Launceston City Football Club (formerly Launceston Juventus) is an Australian association football club based in Launceston, Tasmania. The club competes in the state's top tier, NPL Tasmania, administered by Football Tasmania. Founded in 1958 by members of Launceston's Italian community, many of whom migrated after World War II, the club fields senior men's, women's and junior teams.
The club has operated a junior program since 1984. Following a policy to remove ethnic names from Australian club football in the late 1990s, the junior arm competed as the Westside Devils Junior Soccer Club from 1998 to 2016, later as Launceston City Devils, and amalgamated with the senior club in 2019 to compete under the Launceston City name. The program fields teams from Under-5 to Under-16.
Launceston City also runs girls' and women's programs across multiple age groups, including a senior women's team that has won fourteen Northern Premier League titles. The women's first team went unbeaten in five consecutive league seasons from 2004 to 2008.
City was particularly dominant in the 1960s, when they won every season except 1964. Although Northern Tasmania's most successful club with 19 Northern titles, they have failed to repeat their dominance of the 60s. The club uses the colours of Juventus and has links to the club. Prior to the cessation of ethnic affiliations by Australian football clubs in 1997, Launceston City were known as Launceston Juventus.
In 1978 Launceston Juventus relocated from their home ground at Brooks High School to Buckby Motors Park located in Prospect Vale next to the Australian Italian Club where the club is still playing home games till this day. TassieCare Park has two playing grounds, fully functional floodlights for night games, clubrooms and changerooms.
Launceston City fields teams in the National Premier League Tasmania NPL, the second tier of Australian football, Northern Championship, Northern League 1, Under 18's and competes in the Northern Women's Championship Team this makes up over 100 senior registered players.
With regard to youth and juniors as of 2024, the club has nearly 600 players, compromising of 58 junior teams and over 100 enrolments in the clubs 'Juventus Academy'.
Since 2018, a video of former goalkeeper Niko Giantsopoulos kicking the ball away prior to an opposition striker taking a penalty has been a regular viral video on social media. The move, designed to throw his opponent off balance psychologically just prior to taking the kick, resulted in Giantsopoulos being issued a yellow card, but the penalty went ahead. Giantsopoulos saved the goal.
Since Launceston City (Juventus) was founded in 1958 there has been four recorded club crests throughout the years.
First logo on record
The first ever recorded club crest since Launceston City's (Juventus) beginning in 1958 was this crest. Featuring the club's Italian heritage, resolve for success and the Launceston's coat of arms down the bottom of the crest. Which features with the two Tasmanian Tiger's holding the gold of the shield which refers to the early history of gold-mining in nearby hills. The blue represents the junction of the North and South Esk rivers where the city (symbolised by the gold central disc) was founded and the Tamar River flowing north to the Bass Strait. The club crest still features prominently outside the Launceston City change rooms to this day which was painted by former President and Secretary Frank Stolp.
1980's
In the 1980s the club committee led by president and life member Ross Wesson formed a new design of the Launceston City (Juventus) club crest highlighting the club's relations to the club's Italian relations Juventus FC with the black and white stripes as seen on the club's home kits, the crest was used up until the early 2000s. The crest could be seen around Launceston in the form of stickers on motor vehicles and in the way of a keyring.
2008 to 2018
As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations, the club began its fifth decade with a new logo created by David Jordaan. This logo pays homage to the Italian heritage and was the first to feature a soccer ball in the centre of the crest as well as a ribbon at the base of the crest that marked its establishment of 1958.
2018 to Current
Designed by Nathan Fellows of Freestyle FX Signs the design features a wreath to commemorate the clubs 60th year and is the current crest of Launceston City Football Club
Player of the Year
Coach of the Year
Golden Boot
Peter Sawdon also awarded Rothmans Medal winner (State League Player of the Year) 1985 and 1988 with George Town United.
Goal of the Year
Rising Star Award
Team of the Year
Player of the Year
Player of the Year
Golden Boot
Player of the Year
Coach of the Year
Northern Women's League Golden Boot
Biggest Win:
Highest Scoring Game
Biggest Win:
Highest Scoring Game
Since 2009, the senior menâÂÂs Best and Fairest has been known as the Peter Savill Medal.