Wests Tigers owners buy equity stake in APIA Leichhardt FC

Former National Soccer League champions APIA Leichhardt have secured some high-powered support for their first campaign in Australia’s new national second tier, with the Holman Barnes Group – majority owners of the NRL’s Wests Tigers – taking an equity stake in the club.

APIA Leichhardt play in the NSW NPL and are already sponsored by Wests Ashfield, one of three clubs under the Holman Barnes banner, whose logo is on the front of their shirts.

But the group’s involvement in soccer is stepping up significantly, with a co-branded team to be known as Wests APIA FC to enter the new Australian Championship competition, which is being launched by Football Australia in October.

It is a new joint venture for Wests Ashfield, whose equity stake is in APIA Leichhardt Football Club Limited, a publicly listed company created specifically for the Australian Championship, and separate from the grassroots club.

It marks the first significant step outside of rugby league by the Holman Barnes Group, which holds a 90 per cent stake in the Wests Tigers, and ensures a strong financial base for APIA Leichhardt as they return to a national competition for the first time since 1992.

“This is a proud moment for both clubs,” said Daniel Paton, CEO of Holman Barnes Group. “Sport and community have always been at the core of who we are, and this partnership with APIA is a natural evolution of our commitment to supporting grassroots initiatives and expanding opportunities for local participation and connection.

“This year alone, we have contributed over $2m in support across 33 Intra-Clubs, reflecting our deep commitment to community engagement. All this, alongside our championing of rugby league through our partnerships with Wests Tigers, Wests Magpies and Balmain Tigers, which we remain steadfast in our commitment.

“We are delighted to be strengthening our community ties and grassroots development, and we are looking forward to working with APIA Leichhardt and the competition kicking off in October”.

The Australian Championship will begin as an end-of-season tournament, rather than the home-and-away league format clubs had been hoping for, featuring eight “foundation” clubs and the winners of eight state-based competitions in NSW, Northern NSW, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, the ACT and Tasmania.

APIA Leichhardt is one of those eight foundation clubs to have satisfied FA’s criteria – along with fellow NSW outfits Marconi Stallions, Sydney Olympic, Wollongong Wolves and Sydney United 58, plus Avondale FC, Preston Lions and South Melbourne from Victoria – and will participate in the Australian Championship every year.

Wests APIA FC will play their home games at Leichhardt Oval.

Short-term ambitions for the competition to evolve into a league format have been put on hold due to a shortage of other suitable clubs, with a recent search by FA for participants from outside of Victoria and NSW proving fruitless.

“We’re proud to join forces with Wests Ashfield in this exciting new chapter,” said Tony Raciti, president and chairman of APIA Leichhardt.

“This partnership unites two long-standing clubs with deep roots in the community and marks a significant milestone as we prepare for the inaugural Australian Championship. Competing as Wests APIA FC reflects both our rich heritage and shared vision for the future.

“Wests Ashfield have been the club’s major sponsor in the NPL space for over 3 decades; however this incredibly significant investment for the Championship competition truly is game changing. This partnership with Wests Ashfield will elevate APIA Leichhardt FC from a significant contributor in the Australian footballing landscape into an unstoppable force into the future.”

Another NRL club, the Cronulla Sharks, had previously explored forming a team for the Australian Championship and their bid, lodged in conjunction with the NPL’s Sutherland Sharks, was initially shortlisted by FA before being withdrawn.

APIA Leichhardt sit second in the NSW NPL and last week upset A-League champions Melbourne City to progress to the round of 16 in the Australia Cup.