It's been a dramatic rise to the top for Coniston FC.
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Five years ago, Coniston was playing in the Community League. They scrapped and fought their way back over the next few years, finally making their long-awaited Illawarra Premier League return in 2019.
They finished ninth.
But there is a new feel at the club in 2020 after Coniston booked their spot in the Fraternity Cup final.
It's the biggest test to date for coach Jeff Allport's men, taking on IPL powerhouse Wollongong United at Memorial Park this Sunday.
On paper, it shapes to be an enthralling game. Neither side has conceded a goal in their four Cup games so far.
"We weren't expected to progress to this stage," Coniston president John Karayiannis said.
"But every week, we've turned up as underdogs against Premier League sides and we've kept winning. It's a bit of a Cinderella story, I don't think anyone had hopes of us getting past the quarter finals.
"But United is one of the favourites to win the league, it's going to be difficult. But on the pitch, anything can happen. Even if it's a one per cent chance of us winning, we're going to believe in that one per cent and go for it.
Coniston last won the Cup title in 2003. They reached the pre-season final nine years later, falling 4-0 to Dapto Dandaloo.
Karayiannis said victory again on Sunday would "mean that we've established ourselves as a Premier League team".
"It's only five years ago that we were playing Community League. We had to work hard, on and off the pitch, to get ourselves back to the Premier League," he said.
"And now, to have a chance to take some success in such a short space of time would be fantastic for our volunteers, our sponsors, players and everyone involved at Coniston.
"We've got a great coach in Geoff Allport, we've got a great defence that is yet to concede a goal and we have a hard-working midfield and forwards. The players believe in each other."
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Joshua Bartlett
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
