Europa Point F.C.

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Europa Point
Europa Point F.C.png
Full nameEuropa Point Football Club
Nickname(s)A Stepping Stone Club
Founded2014
GroundVictoria Stadium, Gibraltar
Capacity5,000
OwnersJohn Gontier
Andrew Pritchard
ChairmanJohn Gontier
ManagerCraig Cowell
LeagueGibraltar National League
2020–21Challenge Group: 5th
Overall: 11th
WebsiteClub website

Europa Point F.C. is a football team from Gibraltar. The club, known for its "Stepping Stone Club" philosophy, currently plays in the Gibraltar National League the top senior tier of association football in Gibraltar. They also participate in the Rock Cup, the territory's primary cup competition.

History[]

The club formed in 2014 amidst the growing interest in association football on the territory of Gibraltar. Led by chairman John Gontier, the club held trials specifically aimed at bringing in youth team players that had been released by professional sides in England and Spain with the goal of getting them back into competitive football. Before their maiden season, the club also announced a partnership with Chesterfield in League One, where the English side has first option on any Europa Point player.

After a strong start to the season, including a tight promotion challenge against Gibraltar United, the club narrowly missed out on promotion, finishing third in the league despite having the strongest goalscoring record in the Gibraltar Second Division. Despite missing out on promotion on the final day of the season, the club did end the season with silverware as they beat promoted side Angels FC 5–3 in a thrilling final that went to extra time.

After missing out on promotion in 2014–15, Europa Point FC were crowned champions of the 2015–16 Gibraltar Second Division[1] after an unbeaten league campaign (W17 D5) and completed the double by retaining the Gibraltar Second Division Cup by beating FC Brunos Magpies 3–2 A.E.T in the final. In preparation for the new season in the Premier Division they have signed many players including ex-Norwich players George Jermy and Tom Walters. Canadians Will Sykes and Uday Arora as well as Charles Mallmann and Álvaro Arias Pérez. However, the players failed to impress and despite substantial changes in playing and coaching staff throughout the season, Europa Point finished bottom of the Premier Division and were relegated.

On 1 November 2017, it was announced that an American consortium headed by Peter Grieve and Corey Woolfolk had purchased a controlling stake in Europa Point. Woolfolk took over as chairman of the club, while John Gontier moved to CEO. On 10 November, Joaquin Rodriguez was announced as the new Head of Commercial and Football Operations. As part of the takeover, Europa Point became a partner club to Bantu Rovers in Zimbabwe.[citation needed] Gontier negotiated to re-take control of the club in early 2019, helping the club to a second-place finish in the league.[2]

In February 2020, the club announced its intention to add a women's team that will play in the Gibraltar Women's Football League.[3]

Seasons[]

Season Division League record Rock Cup
P W D L GF GA Pts Pos
2014–15 Second 26 20 3 3 124 20 63 3rd Quarter-finals
2015–16 Second 22 17 5 0 76 79 56 1st promoted First round
2016–17 Premier 27 2 2 23 13 120 8 10th relegated Quarter-finals
2017–18 Second 14 7 3 4 31 18 24 4th Second round
2018–19 Second 18 13 0 5 50 26 39 2nd Second round
2019–20 National 18 7 4 7 35 38 25 8th Quarter-finals
2020–21 National 18 1 0 17 10 73 3 11th First round

Current squad[]

Correct as of 27 February 2021.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Spain ESP Daniel Tudela
5 MF England ENG Josef Webber
7 MF Gibraltar GIB Haytham Acharki
10 MF Spain ESP Mario Martinez
11 DF Gibraltar GIB Elias Juel-Saleh
16 MF Gibraltar GIB Omar El Yettefti
17 MF England ENG Jacob Webber
18 DF Gibraltar GIB Luke Evans
20 DF Scotland SCO John Stewart (vice-captain)
21 DF Gibraltar GIB James Chiles-Cowell
24 MF Gibraltar GIB Jamie-Luke McCarthy
— GK Gibraltar GIB Aidon Garcia
— DF England ENG Riccardo Andrady
No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF England ENG Bradley Cameron
— DF England ENG Will Sanders
— MF England ENG Ben Dallaywaters
— MF England ENG Benjamin Dixon
— MF Gibraltar GIB Richie Parral
— MF Gibraltar GIB Dayan Torrilla
— MF Gibraltar GIB Ellis Wilson
— FW England ENG Mustapha Conteh
— FW England ENG Ade Francis
— FW Angola ANG Alberto Lubango
— FW Gibraltar GIB Paul Podesta
— FW Gibraltar GIB Kyan Prescott
— FW Gibraltar GIB Steven Soussi

Club staff[]

Position Name
Club Management
Head Coach England Craig Cowell
Fitness Coach Spain Adan Guerrero
Youth Coach Spain Dani Amaya
Board
Chairman/Co-Owner England John Gontier
Co-Owner England Andrew Pritchard

Honours[]

Gibraltar National League - Challenge Group
Gibraltar Second Division
Gibraltar Second Division Cup
  • Winners: 2014–15,[4] 2015–16

References[]

  1. ^ "Gibraltar 2015/16". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  2. ^ Julian Lopez impresses as Europa Point finish second Football Gibraltar. 26 May 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  3. ^ Women - Europa Point FC Europa Point FC. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  4. ^ Europa Point FC see off Angels FC after Extra Time Gibraltar FA. 20 April 2015 (dead link).
  1. ^ Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic. Results not officially recognised.

External links[]

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