Europa Point F.C.

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.

Europa Point
Full nameEuropa Point Football Club
Nickname(s)A Stepping Stone Club
Founded2014
GroundVictoria Stadium, Gibraltar
Capacity2000
OwnersJohn Gontier
Andrew Pritchard
ChairmanJohn Gontier
ManagerIan Hendon
LeagueGibraltar National League
2019–20Challenge Group: 2nd
Overall: 8th[lower-alpha 1]
WebsiteClub website

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. 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 2620331242063 3rd Quarter-finals
2015–16 Second 221750767956 1st First round
2016–17 Premier 272223131208 10th Quarter-finals
2017–18 Second 14734311824 4th Second round
2018–19 Second 181305502639 2nd Second round
2019–20 National 18747353825 8th Quarter-finals

Current squad

Correct as of 8 July 2020.

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
8 MF  GIB Tarik Chrayeh
12 GK  GIB Jorge Avellano
15 DF  GIB Stefan Oliva
16 DF  GIB Antony Moulds (captain)
22 DF  GIB Aidan Casey
23 MF  GIB Omar El Yettefti
No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF  MLT Lee Ciantar
— DF  GIB Luke Evans
— DF  SCO John Stewart
— MF  CAN Christopher Þór Oatman
— FW  GIB Haitham Tarrak

Club staff
Position Name
Club Management
Head Coach Ian Hendon
First Team Coach Daniel Amaya
Fitness Coach Adan Guerrero
Board
Chairman/Co-Owner John Gontier
Co-Owner Andrew Pritchard

Honours
Gibraltar National League - Challenge Group
Gibraltar Second Division
Gibraltar Second Division Cup
  • Winners: 2014–15,[4] 2015–16
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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 the COVID-19 pandemic
  2. Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic. Results not officially recognised.
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