UNSW FC
Full nameUniversity of New South Wales Football Club
NicknameThe Students
Founded1948 [1]
GroundThe Village Green
Kensington, New South Wales
Capacity2,000 (approx.)[2]
PresidentNick Apoifis[3]
ManagerGabriel Knowles[4]
LeagueNSW League One
20251st of 16 (Promoted)
Websitewww.unswfc.com.au

University of New South Wales Football Club, commonly referred to as UNSW or simply Uni, is an Australian football club from Kensington, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. They compete in the NSW League One Men's, playing their home games at The Village Green. UNSW's youth teams play in the FNSW Boys Youth League 3 and Girls Youth League 1.[5]

History

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The University of New South Wales Football Club was formed in 1948, under the then Sydney Technical College Sports Association. The Football Club has a rich heritage, competing at the highest levels in Football New South Wales (FNSW) Federation and State League competitions since 1959.

UNSW FC is based at The Village Green within UNSW Kensington and the David Phillips Sports Complex in Daceyville.[5]

2025

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In 2025 UNSW FC would compete in the NSW League one. UNSW signed players Jordan Mortifis from Inter Lions, Liam wood from Miramar Rangers, Angus Martins from Newcastle Jets, and Conor Quilligan.[6] The Students' opening match of the season was against Bonnyrigg White Eagles away at Bonnyrigg Sports Club. Despite winning this fixture 1-6 when they met in 2024, UNSW played poorly, with Bonnyrigg dominating majority of the game. In the 50th minute, Aaron Peterson beat goalkeeper Charles Samushonga to the ball and headed it into the back of the net. Thirteen minutes later, The Reds scored again through substitute Charles Mendy's first touch of the ball. Uni managed to score a consolation goal in the ninety-first minute but the game was long lost.[7]

The Students' first game at home was against Dulwich Hill. This match was the complete opposite of the game against the Eagles. Jack Fulton opened the scoring within four minutes with a powerful finish through a cross by Timothy Woelfiel from the right flank. Soon after a second goal came through another Woelfiel cross, which met the head of Kevin Lopez. Nine minutes later, The Students went 3-0 within 20 minutes through a sizzling Fulton free kick from 25 yards out. Dullly had a one on one chance through Liam Spiropoulos, but Samushonga managed to keep it out of the net. Dully then granted Lopez a one on one opportunity through a loose touch from their defence, and Lopez made no mistake, securing his brace. Uni went into the break 4-0 up. Going into the second half, The Students went into cruise control. Despite this, Sean Woods managed to score UNSW's fifth goal of the game. Dulwich Hill managed to score late in the game, denying the hosts a clean sheet.[8]

The Students' subsequent match was again Newcastle Jets Youth up at Hunter. The Jets were on an absurd unbeaten streak of thirty games, having gone unbeaten in the entirety of the 2024 NSW League Two unbeaten[9], and won their first two games of the year. Uni drew first blood through Emilio Vinci cross that Fulton finished first time, allowing The Students to go into half time 0-1 up. Early into the second half, the Jets scored a goal off of a low free kick that was met by Will Dobson. Seven minutes later, Quilligan's free kick was turned into The Jets' net by their own defender. Uni killed the game in the eighty-fourth minute through a quick counter-attack goal.[10] This victory propelled The Students into third place.[11]

Rivalries

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'The Uni Derby'

Tensions are high between these two being the two University Football teams competing in FNSW competitions.

Each year since the 1960s the Men's First Grade have competed against each other for the 'Kennard Cup', as of now UNSW hold the trophy (2025)

Additionally, the U20s have competed now for several years for the 'Colosi cup', as of now UNSW hold the trophy (2025)

'The Eastern Suburbs Derby'

Since UNSW got promoted to the FNSW League one Men's from 2024, their as been significant rivalry when playing Hakoah with many of the boys knowing each other. UNSW First grade Player Kaden Sharpley and UNSW U20s player Ethan Sharpley are both the sons of Hakoah first grade Coach Craig Sharpley.

2024 saw UNSW winning 2-0 at home and 3-2 away, whilst 2025 has seen UNSW win 4-0 at home and lose 4-3 away.

Other rivalries over the years include matches against Dunbar Rovers FC.

Current squad

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First team squad

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As of 24 April 2025

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  SCO Charles Samushonga
2 DF  AUS Timothy Woelfiel
3 DF  AUS Emilio Vinci
4 MF  AUS Richard Blanco ([[]])
5 DF  AUS Claudio Fabiano (Captain)
7 FW  AUS Thomas Quilligan
8 MF  AUS Lachlan Hughes
9 FW  AUS Kevin Lopes
10 FW  AUS Jeremy Cox
11 FW  AUS Jack Fulton
No. Pos. Nation Player
13 FW  AUS Sean Woods
14 DF  AUS Mitchell Mattison
15 MF  AUS Corby Fowler
17 FW  AUS Jordan Morfitis
18 MF  AUS Conor Quilligan
19 DF  AUS Jan Schmidt
20 DF  NZL Liam Wood
21 GK  AUS Cassius Flavell
22 DF  AUS Kaden Sharpley
23 MF  AUS Angus Martin

U20's (Reserve Grade)

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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
24 DF  AUS Jayden Beckett (Captain)
25 MF  AUS Gil Duffy
26 MF  AUS Finbar Collins
27 FW  AUS Ari Rollison
28 MF  AUS Ethan Verey
29 FW  AUS Max Kusnierz
30 FW  AUS Riley Gamertsfelder
31 GK  AUS Andrew chen
No. Pos. Nation Player
32 DF  AUS Ethan Sharpley
34 MF  AUS Joe Foster
35 DF  AUS Benjamin De Laet
36 DF  AUS Julian Du Plessis
37 FW  AUS Magnus Kaizik
38 FW  AUS Bellino Testafredda
39 FW  AUS Jamie Silva
40 FW  AUS Luka Ruvinsky

Management

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Coaching staff

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Position Staff
Head coach Australia Gabriel Knowles
Assistant head coaches Australia Andrew harb
Australia Martin O'Rourke
S+C coach Australia Paulo D.
Manager/Kit man Australia Peter Croucher
Under-20s head coach Australia Michael Karagiannis
Under-20s head coach Australia Jack McGloughlin

Seasons

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Season League Waratah
Cup
Australia
Cup
Other Top scorer
Div P W D L F A Pts Pos Finals Player(s) Goals[a]
2022[12] NSW League Three 20 10 5 5 56 26 35 4th Elimination final. L vs Prospect - DNQ Kevin Lopes 15
2023[13] NSW League Two 28 19 5 4 62 32 62 1st DNQ Kevin Lopes 23
2024[14] NSW League One 30 14 5 11 70 52 47 8th 4R DNQ Jack Fulton 12
2025[15] NSW League One 30 17 8 5 57 31 59 1st DNQ DNQ

Notable players

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Honours

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League

  • [FNSW League Two Mens First Grade] (level 2)
    • Champions (1): 2023
    • Promoted: 2023 (To FNSW League one Mens 2024)

Cups

  • [Kennard cup]
    • Current holders

Notes

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  1. ^ Includes goals scored in the league's regular season and finals.

References

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  1. ^ "About". Football NSW. The University of New South Wales Football Club was formed in 1948, under the then Sydney Technical College Sports Association. The Football Club has a rich heritage, competing at the highest levels in Football New South Wales (FNSW) Federation and State League competitions since 1959.
  2. ^ Worldfootball. "Bankstown City Lions Profile". WorldFootball. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  3. ^ Bankstown City Lions FC. "President Nick Apoifis" – via Facebook. Nick Apoifis has been the de-facto director of Women's Football at UNSW FC for the past 5 years. In 2023 he received the UNSW Sports Volunteer of the Year Award for his work here and elsewhere for gender equality in sports generally. He is also the Associate Dean (International) in the UNSW Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, and a researcher in Politics and International Relations in the School of Social Sciences at UNSW. Nick was also a long-serving goalkeeper for the UNSW FC Men's First Grade side.
  4. ^ Bankstown City Lions FC. "HEAD COACH, Meet our Head Coach, Sash Tirovski". Retrieved 3 August 2023 – via Facebook.
  5. ^ a b "About". UNSW FC. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  6. ^ Stavroulakis, Mark (3 February 2025). "Football NSW League One Men's 2025 Season Preview". Football NSW. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  7. ^ NSW, Football (9 February 2025). "Round 1 Review - League One Men's". Football NSW. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  8. ^ NSW, Football (16 February 2025). "Round 2 Review - League One Men's". Football NSW. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  9. ^ "Match Centre - Dribl Match Centre". competitions.footballnsw.com.au. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  10. ^ NSW, Football (23 February 2025). "Round 3 Review - League One Men's". Football NSW. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  12. ^ "Match Centre - Dribl Match Centre". competitions.footballnsw.com.au. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  13. ^ "Match Centre - Dribl Match Centre". competitions.footballnsw.com.au. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  14. ^ "Match Centre - Dribl Match Centre". competitions.footballnsw.com.au. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  15. ^ "Match Centre - Dribl Match Centre". competitions.footballnsw.com.au. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
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