Minister Martin Foley joins South A League Bid Team

Martin Foley, State Member for Albert Park and Victorian Minister for Housing, Disability, Ageing, Mental Health, Equality and Creative Industries, has officially joined the South Melbourne FC A-League Bid Team.

Mr Foley has worked closely with the club for over eight years and is South Melbourne’s number one ticket holder. He has been instrumental in a number of Club initiatives forging stronger ties with the Victorian Government and the local community. His influence and contribution was critical in the Club finalising its long-term 40-year lease at Lakeside Stadium.

South Melbourne Chairman Bill Papastergiadis spoke to smfc.com.au, highlighting that “South Melbourne FC have put together a bid team unrivaled in Australian football in terms of expertise and bi-partisan support. The addition of a Senior Victorian Government Minister to the A League Bid Team cements South Melbourne FC as the club with the talent necessary to win the next A League spot.

Attracting the best talent, who can make the best decisions for the game and for the Club reflects the maturity and strength of South Melbourne FC. We have a strong brand, almost 60 years of history and a solid and respected reputation both on and off the field.”

Mr Foley spoke highly of the community links South Melbourne FC has saying “the Club is located right  in the heart of Albert Park Reserve where it’s been part of the community for over half a century. It’s an integral part of this community, it drives right across the South East of Melbourne so much of the football ecology and it’s a really dynamic club. Not just locally but in increasingly internationally. Its ground breaking work with Chinese football is something to be admired. Its engagement with all of our schools, all of our kids and its work in women’s football is just inspirational. This is a club that has got its act together and has a bright future and that future is in the A League.

I’ve worked really closely with the Bid Board Committee, we have secured this site here at Albert Park for decades to come. There’s not many clubs in the A League that can point to the kind of security that this club has at this facility. Close to public transport, plenty of parking, close to facilities, this is a venue of the future and the South Melbourne Football Club is at the heart of this community right here. It’s the key tenant of this facility and it can only get better once the Club is in the A League.

This is a club with a really rich proud tradition and success, hence the Oceania Team of the 20th Century, it’s come back from adversity and now its future is secure. It’s well run, it’s financial and it’s got bold and exciting vision for the A League.”

South Melbourne FC has bought together an expert field of professionals to contribute to and review its A-League bid package. Chairman Bill Paperstergiadis reflected on the bid journey, saying “I’m really proud of the Club and the team we have put together to work on our A-League bid. We have such a long standing and dynamic involvement across football, sports, government and the corporate environment. Our team has leveraged its diversity to attract some very influential professionals. In the political sphere, our bi-partisan support is evidenced by having the former Federal Liberal Sports Minister Andrew Thompson and now Martin Foley, State Labor Minister, on our team. We all unite for what is best for South Melbourne FC and for the world game.”

South Melbourne FC has finalised the bid documentation and is in the final stages of review ahead of the Expression of Interest submission deadline.

South Melbourne FC can confirm​ three-time championship winning ​​senior ​head ​coach Socrates Nicolaidis​ will return to the USA ​at the end of May ​for personal family reasons.

The man we know simply as “Soc” took over the coaching position ahead of the 2015 season, where he made an immediate impact through his fluent and attacking style of play and being able to bring young and talented footballers through the South Melbourne FC ranks into the senior team. In 2017, he became the club’s inaugural National Premier Leagues coach leading the club to the Premiership and Championship​.​

Under his tutelage, a core group of talented young women have remained loyally together securing the silverware in each and every league they played in. His guidance and development has resulted in a number of players winning individual accolades and progressing to play at the national and international level. A fundamental principle and tenet of his leadership has been embracing opportunities to progress young players into the Senior squad and surround them with experienced and talented mentors allowing them to succeed.

Soc’s links to South Melbourne run deep in his footballing life. Prior to his role with the women’s side of the club he was a former National League player with the ​South Melbourne, making his debut at age 15 in the old National Soccer League.

An emotional SMFC Women’s Football Director Gabrielle Giuliano spoke to smfc.com.au, “Soc is a wonderful South person and successful coach, but most importantly he was a teacher and mentor to many young ladies and we will miss him dearly around the club. We wish him and his family all the best in the United States and hope that one day we can see him back at the club.​”

In the meantime, Socrates and the club will continue their strong and loyal ties by pursuing some exciting initiatives that will allow many SMFC players the opportunity to play and study abroad. This will be done whilst also building our international affiliations with other like-minded professionals, youth clubs & universities from the US.”

​Soc will remain as coach​ through the month of May before departing to the USA. Former National​ Soccer​ League player ​​Angelo Koutos will be the interim Senior head coach for the rest of 2018. Angelo has been the Senior Assistant Coach with Soc since the start of 2018 and he is also the coach of the club’s Under 16 girls who are currently leading the league.

The Club and Senior playing group are positive coming off the back of three straight wins. The squad has united around Angleo and the opportunity presented to him for the remainder of the year and are confident in a successful season ahead.

The club thanks Socrates for an amazing ​three and a half year spell as senior coach and we sincerely wish him all the best for the future.

South Melbourne Football Club are thrilled to welcome back Matilda Lisa De Vanna to the club for the remainder of the 2018 NPLW Victoria season.

After a fantastic performance in the Asian Cup and having just won the W-League Goal of the Year, the Matildas all-time leading goal scorer Lisa De Vanna returns to Lakeside Stadium tonight representing South Melbourne FC against FC Bulleen Lions in the Team App Cup.

De Vanna re-joins her South Melbourne team mates for a second consecutive season at the club, off the back of another successful W-League. Lisa won the NPL Premiership and Championship with South Melbourne last year and then joined Sydney FC in finishing second in the W-League and then securing a Grand Final appearance.

In 2017 De Vanna paired up with striker Melina Ayres to develop a potent attacking force in the final third with Lisa scoring eighteen goals.

Women’s Football Director Gabrielle Giuliano spoke to smfc.com.au saying “I’m excited to once again have Lisa as a part of our club. She is a tremendous footballer and individual providing support and inspiration to young girls at all ages. Her character and temperament delivers leadership and experience on the pitch you can’t get anywhere else. This year she will be an asset to South Melbourne and to Victorian football in her capacity on and off the pitch.

Lisa is in the squad making her return tonight, as we take on FC Bulleen Lions in the Team App Cup at Lakeside Stadium. The 1959 Bar and Grill is open from 6:30pm, stadium access from 8:00pm and kick off at 8:30pm

Today Bill Anton will be laid to rest following his passing last week. Bill has been a tremendous advocate and devotee of South Melbourne FC for a very long time.

Professionally, Bill graduated from Monash Univesrity and dedicated his career to managing and researching pathology and age diagnostics. He contributed significantly to the field of anti-ageing medicine across the globe being a foundation board member at the Bristing Society of Anti-Ageing Medicine, a board member of the International Society of Endocrinology and at home in Melbourne sharing his knowledge and expertise with others as a Senior Lecturer at the Swinburne University Graduate School of Medicine.

In the corporate world, Bill had success establishing and managing medical pathology and diagnostic businesses. It is through these that many South supporters became aware of Bill’s work as a major sponsor of the club. General Diagnostic Laboratories and GDL Pathology graced the front of the jersey with some of the club’s greatest players having worn the logo.

In addition to being a major sponsor, Bill was an active supporter of the club and a significant part of the South Mebourne FC family.

Bill embraced every facet of the club and embodied the notion “We are South Melbourne”. The club, supporters and players will hold a minutes silence for Bill at our first home game at Lakeside Stadium this Sunday afternoon.

South Melbourne FC would like to confirm the signing of goalkeeper Beth Mason-Jones for the 2018 NPLW Victoria season.

Mason-Jones returns to Lakeside Stadium where she last wore the South jersey in 2014. There will be a number of familiar faces in the line-up for the keeper who has already been training with the squad for a week. Mason-Jones played with Alex Cheal and Natalie Martineau in the 2014 team and more recently in the W-League with Alex Gummer, Tiff Eliadis and Melina Ayres.

The shot stopper is an accomplished player in Victorian football. She has won the FFV 2015 Golden Glove award at the age of just seventeen.

Speaking to smfc.com.au about her lead up to the 2018 season, Mason-Jones said “Coming off the 2017 NPLW season I had the opportunity to play in the W-League again. I got another contract there which was great and I had a good season there. Now coming back into NPLW it’s good. I’m feeling fit, I’m feeling ready, sharp, feel like I’ve improved a lot in the last six months and looking forward to coming across from Bulleen to South Melbourne. I can’t wait to get started.”

Women’s Football Director Gabrielle Giuliano was excited with the signing saying “Beth is an accomplished young player having gained valuable experience at the national level in the W-League over the last two years. I am confident she will bring her maturity, experience and talent to bolster the defensive structure of our team. I wish her the best of luck for the 2018 season”

We welcome Beth back to South

South Melbourne FC would like to announce the retirement of Nick Galatas from the Board.

Nick has served on the board for eleven years including ten as Chairman. He has been instrumental in the development of football both at South Melbourne FC and across Victoria. He is now focusing his efforts on the development of football at a national level with the Association of Australian Football Clubs (AAFC).

As the AAFC Advisor for Regulatory & Legal, Nick has and will continue to make a significant contribution to Australian football, engaging with key stakeholders of the game including NPL Clubs, the FFA, the AFC and FIFA.

Whilst South Melbourne FC is encouraged by the influence Nick will have on the national stage, the club also recognises the invaluable involvement and impact he has had at SMFC.

As Chairman of the Board, Nick has overseen some historical achievements of the club. To name but a few, these include negotiating and securing the Memorandum of Understanding with the Victorian State Government and the long-term future of the club at Lakeside Stadium, the establishment of the SMFC One Club initiative incorporating the Junior Soccer Club and Women’s Football Club under one organisation to compete at the top level in Victorian football, and serving the club as legal representative advising players and the club on various matters.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, President Leo Athanasakis said “I would like to personally thank Nick for eleven years of outstanding service to the club. As Chairman he has been front and centre of some remarkable achievements.”

“I personally see Nick’s move as an a elevation to a broader role in Australian Football. He will no longer be focusing on solely one club, but fighting for the rights of all clubs outside the A-League. We wish him and the AAFC the best of luck in the historic negotiations they are presented with as the outcome will surely define the future of football in this country for decades to come.”

South Melbourne FC will pay tribute to Nick Galatas and his service to the club at the 2018 Season Launch and Jersey Presentation on 17 March at Lakeside Stadium.

South Melbourne FC would like to confirm the signing of central defender Christos Intzidis.

The Greek defender joins us following over 100 professional matches in Greece’s top two divisions, including with both PAOK and Aris of Thessaloniki.

An extremely strong defender both in the air and with the ball at his feet, Intzidis will link up with Kristian Konstantinidis to form a formidable central defensive combination.

Speaking to smfc.com.au Football Director Nicholas Maikousis was excited with the signing. “Christos joins us with a large amount of experience in Greece’s top flight including with PAOK and we are excited to bring him to Melbourne. His size and ability on the ball will make him a fantastic acquisition and someone we can have across our back four.”

We welcome Christos to the club and wish him the best for his time with the club.

Photo: Tony Margaritis

South Melbourne FC are excited to welcome Guangzhou R&F ​FC to Melbourne. The Chinese Super League club are holding their pre-season trip in Melbourne and have selected the club’s Lakeside Stadium as their training base.

Bill Papastergiadis, Head of the A League Bid for South Melbourne announced “South Melbourne FC has been selected to partner with Guanzhou R&F FC thanks to the club’s world class facilities at Lakeside Stadium, the international recognition of the club’s brand and our work in the establishment of the Australia China Football Development Association.”

Bill said “We are hosting a formal dinner for government and community dignitaries to welcome the club demonstrating how our international partnerships and football can bring together members of the business community to benefit sport, trade, culture and tourism for both China and here in Melbourne”

South Melbourne FC and Guangzhou R&F FC will share the facilities at Lakeside Stadium over the coming weeks as both clubs undertake pre-season training and match preparation.

The teams will participate in a joint training match and then on Thursday 8th February will play in a friendly match at Lakeside Stadium. Details for the friendly match will be released over the weekend.

Bill Papastergiadis said: “Our partnership with the Chinese business and football community continues to strengthen and grow each year. Establishing the Australia China Football Development Association has played a large role in this. Our youth coaching staff have recently returned from delivering a coaching conference in Jinshan for seventy local coaches. I have also just returned from Shanghai this week having met with Victorian Commissioner Tim Dillon looking at opportunities to build closer bonds with our business and football network in China.”

“South Melbourne has been at the forefront of football development for the game as a whole and for senior and junior footballers for many decades. We are now taking this experience and technical capability to the international stage. This is yet another example of the clubs maturity, depth and readiness to play on the national level here in Australia in the A-League.”

South Melbourne FC would like to confirm that it has re-signed Premiership and Championship striker Melina Ayres for the 2018 season.

Ayres had an outstanding season in 2017 where her performance was recognised on a number of levels. She has taken home silverware at a team, club and league level. Melina traveled to
Nanjing, China in October as a part of the Young Matildas squad participating in the AFC U19 Women’s Championship.

She will re-join the club following the conclusion of the W-League season, where she is currently playing for Melbourne Victory

Speaking to smfc.com.au Football Director Gabrielle Giuliano was excited with the signing. “I am looking forward to seeing Melina pull on the South jersey again in 2018. She has grown so much as an individual and footballer in the last year. She has experienced success personally and with the team which is recognition of her talent and ongoing professional development. I am pleased she has had the opportunity to work with Coach Socrates Nicolaidis throughout last season and be mentored by South team mate and Maltilda’s all-time record goal scorer Lisa DeVanna. We wish Melina all the best for the upcoming season.”

Melina “Gary” Ayres will be back in South colours for the first round of the NPLW Victoria on Saturday 24th.

Photo: Rachel Bach / BTWL