Day: October 17, 2014

South Melbourne FC is delighted to advise that defender Bradley Norton has committed for the 2015 NPL Victoria season.

Norton joined South Melbourne at the commencement of the 2012 Victorian Premier League, and along with fellow defender Dimitri Tsiaras, is one of the longest serving players. In total, Brad Norton has represented South Melbourne on 81 occasions across all competitions (73 League, 8 Cup) and scored eight goals (7 League, 1 Cup). He has held leadership positions at the Club having been vice captain and also captain on various occasions throughout 2013 and 2014. Norton played his 50th League match in the 0-3 win against Hume City at Broadmeadows Valley Park on Sunday 13 April 2014. Other memorable highlights of Norton’s career at South include scoring the winning goal against Northcote City in extra time of the 3-2 win in the FFV Dockerty Cup on Monday 10 June 2013, as well as coming off the bench (86’) to score a wonderful headed goal (90’) against Port Melbourne in the final round of the season on 22 September 2013.

In 2014, he made 31 appearances across all competitions and battled with Shaun Timmins for the left-back spot when Timmins joined in the mid-season transfer window. Norton has worked hard throughout the season to earn and keep his spot in the starting eleven.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Director Nicholas Maikousis said “it was important to retain our core playing squad as we are looking to go go back-to-back in 2015. Brad has the strength of character required to defend our title next season”.

By Skip Fulton

This weekend marked the third and final week in the group stages of the Heritage Youth Cup at De Chene Reserve. All five teams from South Melbourne were in action and the results would see the Under 8s and Under 10s progress through to the Semi Finals.

Under 8s
The Under 8 team has had a developing season in the Miniroos structure. They have played up a level in the Under 9 and the challenge has seen them progress technically as individuals and structurally as a team very well. The benefits of this were on display at the Heritage Youth Cup when they returned to their normal age group.

This week they came up against their strongest opponent in Point Cook. The team played positive football and scored twice to secure the 2-1 win.

Round 1: Win – defeated Eltham 4-1
Round 2: Win – defeated Northcote City 2-1
Round 3: Win – defeated Point Cook 2-1
Result: Finished first in Group 3 and now meet Cairnlea in the Semi-Final.

Photos: http://on.fb.me/1CeVgqD

Under 9s
The South Melbourne Under 9A team had a very challenging group and faced some strong opposition. This week they also faced Point Cook who proved tough opposition. Despite the best efforts the team went down losing 1-2.

Round 1: Loss – defeated by Beaumaris 3-0
Round 2: Draw – drew with Northcote City 1-1
Round 3: Loss – defeated by Point Cook 1-2
Result: Finished third in Group 4

Photos: http://on.fb.me/1sD7dXb

The South Melbourne Under 9B team also came up against strong opposition and reflects on how successful football in this age group is around Melbourne. This age group presented one of the most balanced set of results for the whole tournament. South faced group leaders Bundoora who were undefeated and despite putting one goal in the net, the boys went down losing 1-3.

Round 1: Won– defeated Moreland Zebras 8-0
Round 2: Loss – defeated by Eltham Redbacks 0-1
Round 3: Loss – defeated by Bundoora 1-3
Result: Finished third in Group 1

Photos: http://on.fb.me/1v5p20L

Under 10s
This week, the team would come up against the host team Moreland Zebras in a match that was highly anticipated by both clubs. One of the larger turnouts watched this match and crowded around the field on a stunning Sunday morning. They were treated to an excellent performance by both teams, however, it was South Melbourne who continued their dominant run scoring multiple times to run out 3-1 winners.

Round 1: Won– defeated Whittlesea United 1-0
Round 2: Won – defeated Spring Hills 5-0
Round 3: Won – defeated Moreland Zebras 3-1
Result: Finished first in Group 1 and now meet Northcote City in the Semi-Final.

Photos: http://on.fb.me/1rrCtC2

Under 11s
The South Melbourne coach Jamie Reed had recently returned to England, however, he wasn’t far away from his team’s big match against Pascoe Vale. Being kept up to date on Facebook, South needed a win to make it through to the Semi-Finals.

A great start greeted the crowd when the first goal came in just the sixth minute. The remainder of the first half was well played by both teams demonstrating great individual skill with the ball. On the stroke of half-time Pascoe Vale scored from a corner to equalise. This theme would carry on throughout the match with South taking the lead and Pascoe Vale getting it back. In a minute of stoppage time, Pascoe Vale would again score from a corner finalising the match in a draw at 3-3 and in doing so progressing to the Semi-Finals at the expense of South Melbourne on goal difference.

Round 1: Won– defeated Lalor United 1-0
Round 2: Draw – drew with Northcote City 1-1
Round 3: Draw – drew with Pascoe Vale 3-3
Result: Finished second in Group 3

Photos: http://on.fb.me/1D8inp2

Next Matches on Saturday 18th October

9.00am – South Melbourne Under 8s meet Cairnlea for a chance to meet Box Hill United or Beaumaris in the Grand Final
9.00am – South Melbourne Under 10s meet Northcote City for a chance to meet Manningham United or Moreland Zebras Purple in the Grand Final.

Last Saturday morning South Melbourne FC played host to its annual Corporate Cup competition, which was held at the sunny Albert Park.

The tournament consisted of twelve sides from all walks of life, with former Major Sponsor and Principal Partner Star21 returning to the tournament after winning the 2013 SMFC Corporate Cup.

Divided into three groups, each group winner would qualify for the final four, whilst the best placed second placed side would also qualify for the knock-out stage.

Group A saw the South Melbourne Media Team take part in the tournament for the third consecutive year. The side was a mixture of many club volunteers and staff members, as well as former South Melbourne FC Hall of Fame member Fernando De Moraes who remains a close friend of the media team. They were joined in the group by the big banks, with both Commonwealth Bank and National Australia Bank featuring in the tournament. The final member in the group was a youthful K & A Accountants side who featured guest player and former Carlton Football Club legend and 1995 AFL Premiership Player Ang Christou.

Group B was labelled the “Group of Death” prior to the tournament commencing with Black Cod, Victoria Police, Moray & Agnew Lawyers and a selection of SMFC Youth Parents all thinking that they had a chance of progressing through to the final four. It was fantastic to see Victoria Police also participate in the tournament following on from their participation in the Tony Clarke Memorial Shield on September 7 at Lakeside Stadium prior to the South Melbourne and Oakleigh Cannons clash.

Finally Group C consisted of reigning champions Star21 who were looking to make it back-to-back. They would face a tough test against Trapezi, GPZ Legal and Connexion Media to progress through the group.

After three group matches, the group winners were Commonwealth Bank, Victoria Police and Star21 reaching the final stage of the tournament. They were joined by Black Cod who were the only second placed side that remained undefeated through the Group Stage, edging out the SMFC Media Team and Trapezi as the best second placed side.

In a major shock reigning champions Star21 were eliminated from the tournament in the Semi Final stage by the Victorian Police side, whilst Black Cod overcame a tough Commonwealth Bank side to reach the final also.

The final was a tight affair with Black Cod and the Victoria Police not giving each other an inch during normal time, finishing 1-1 at full time. With the match heading into penalties, Black Cod were able to find a way to victory in an epic contest.

We would firstly like to thank everyone that made the day such a tremendous success and would like to congratulate Black Cod Cafe on being the 2014 SMFC Corporate Cup Champions!