Albion Park White Eagles celebrate incredible honour in 2023 Illawarra Premier League
The Albion Park White Eagles have sealed the minor premiership for 2023 and now have their eyes set on grand final glory. Hear from the coach and captain on which players will be crucial to getting the job done.
Illawarra Star
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The Albion Park White Eagles have secured the 2023 Illawarra Premier League Premiership with two games remaining of the regular season.
The Eagles have been in first place since the second round of the competition, winning 16 of their 20 games played so far this season and losing just twice.
They sealed the minor premiership with a 6-2 thumping of Helensburgh Thistle at Rex Jackson Oval on Saturday, a proud moment for head coach George Antoniou in his first year at the club.
“It’s fantastic mate, the whole club has been euphoric since we won it,” Antoniou said.
“The boys have been putting in since day one, they’ve all jumped on board with the goals we set for them and have really taken it into their stride.
“It’s great to bring success to this club, I couldn’t be more proud.”
The Eagles had to grind out the win, trailing at the break 2-1 to the Helensburgh side who sit much further down the ladder.
Four goals in the second half to substitute Taiga Katajima, as well as one to captain Brendan Fordham sealed the comeback and secured the premiership for the Eagles.
Captain Fordham, who is in his fourth year at the club, highlights how it’s been a gradual build to the top for the Eagles, fuelled off the disappointment of narrowly missing out on last year’s finals series.
“Ever since I came to Albion Park from my last club [Wollongong Olympic] I’ve set high standards for myself,” Fordham said.
“Last year was disappointing to not be at the top of the pile and make finals.
“We have some great coaches this year though who have done some really great recruitment.
“The new boys have gelled really well with the older boys, everyone has wanted the same thing and that’s the premiership.
“I always tell the boys to not focus on the outside smoke, don’t look at the ladder, just focus on ourselves and the results will take care of themselves, which they have.”
In 2023 the Eagles have been a different beast, with coach Antoniou stamping his managerial mark on the side and turning them into a near unbeatable force.
Chris Nathaniel has been a weekly standout for the Eagles providing great experience from defence, while goalkeeper Hayden Durose has excelled in between the sticks.
Joey Lavelle and Tyler Bromham-Fuller have also been exceptional through the middle, proving to be real workhorses with all the dirty work they clean up.
As for up front, they boast the best attack in the league with Cameron Morgan leading the way on 15 goals, closely followed by Japanese import Taiga Kitajima on 14 who has popper up with some crucial goals in big games this season.
Looking ahead to finals, the Eagles are now planning for the weeks ahead in order to best prepare their chances of lifting a trophy in the 2023 Illawarra Premier League grand final.
“Without being cocky, you have to be confident,” Fordham said.
“I know, the players know and the coaches know what we can do, we’re the only ones who are going to beat ourselves.
“Scoring goals isn’t a drama, but we’re still looking to sharpen up at the back a bit and stop leaking goals where we shouldn’t. Coming into finals we can’t be letting those jammy goals go in and have to chase games.”
The Albion Park White Eagles have two more tough matches to end the season against third placed Coniston FC and fourth placed Wollongong United FC before finals.
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