Stellenbosch F.C.
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| Full name | Stellenbosch Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Stellies, The Maroons | ||
| Founded | 3 August 2016 | ||
| Ground | Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch | ||
| Capacity | 16,000[1] | ||
| Coach | Steve Barker | ||
| League | DStv Premiership | ||
| 2022–23 | 6th | ||
| Website | www.stellenboschfootballclub.co.za | ||
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Stellenbosch Football Club is a South African professional football club founded in 2016 following the relocation of Vasco da Gama FC to Stellenbosch, Western Cape. It is the first Premier Soccer League team to be based in Stellenbosch, and plays its home games at Danie Craven Stadium.[2]
Domestically, the club has won the National First Division in 2019, earning promotion to the top-flight for the first time in the process, and the 2023 Carling Knockout Cup.[3][4]
History
The club was formed in August 2016 when the Premier Soccer League Executive Committee approved the application from National First Division side, Vasco Da Gama for a name change following the relocation from Parow to the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS) in Stellenbosch.[5] Stellenbosch F.C.'s first National First Division match was played on 28 August 2016. Stanley Muishond scored the first goal in team history in a 3–1 loss to Mthatha Bucks. On 1 December 2016, Stellenbosch confirmed that Steve Barker had joined Sammy Troughton in a joint-coach position. The Cape Winelands side finished their inaugural season in third, clinching the final promotion/relegation playoff spot by one point. However, Stellies finished last in the mini-league. Following an unsuccessful attempt to gain promotion to the Absa Premiership Stellenbosch parted ways with head coach Sammy Troughton.[6]
In 2017, Stellenbosch's second season, the team recorded ten wins and ten losses in the thirty matches of the season. The team failed to qualify for the playoffs, finishing eighth. In August 2018, the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport purchased Stellenbosch Football Club.[7]
The final round of the 2018–19 National First Division season saw Steve Barker's Stellenbosch F.C. confirm their title victory – and promotion to the Absa Premiership (now DSTv Premiership) – with a 0–0 draw at home to Maccabi F.C.[8]
On 25 October 2020, Stellenbosch F.C. made history by playing the first PSL game (against Moroka Swallows F.C.) at the Danie Craven Stadium.[9] This stadium is traditionally a rugby stadium and, as of 2020, is one of the two venues for Stellenbosch F.C. home games in Stellenbosch. DSTv Diski Challenge matches are played at Idas Valley Stadium, while DStv Premiership games are played at the Danie Craven Stadium.
The Chief Operating Officer at the club, Rob Benadie stated "The name 'Stellenbosch FC' shows our intention of creating a club that symbolises the Cape Winelands community. We are on a pathway of building something special‚ and we want to take this community with us."[10]
The crest of the club features a bunch of grapes, as Stellenbosch is based within the Cape Winelands District Municipality.
Current squad
- As of 26 January, 2024[11]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
First team
Reserves (U-23)
- DStv Diski Challenge
- Winners (1): 2021–22[13]
References
- ^ "Stellenbosch FC to play home games at historic Danie Craven Stadium". iol.co.za. 24 October 2020. Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ^ "Home Venues: Stellenbosch Football Club". www.stellenboschfc.com. Archived from the original on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
- ^ a b Ditlhobolo, Austin (5 May 2019). "Stellenbosch FC secure promotion to PSL after clinching NFD title". Goal. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ a b Modiba, Katlego (16 December 2023). "Stellenbosch make history to claim Carling Knockout". The Citizen. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ Hendricks, By: Allan; Sport (29 July 2019). "The new football champions of Stellenbosch". New Frame. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ^ Laduma, Soccer. "Stellenbosch FC Have Parted Ways With Sammy Troughton". Soccer Laduma. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ "SAS buys local football club SFC". netwerk24. 20 August 2018. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- ^ "Stellenbosch promoted to PSL". www.goal.com. 5 May 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ Mafata, Masego (21 November 2020). "Stellenbosch Football Club makes history at Danie Craven Stadium". MatieMedia. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
- ^ "Vasco renamed Stellenbosch FC". Supersport. 3 August 2016. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ "Stellenbosch FC – Squad". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- ^ "Roy-Keane Avontuur joins NB La Masia on loan". Stellenbosch Football Club. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Stellenbosch crowned Diski Challenge champions". SuperSport. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "Stellies thump Leicester to win Next Generation Cup". Super Sport. 31 July 2022. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ "U19 report: Stellenbosch 1-1 Wolves (4-5 pens)". Wolverhampton Wanderers. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.