Tough at the top as Kingsway bid to end 23-year wait
The man looking to lead Olympic Kingsway back to the top flight says this is just the start for the ambitious northern club.
David Tough has steered the Green Machine to within touching distance of the Men’s State League Division One title and a first crack at the NPL.
A win this afternoon at home to third-place Fremantle City could all but ensure Olympic’s promotion after 23 years in the lower divisions.
“What would it mean for us to go up? Absolutely massive,” said Tough, who was appointed head coach in April last year.
“I spent the best part of 12 years at ECU … ECU was my club, so it was a big thing to leave there and come to Kingsway. But it’s been great. The passion, the facilities and that it’s an old traditional club of WA. It would be huge for us to go up – but we’re not there yet.”
In the late 1970s, Olympic Kingsway were the benchmark for the local football scene. State champions in 1978 and 1980 and Top Four Cup winners for three straight years, they later helped develop future Socceroos including Stan Lazaridis, Richard Garcia and Chris Coyne.
“Credit must go to the owners and the board,” Tough said. “After they were relegated in 1999, the club struggled for a good few years.
“The owners brought in Steve Nelkovski as president, George Papanaoum as vice president and a lot of the older people who have a real love for the club.
“Last year we didn’t have the most balanced squad. We got through the season but we were not far off being in the relegation play-offs. Then the club decided it was a clean slate and that we would target the right people for us to challenge.
“We have recruited well, including many players that I have had before. Players such as Shane Cassidy, Ewan Fawcett, Ciaran Byrne, Tyler Garner, Josh Samson, Tommy Amphlett, who has been very unlucky with injury, they have all played a key role, as have all the lads.
“We’re second highest scorers, behind Mandurah, and have the best defence so we have been strong throughout the team. I’m not really surprised we are up there, to be fair. Perhaps that we might win the league and be comfortable in the end, but I was confident we’d be challenging. But I can’t say this enough, there is still work to be done.
“But it’s more than just the football. Plans are big here … 500 lux lights, a 3G pitch round the side, while every Saturday morning and Wednesdays there are market stalls here. There are darts teams, bingo … it’s run as a business and the football is a part of that. That guarantees income which means the club is on a good footing. And that’s before any sponsorship.
“The recent game against Western Knights, we had 5-600 people watching. Throughout the day, with the 18s and 20, there would have been 800 here. Many NPL clubs would love to have that.”
Today's game is live on NPL.TV.
