Brisbane City Football Club
Established in 1952, Brisbane City FC was more than just a soccer team, it served as a place for Italian migrants to gather with friends and celebrate their heritage. In 2024 the club aims to revive its Italian identity.
Brisbane City Football Club was formed by Italian migrants as Gli Azzurri in 1952 and was originally based at Kedron. Their logo still holds the tricolore of green, white and red, a homage to the Italian flag.
Gli Azzurri started life with a single team of immigrants in the 4th Division. By 1959, the club was promoted to the 1st Division, winning its 1st Grand Final in 1961 and 1st League title in 1970. In its earlier years, Gli Azzurri was a place that provided Italian migrants with the opportunity to practice their culture in a foreign land.
Board member Roberto Rossi explained, “When I moved with my family from North Queensland to Brisbane, Brisbane City [Football Club] was one of the first places I went to as a child. I met a lot of my lifelong friends here, along with other families who immigrated to Australia with their kids.” Rossi continues, “On Sunday afternoons, there used to be big events. We’d have lunch at home, play calcio (soccer) in the afternoon, and go to the Italian club directly opposite after the game.” This is where life-long memories were formed.
Since formation, the Club has won 13 League titles, 13 Grand Finals, 12 Queensland Cups, and 2 National Cups. In 1977, Brisbane City became the first Queensland-based professional sporting side to play in a National competition, the Philips League. The club went on to win its first two national titles back-to-back: the Philips Cup in 1977 against Marconi FC, and again in 1978 against Adelaide City.
In 1981, Brisbane City opened its $1 million grandstand and headquarters at Spencer Park, which remains its home ground today. In 1986, the club played its last season in the National Soccer League and returned to the State League after 10 years at the top level. Since then, the club has won many titles and awards and continues to be at the forefront of soccer in Queensland. One of its noteworthy achievements occurred in 2023, when its world-class facilities hosted the FIFA Women’s World Cup as an approved training ground.
Today, Brisbane City is the number one ranked junior development club in Queensland. While the club’s roots were established by Italian migrants, the Italian aspects of its history and identity have diminished over the generations. Reviving this heritage is a priority for the club’s board of directors. One strategy the board has implemented is hosting social events every Friday night. The club has installed two wood-fired pizza ovens, and on every Friday serves authentic Italian wood-oven pizza. These social nights bring the local community together to enjoy Italian culture and a love of quality food.
The board aims to revive Brisbane City Football Club as a hub not just for Italian migrants but also for second and third-generation Italians, as well as anyone interested in the Italian culture. In the future, the board plans to network with other Italian communities and support Italian events in the wider community, in an effort to revive the club’s Italian identity to its former glory.
Cover: Murals at the stadium dedicated to the Azzurri National Super League's first victory
Images provided by Brisbane City Football Club
