Avondale

Early years

Avondale FC was founded in 1984 as Keilor I.C.K.A.. ICKA stood for Italian Community of Keilor Assoc Inc. (I.C.K.A. Club), the football team having been founded originally by Italian immigrants.

Keilor ICKA competed in the Victorian Amateur League Division 3 in 1986, and achieved two consecutive promotions in '86 and '87 to rise to the Amateur League Division 1 by '88. Keilor competed in the Provisional Leagues for the first time in 1991, with the federation placing the club into Victorian Provisional League Division 4 that year, the ninth tier of football in Victoria. The club was promoted the following year, a third-place finish enough to see the club rise to Provisional League Division 3. Keilor was to spend the next eight years at that level.

After moving to Doyle Street Reserve in Avondale Heights in 1999, the club was renamed to Avondale Heights SC in 2000. That year proved to be a memorable one for the Melbourne club, finally achieving promotion to Provisional League Division 2 North-West, by taking out the Division 3 North-West title, losing just one game all season. The next year was even better, with the club taking out the Div 2 Nth-West title in their first season at that level, finishing five points clear at the top of the table ahead of Mill Park.

Avondale Heights' next promotion was to come in 2006, when the club finished second in the Provisional League Division 1 North-West. This promotion meant that the club would compete in the Victorian State Leagues for the first time, entering State League Division 3 North-West for the 2007 season. Devastatingly, the club were relegated on the final game of the 2007 season, finishing just one point of survival. The club endured another relegation the following season, falling to the sixth tier of Victorian football for the 2008 season.

League ascension

A famous climb through the league divisions began in 2009 when a new committee took over the management of the club. Avondale managed a second-place finish in the Provisional League Division 2 North-West, enough for promotion. Avondale was promoted once more the following season, the club again finishing second, this time in the Provisional League Division 1 North-West.

In 2012, Avondale Heights appointed Anthony Barbieri as head manager of the senior side. They were promoted from State League 3 North-West to State League 2 North-West after topping their league table and taking out the Championship, pipping Sydenham Park SC by just one point. In 2013, the club were promoted from State League 2 in their first season in the competition, then from the third division of football in Victoria, after winning a playoff against North Geelong Warriors 1–0.

National Premier Leagues Victoria

In 2014, Avondale Heights entered the second tier of football in Victoria, the National Premier Leagues Victoria 2, for the first time ever. Avondale went on to win the league championship and earn promotion into the NPL Victoria top division. The club achieved five promotions in six seasons to reach the top flight, a feat that is unrivaled in Victorian football.

Avondale Heights Soccer Club changed its name to Avondale Football Club in 2015. The club grabbed headlines around Victoria in May 2015 when it confirmed the signings of former A-League players Francesco Stella and Massimo Murdocca. In their first season in the top flight of Victorian football, the club managed to avoid relegation, finishing mid-table.

Avondale announced that it had signed two more former A-League players in Spase Dilevski and Jonatan Germano for the 2016 season. Avondale adopted the moniker The Avengers in early 2016 and announced it would be playing home matches for the 2016 season out of Knights Stadium. On the park, it was a difficult season early on for Avondale, who lost its opening five fixtures. A draw against Oakleigh Cannons was followed up by three consecutive victories, but inconsistent form throughout the season, which included another five match losing streak followed by closing out the season eight games undefeated, saw Avondale finish in 8th place for 2016. Jonatan Germano was a clear standout for Avondale, netting 14 goals from midfield including five braces.

In 2017 Avondale qualified for the NPL Victoria finals series for the first time, continuing the club's rise. Avondale even led the league by Round 19, but a stretch of four matches without a win saw Heidelberg United and South Melbourne surpass them in the standings. Avondale faced Oakleigh Cannons in the Elimination Final, losing 2–1 in extra time. Germano was once more the side's top goalscorer, with eight goals. Avondale conceded the fewest goals of any side in the league but also scored fewer goals than all but the two bottom-placed sides, North Geelong Warriors and St Albans Saints.

In December 2017, the club announced that it had signed a 10-year lease with the Reggio Calabria Club in Brunswick to become the new home base for the club. Avondale played its 2018 home games at Paisley Park Soccer Complex prior to the move. In June 2018, Avondale moved into its new home ground in Parkville, Victoria, newly-named Avenger Park. Avondale announced that the club would be completing new change-rooms, a kiosk, medical center, gym, members sports bar and a 450-seat grandstand at the venue.