2007
After being incorporated in November 2006, Lokomotiv played its first match as an official club in the Don Parkes Trophy at Mingara Recreation Centre on the Central Coast. Following an enthralling encounter played over 80 minutes due to the extreme summer temperatures the game was locked at 2-2. A penalty shootout followed with Lokomotiv missing the final penalty and losing 5-4. On 20 January 2007, the club played its second charity match this time in the 52,000 seat Suncorp Stadium as a curtain raiser to the Queensland Roar vs Sydney FC A-League encounter. Played over 30 minutes Lokomotiv conceded a goal with less than 5 minutes remaining giving it little chance of defending the trophy won in the previous year. Under the guidance of the assistant manager the result ended 1-0. Soon after, inaugural coach and director of football Darren Bozinoski decided to move to the USA for personal reasons and club president Ben Willing reluctantly accepted his resignation.
Pre-season trials and training began upon return of the squad to Sydney with the club developing a nomadic existence at Sydney's Centennial Park and Wentworth Park while home ground Tempe Reserve was required for completion of the cricket season. In February, Adam Coates was appointed the club's new head coach and made responsible for grading the teams. The task was made more difficult by the fact that it was the first time many players had played in the Eastern Suburbs Football Association where the competition structure and standard differed considerably to other associations in the Sydney Metropolitan Area.
The club's first competitive match was played by the senior team who were entered into the ESFA Men's division 2 competition. The match was the 1st rd of the ESFA Cup and was a successful 4-1 victory over Queens Park AA4 team. This began a cup run that was to end at the hands of Maroubra AA1 in the quarter finals on 11 June. Loko matched it with the current division 1 leaders and had an open goal attempt miraculously saved in the dying seconds to prevent the game going to extra time.
From early in the season it was clear that the clubs best chance of success lay with the Senior Women's team who were playing in division 3. Coach Cesar Bolivar had a tight knit bunch of girls led by Swedish star Gry Bakke who scored 48 goals from midfield and Noni Payling who provided many of Gry's assists on route to the team winning Loko's first league premiership. Both girls had joined the club after playing first division for the University of Newcastle in the Northern NSW Women's League. The experience rubbed off on their teammates many of whom were playing their first season of competitive football. Unfortunately a torn meniscus for Noni and international travel plans for Gry prevented the duo from playing in the finals series and the team was unable to win the premiership/championship double.
The Senior Men's Squad overcome a slow start in the league to record 6 wins in their final 8 games and wrap up third spot in the Division 2 premiership. Unfortunately for the team, Scottish Central defenders Kevin Collins and Damien Hagerty were unaware of the Australian notion of finals football and had organised holidays home to Glasgow coinciding with Loko's first men's finals appearance. The result was a 7-0 drubbing from Maccabi Hakoah.
In the lower men's division the club was less successful due to the new combinations and lack of competitive knowledge of the new competition for many players and the club grading committee. The division 4,5,6 & 8 teams all won the wooden spoon in their respective competitions while the division 7 team finished third and division 3 team mid-table. The division 7 team earned Loko's first championship however with a 1-0 over the Lions at Hensley Athletic Field in front of a crowd of around 200 people. The goal scored in the last 5 minutes lead to a large celebration amongst the Terminus.
Gry Bakke was awarded the Golden Boot for the district.
Read more about this topic: Lokomotiv Cove FC, Inaugural Season