History

In only it’s short existence, North Eastern MetroStars have become one of

Australia’s most successful Football clubs.

The club’s history dates back to 1994, when a meeting in a snack bar saw the

merging of ex-patriots of the West Side Calabrian Club and the East Side Eagles,

all who shared a common dream.

The dream; to create the best soccer club in Australia.

Red and Yellow would be the colours, the traditional Sicilian symbol, The Trinacria

would be the logo (to represent their alliance with the Sicilian Club), and Sam Settecasi

would be president; the Metro Knights were born.

Committee members included Peter Pipicella, Andrew Perrone, Tony Taormina, Ady DiBartolo, Frank Calipari and Rob Rende and the requirement was that the passion for good value soccer and love of the game would always be the driving force behind the club.

The Metro Knights aimed to set the standard for all other soccer clubs, whether it be their uniforms (stripes were chosen under the advice that they are threatening to the opposition), the standard of coaching or the standard of players, the Knights would always be the benchmark.

The club began to play in the South Australian Amateur Soccer League (SAASL) in 1995. Metro Knights finished second in their first year but this was not enough to quench the thirst for success that the club stood for.

The Knights finished first in the 1996 season and were promoted to Division 1 in the Amateur League where they continued to finish in the top three.

After an invitation by the South Australian Soccer Federation (SASF) in 1999 to then join the State League, the Knights, changed their name to North Eastern MetroStars, and did the unprecedented with promotion to the Premier League in their first year.

It did not take long for success to come to MetroStars, with the club winning their first Premier League Minor Premiership in 2003.

In 2004, the club created history, with triple success in claiming the Premier League Championship, Minor Premiership and Federation Cup title. In only five years of Federation soccer, the club went from a new member to the highest pinnacle in the local game.

In 2006, MetroStars became the first club to become a member of the newly formed Football Federation SA (FFSA).

MetroStars secured its second Federation Cup in 2008, and in season 2009 the club won it’s second Premier League Championship.

The club enjoyed a period of major success when they won the Premier League Minor Premiership in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014.

In 2012, MetroStars secured the double by winning the Premier League Championship and Federation Cup.

The highest honour the club has won came in 2014, when 20 years since formation, MetroStars claimed the National NPL Championship with a 1-0 victory over Bonnyrigg White Eagles in Sydney.

In 2016 and 2017, MetroStars won back to back Federation Cup titles. In 2023, MetroStars once again won the Federation Cup.

MetroStars have to date secured 1 National NPL Title, 3 South Australian First Division League Championships, 11 South Australian First Division League Premierships and 7 South Australian Federation Cups.

MetroStars have also qualified for the Australia Cup in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023 & 2025 and also was part of the inaugural Australian Championship in 2025.

In 2020, a signiﬁcant moment in our club’s history took place when the members of Metro United WFC voted overwhelmingly to begin the journey of reuniting with MetroStars. Over the past ﬁve years, both clubs have walked side by side with a shared vision steadily laying the foundation for a full-circle return to our origins.

In mid 2025, both clubs announced the reunification will proceed ahead of the 2026 season.

Metro United WFC will maintain a dedicated women’s sub-committee within the MetroStars structure and will also have increased representation on the MetroStars Executive Committee ensuring the voice of women's football remains strong and inﬂuential.

Together, we are building one of South Australia’s most powerful football club. The future is bright and it’s united.

The club has produced many talented players including Jason Spagnuolo, Fabian Barbiero, Shane Smeltz, Adriano Pellegrino, Francesco Monterosso, Luis Lawrie-Lattanzio, Taras Gomulka, Kavian Rahmani, Ari Piol all playing in the A-League Mens, along with Miley Grigg who played in the A-League Womens competition, while Dimitri Valkanis has played professionally in Greece.

The success of the Stars continues today, with the senior teams and junior teams never failing to produce first class soccer.

The culture of the club has been firmly implanted, MetroStars will always strive to be the best soccer club in Australia.

About Metro United:

Metro United Women’s Football Club was established in January 2006. The Founding Members saw the

need and opportunity to form a club that was focused and dedicated to women’s football. Metro United

was established with the aim to achieve success on and off the football pitch as well as create a positive

community club atmosphere.

Metro United won its first silverware in 2008 when its won the Premier League Cup.

In 2011, the club became Premier League Champions for the first time, winning another three titles in 2015, 2016 and 2020 to cement itself as a powerhouse club in Women's Football in South Australia.

The Club has won four Premier League Cups in 2008, 2007, 2013, 2015.