This article is about the current Illawarra soccer team established in 1984 competing in the Illawarra Premier League. For the NSW Soccer Federation club competing in the 1960s and early 1970s, see Safeway United.
Founded in 1984 by Croatian migrants as South Coast Croatia Soccer Club, the high point in the club's history came in 1987 when the club won its only Illawarra Premier League Championship.
South Coast Croatia were forced to change their name to South Coast United for the 1994 season a very unpopular move by Soccer Australia.
South Coast United were previously in the Illawarra Conference League, or Division 1 as it was previously known. In 2004, United were minor premiers of the Illawarra Conference League, and gained promotion to the Illawarra Premier League, but lost the Grand Final to Helensburgh 4–1.
South Coast United (known as Wollongong Croatia) is a regular participant of the Australian-Croatian Soccer Tournament although never having won the tournament in Division 1 the club has won Division 2 and Masters Titles with the most recent examples being 2011 at Edensor Park and 2014 at Ian McLennan Park, respectively.
South Coast United formed a junior club under their name and were brought into the FSC junior football competition in 2016.
South Coast Croatia's 1987 Illawarra Premier League Championship winning team
Rivalries
Albion Park White Eagles
The club has maintained a heated rivalry with the predominantly Serbian backed Albion Park White Eagles/Wollongong Serbia. The clubs rivalry dates back to 1985 when Wollongong Serbia were founded with the rivalry based around political tensions between the two nationalities, breakout of the Croatian War of Independence in the 1990's added more fuel to the flame for players and supporters alike.
Cringila Lions
South Coast United/Croatia have always had a friendly rivalry with the Macedonian backed Cringila Lions FC as both clubs used to be powerhouses in the Illawarra Premier League. Over the years many players have swapped between the clubs including Zvonko Usljebrka and Brian & Tom Butkovic
Supporters
The club has a predominantly Croatian Australian fan base as the club was founded by Croatian migrants.
Achievements
Year
Division
Name/Achievement
1985
Second Division
Grand Final Champions
1985
Second Division
Renato Bettoncelli, Player of The Year
1985
Reserve Grade Second Division
Grand Final Champions
1986
First Division
Grand Final Champions
1986
Reserve Grade First Division
Grand Final Champions
1987
Premier Division
Premiers
1987
Premier Division
Grand Final Champions
1987
Premier Division
Neil Williams, Player of The Year
1987
Premier Division
Joe Coelho, Top Goalscorer
1987
NSW Ampol Cup
Champions
1988
Corrimal Leagues Club Knockout
Champions
1988
Charity Shield
Champions
1989
Premier Division
Premiers
1989
Premier Division Grand Final
Runners Up Lost to Wests/Figtree
1990
Corrimal Leagues Club Knockout
Champions
1990
Premier Division
Joe Coelho, Top Goalscorer
1990
Bert Bampton Cup
Runners up lost to Cringila United 3-2 aet
1990
Youth Cup
Champions
1991
Premier Division
Runners Up
1991
Premier Division
Joe Coelho, Top Goalscorer
1992
Second Division
Runners Up
1992
Second Division Grand Final
Runners up lost 0:0 (5:4 pens) to Tarrawanna
2004
District League
Premiers
2004
District League Grand Final
Runners up lost 4-1 to Helensburgh
2004
District League
Denis Jurjevic, Neville Arrowsmith Medal/Player of The Year
2004
District League
Denis Jurjevic, Top Goalscorer
2005
Premier League
Denis Jurjevic, Player of The Year
2006
Youth Cup
Champions
2008
Premier League
Michael Šantalab, Player of The Year
2008
Youth Grade
Julian Minutillo, Top Goalscorer
2011
Premier League
Greg Valic, Best and Fairest
2014
Fraternity Club Preseason Cup
Runners Up
Home ground
South Coast United have played out of Ian McLennan Park since their inception in 1984. For a majority of the 2018 season, United played out of Dandaloo Oval due to the redevelopment of Ian McLennan Park which included the laying of a synthetic pitch. South Coast United now have the best facilities in the Illawarra region with the only synthetic field in the area.
