Day: December 16, 2014

After training solidly in Albert Park during the last few weeks of pre-season training, South Melbourne FC’s senior and Under 20 squads were sent to Port Melbourne beach for a gruelling session on Monday night.

Senior Coach Chris Taylor put the players through their paces in a brutal two hour running session across the sand and in full view of interested onlookers.

There were many players that impressed during the session, with right-back Tim Mala and left-back Brad Norton leading the way throughout many of the gut-wrenching drills.

A positive sign for all South fans was the appearance of injured midfielder Stephen Hatzikostas, who was encouraging his peers at every occasion and having a laugh with the small South contingent watching on. Although ‘Hatz’ will be missing for a large part of 2015 due to injury, he is on track to hopefully return playing before the finals series.

South Melbourne FC will be playing numerous friendly matches from early January in preparation for the Round 1 National Premier League Victoria clash against the Oakleigh Cannons. Details of these matches will be posted on www.smfc.com.auand via our social media channels when the information comes to hand.

To view the full photo gallery of the beach session, click on the thumbnails below

South Melbourne FC is saddened at the news that Georgios Samaras has passed away at the age of 91.

Mr Samaras was a prominent member of the Victorian Greek Community in the 1950s and 1960s. Following the merger of Yarra Park, South Melbourne United and Hellenic, he contributed in establishing the newly-formed South Melbourne Hellas in becoming a powerhouse of Victorian football in the 1960s.

Mr Samaras’ son Ioannis (John) Samaras played for OFI Crete, Panathinaikos and the Greek national side throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Ioannis fulfilled a childhood dream when he returned to Melbourne to play one match for South Melbourne FC as a guest player on 6 June 1988. On that day, he scored a goal as South Melbourne defeated Sydney Olympic 2-1 at Middle Park.

Ioannis’ son Georgios (named after his grandfather) is a current Greek international player and plays his club football for West Bromwich Albion in the English Premier League. On 24 June this year, he scored a penalty in the 93rd minute to beat the Ivory Coast 2-1 and send Greece through to the Round of 16 for the first time in the country’s history.

South Melbourne FC sends its condolences to the Samaras family in this very difficult time.