South Adelaide Panthers FC
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| Full name | South Adelaide Panthers Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Panthers |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Ground | O'Sullivan Beach Sports Complex |
| Chairman | Phil Reid |
| Manager | Danny Graystone |
| League | National Premier Leagues South Australia |
South Adelaide Panthers Football Club are a soccer club from the southern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia. Panthers play in the NPL South Australia. Their home ground is at the O'Sullivan Beach Sports Complex, known affectionately as Panther Park. Panthers also field Girls teams from U11 – U17 and two Senior Women's teams. The girl's and women's teams are known as the Pink Panthers.
One of the youngest clubs in the FFSA league. The club was founded in August 1997 to provide opportunities for the advancement to senior level for players associated with the South Adelaide Colts Club. The club was originally an attempt to utilise and dominate the south as Noarlunga United and Seaford had limited success despite good youth talent in the area. although they were initially successful many player disputes with management led to much of the youth talent obtained leaving before playing much first team football for the club. The Panthers F.C. as they are affectionately known are the hated rivals of Noarlunga United as a result of player movements, transfer politics and club proximity.
When the club was formed it was jointly owned by the Sporting Star and South Adelaide Colts. The club's initial games were played at the Cove Sports Community Centre – a ground known for its heavy winds. The club has since moved to the O'Sullivan Beach Sports Complex.
The Panthers have fielded young teams in the SASF 2nd Division. After initially struggling the Panthers have steadily improved to become a regular mid table side in the 2nd Division (called the Premier League). The Panthers were then coached by Aldo Maricic.
In 2008 the club planned a tournament to mark the passing of Tony Macentagert a club president at the time which they named after him inviting local teams from the area. Included were Seaford Rangers F.C., Noarlunga United F.C. and Hallett Cove F.C.(amateur club). South Adelaide beat Noarlunga on penalties in the inaugural tournament and hope to make it an annual event.
After gaining promotion to the South Australian National Premier League in 2013 for the first time in the club's history, the senior men's side became the first club from the South of Adelaide to not only compete in the top South Australian division but to also consolidate their position in the top division finishing 4 points above the relegation zone in 2014.
The club is currently managed by former club captain Danny Graystone who won 3 consecutive Best and Fairest with the club between 2005 and 2007. After leaving the club for Cumberland United Danny went on to captain Cumberland United FC to 2006 Premier League and FFSA Cup successes before moving to The Cove FC in 2011 as a player coach, eventually returning to manage South Adelaide Panthers FC in 2013 following the resignation of former coach Steve Kitchin.
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