South Melbourne FC wishes to advise of the itinerary of events to be held on Sunday’s Championship Fiesta celebrations against the Oakleigh Cannons.
The festivities for the day will be kicked off with an exhibition match between a Select Socceroos XI against the Victoria Police’s ‘Copperoos’, which kicks off at 2.45pm. Both sides will be playing for the Tony Clarke Shield. The Tony Clarke Shield is held in memory of Senior Constable Tony Clarke, who was murdered while on duty in April 2005. Tony was a member of the Victoria Police Soccer Club and a fanatical Liverpool Football Club supporter. The presentation of the Player of the Match and Shield to the winning captain will be made by Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Andrew Crisp and both Tina and Connor Hogarth-Clarke.
At the completion of the Select Socceroos XI against the Copperoos, South Melbourne FC will be honouring its 1964 and 1974 Victorian State League and 1984 National Soccer League Championship sides who this season are celebrating their 50th, 40th, and 30th anniversaries respectively. Each player will be presented, and the large electronic scoreboard will be showing a video montage of images and highlights showcasing the teams’ tremendous achievements.
Prior to the commencement of the Round 25 NPL Victoria fixture against the Oakleigh Cannons, SMFC President Leo Athanasakis and SMFC Chairman Nick Galatas will accompany to the field the President of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria, Bill Papastergiadis, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, and Youth Affairs, the Honourable Ryan Smith, Senior Adviser to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, Peter Lemonis, and Liberal candidate for Albert Park, Shannon Eeles, where the official party will address the South Melbourne faithful celebrating the recent announcement of the signing of the 40 year lease of Lakeside Stadium.
Once the formalities have concluded, both sides will take to the field flanked by the South Melbourne FC youth players forming a guard of honour, paying their respects to the NPL Victoria Champion.
At the conclusion of the match, the NPL Victoria trophy will be presented to both SMFC Captain Michael Eagar and Head Coach Chris Taylor, where fans will have the opportunity to celebrate the club’s first Victorian title since 2006.
Fans and Corporate Partners are encouraged at the conclusion of the trophy presentation to make their way to Principal Partner Beachcomber Cafe, located at the St Kilda Baths, where the celebrations will continue with players and coaching staff in attendance.
South Melbourne FC encourages all to be in attendance at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday to celebrate this momentous occasion, and wish the team all the best as it sets off on the national playoffs seeking to be crowned National Premier Leagues Champion.