder for PS4 NPL2 East VIC Men". SportsTG. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
18. "Ladder for NPL VIC". SportsTG. Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
19. "Competition Stats for NPL VIC". SportsTG. Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
20. "FFV - NPL Match Centre". SportsTG. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
21. "Ladder for NPL VIC Men". SportsTG. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
22. "FFV - NPL Match Centre". SportsTG. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
23. "Competition Stats for NPL VIC Men". SportsTG. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
24. "Dandenong Thunder FC on Instagram: "THE LAST BB SHOW! We'd like to take a moment to inform our fans and followers that Sunday's promotion/relegation win at AAMI Park was the…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
25. FC, Dandenong Thunder (22 September 2019). "CLUB ANNOUNCEMENT The club has parted ways with Senior Coach Veton Korcari in a mutual and amicable agreement after a season at the helm. We extend our gratitude and support to Veton and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours.pic.twitter.com/i9uHhm7g8p". @DandyThunderFC. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
26. https://www.dandenongthunder.com/the-team/ ^{[dead link‍]}
27. "Elite Celebrated at Victorian Football's Night of Nights". Football Federation Victoria. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2016.

External links

• Official Website Club History (archived)
• Dandenong Thunder club information at Oz Football
• Club divisional history