South Melbourne FC is excited to release its 2012 Corporate Options Package.
The Club’s commitment to our corporate partners is to increase the exposure and recognition of their brand. South Melbourne FC is implementing new mediums to connect and access new segments of the football community through TV, print, radio, and online means.
This season marks the return of the Club back to its newly refurbished home at Lakeside Stadium.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC President, Leo Athanasakis said “South Melbourne FC is synonymous with success and a reputation for quality and excellence. We offer a premier selection of corporate sponsorship and advertising packages which can be tailored specifically to corporate partners’ requirements, to not only maximise the exposure of their brand, but to also provide the opportunity for them to entertain their clients and build business to business opportunities. This year marks the return of the Club back to our refurbished home at Lakeside Stadium. Furthermore, we ask the South faithful to support the sponsors who support our Club”
After an extended off-season due to the FFV pushing back the start of the 2012 Victorian Premier League season until the end of March, South Melbourne FC will participate in a series of friendlies this February and March, in addition to our Hellenic Cup commitments.
First up is a trip to Ralph Reserve, to take on State League 1 outfit Western Suburbs, on Wednesday 15th February, at 6:45pm.
On Wednesday 29th February, South will play back-to-back reigning Victorian Premier League champions Green Gully, away at Green Gully Reserve at 7pm.
And finally, on Wednesday 14th March, South visits neighbour and 2011 Mirabella Cup conqueror Port Melbourne at 7:00 pm.
Friendly Games
South Melbourne FC vs Western Suburbs SC Venue – Ralph Reserve Date – Wednesday 15th February Kick-off – 6.45pm
South Melbourne FC vs Green Gully SC Venue – Green Gully Reserve Date – Wednesday 29th February Kick-off – 7pm
South Melbourne FC vs Port Melbourne SC Venue – SS Anderson Reserve Date – Wednesday 14th March Kick-off – 7pm
The Organising Committee for the annual Hellenic Cup competition released the groups and fixtures for the 2012 instalment.
All participating teams have been divided into two regions: North West and South East. Within both regions, teams are divided into two groups comprised of of four teams. Group stage matches and quarter final matches will be played with two 35 minute halves, with full 45 minute halves to be played in the semi final and finals matches. Furthermore, extra time will be played over two 10 minute halves if required in the knock out stages. In order to strengthen the competition, Cup Organisers have arranged for the lower ranked sides to compete in a play off system which commenced recently, with the four winners of the play offs entering the group stage of the Hellenic Cup. The main group stage matches are set to kick off on Sunday 16th February with the finals taking place on Saturday 10 March 2011.
Matches in the North West Region will be held at Ralph Reserve, home of Western Suburbs SC. The fixtures in the South East division will be held at The Grange Reserve, home of Kingston City SC.
South Melbourne FC will compete in the South East region, and has been drawn against the following clubs in the group stage: Bentleigh Greens (Victorian Premier League), Kingston City (State League Division 2), Qualifier.
South Melbourne FC clinched its fourth preseason Hellenic Cup in 2011 after defeating Heidelberg United 2-1 in extra time. Despite going a goal down early in the match, South rallied to send the match into extra time before a magnificent Marinos Gasparis goal won the match and the Cup for South at the Kingston Heath Soccer Complex.
SMFC Seniors Hellenic Cup Fixture
Matches to be played at The Grange Reserve (Osborne Avenue, Clayton South)
Sunday 19th February South Melbourne FC vs. Bentleigh Greens SC Kick Off 5.30pm
Sunday 26th February South Melbourne FC vs. Kingston City SC Kick Off 7pm
Saturday 3rd March South Melbourne FC vs. Qualifier Kick Off 7pm
SMFC welcomes the appointment of Daniel Santomil as our club’s Technical Director effective 1st Feb 2012.
Daniel will be implementing an Advanced Training Curriculum at SMFC that will incorporate:
Coaching the Coaches,
A ‘Developmental’ Training curriculum for U7-U13s,
A ‘Specific’ Training curriculum for U14-U18s,
Daniel is a fully qualified Physical Education teacher who has majored in Coaching and sport Psychology. He has had over 12 years experience in teaching at Australian schools. Daniel initially received a Scholarship at the Buenos Aires Institute of Sport, where he lived and studied for 4 years. In Australia he has been a Level 3 Coach and State instructor with FFV until 2003.
Daniel is well known in the Victorian football community as a dedicated junior and youth coach who has helped and developed many players who have succeeded in playing overseas, NSL, A league, VPL and Australian representative sides at all levels. He brings strong linkages with “CA River Plate” Argentina, the largest club in South America and SMFC is looking forward to building upon this relationship further.
Daniel has had great success as the Head Coach of the South Eastern Piranhas FC and with the inclusion of his work with the River Plate Football Academy, he has managed to build a strong reputation for driving a disciplined, technical, program that marries our national curriculum with that of the flair, skillful and tenacious style of the South Americas.
More details of the SMFC Advanced Training Curriculum will be distributed to club members on the 30th of January.
South Melbourne FC would like to announce that it will be holding a school holiday juniors skills clinic.
These clinics will provide young players invaluable training to improve their skill set and further improve their technique. Specialist coaching will be provided by South Melbourne FC stars Fernando De Moraes (Australian Futsalroo representative), Jason Trifiro (FFV 2011 Gold Medal Player of the Year), and Glan Trifiro (Australian Youth International)
Details of the clinics are as follows:
Dates
23rd & 24th Jan for the U9-U12s
10am – 2.30pm
South Melbourne FC would like to wish all its members, corporate partners, media, supporters and volunteers a happy festive season, and a safe and prosperous new year.
SMFC looks forward to seeing you all in 2012 at our new home Lakeside Stadium, where the club will look to win it’s 9th State League title.
The entire South Melbourne FC family wishes to extend its deepest condolences to the Bedford family on the passing of club legend and Hall of Fame and Team of the Century member John Bedford.
Mr. Bedford was an outstanding defender throughout his 14 seasons with South Melbourne FC. He was a member of South’s first ever championship team in 1960 that went undefeated in the Metropolitan League 1 North division which secured promotion into the State League Division One. During his playing career with the Club, Mr. Bedford played in the 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1972 and 1974 State League championship sides. Bedford also represented Victoria on 28 occasions.
He was regarded as one of the greatest defenders ever to play for South, with his blistering pace and powerful left foot also seeing him push into the midfield on many occasions. He will also be regarded as one of the most clever players ever to pull a South shirt on, as well as a natural leader on the park who would never be defeated until the final whistle.
John Bedford is survived by his wife, Margaret, his two sons, Darren and Andrew and four sisters, Anita, Sue, Catherine and Julie. His funeral is in Wodonga on Thursday, 22 December.
South Melbourne FC President Leo Athanasakis, speaking to smfc.com.au, remarked that “the passing of Mr. Bedford represented the passing of a true Club legend. I wish to pass on my condolences on behalf of everyone at South Melbourne FC to the Bedford family. John played during the Club’s formative years that helped cement the Club as Victoria’s most successful football club.”
Photo
John Bedford of South Melbourne Hellas jumps above Eddie Sacco of George Cross: Photo: Uwe Kuessner, Victorian Soccer Federation Yearbook, 1968, front cover. The photograph was taken at Olympic Park on 12 May 1962 and appeared in Soccer Weekly on 17 May 1962 on page one. The crowd for that game was given as 12,000. Provided by Roy Hay.
smfcTV Interview
John Bedford returned to the club in 2010 to celebrate his beloved South Melbourne FC being named Oceania Club of the Century. As part of the night with the Team of the Century members, Mr Bedford spoke to smfcTV about his time with the club. Check out the video below
Football finally returned to Lakeside Stadium on Sunday afternoon when South Melbourne FC were defeated 3-2 by New South Wales Premier League champions Sydney Olympic in an exhibition match in front of over 4,000 spectators. Whilst the final result was disappointing, the more important aspect of the day was showcasing the new facilities and all aspects of the Club to supporters and the wider Victorian football community.
Coach Peter Tsolakis could not have wished for a better start when the home side went 1-0 up in the first 32 seconds of the game through a wonderfully taken shot by Jason Trifiro on his debut for the Club. Fellow debutant Trent Rixon almost put South 2-0 up after being sent through on goal but he put his shot narrowly wide of the target. Olympic equalised on 22 minutes following some good lead-up play on the left side which culminated in the ball being cut-back for a tap-in. Olympic then took the lead on 32 minutes with a header from a corner. In the second half, Rixon scored past Olympic goalkeeper Paul Henderson scoring his first goal for South before Olympic won the match on 78 minutes following a well-taken free kick from just outside the area.
The result was not ideal but it was highly ironic for two reasons. The first reason was that Sydney Olympic had failed to defeat South in many contests between the two sides over the years at Lakeside Stadium. The second reason was that in the first ever match played at Lakeside (on 26 November 1995) Frank Arok’s South Melbourne side also lost 3-2, on that occasion to West Adelaide Hellas. Coach Tsolakis would not have been worried about the result as the side performed well despite not having had many training sessions together as a squad prior to the game. In addition, senior players such as Fernando De Moraes, Rhodri Payne and Marinos Gasparis did not play, with many younger players including goalkeeper George Malliaras being given the opportunity to showcase their talent. The players will now rest over Christmas and the New Year and will begin pre-season training early in 2012.
South Melbourne FC is delighted to announce the signings of both Glen and Jason Trifiro for the 2012 Victorian Premier League season.
The Trifiro brothers arrive at Lakeside Stadium from Northcote City, where they both enjoyed a superb Victorian Premier League debut season after deciding to move from Sydney at the end of 2010. Both of the brothers played a big part in Northcote’s solid season that saw it win the inaugural Mirabella Cup (following a 2-0 win over the Melbourne Knights in the final) and only just miss the finals series by a solitary point. Jason was recognised for his outstanding year when he won the FFV Gold Medal for player of the season, whilst Glen was awarded the Billy Vojtek Medal as the best player afield in the Mirabella Cup final.
South Melbourne FC welcomes both Glen and Jason Trifiro to Lakeside Stadium and wishes every success for the season.
South Melbourne FC is delighted to announce that the Commonwealth Bank is the major sponsor of the Lakeside Stadium launch event on Sunday 11 December.
The Commonwealth Bank is an active supporter of community events, contributing and assisting a number of different community groups across Australia.
South Melbourne FC will host NSW Premier League Champions Sydney Olympic in an exhibition match as part of the festivities to launch the refurbished Lakeside Stadium. This will be the first football match played at Lakeside since the renovations commenced in 2010. Furthermore, fans will have the opportunity to purchase their 2012 SMFC membership from the membership tent located near the main grandstand. Memberships can also be purchased online as well (smfc.com.au/membership). As part of the occasion, South Melbourne FC will also be selling commemorative limited edition t shirts of the launch event. There are only 50 commemorative tshirts available, so get in quick to secure your tshirt, which can be picked up on the day as well (smfc.com.au/merchandise).
In addition, there will be a jumping castle and face painting activities for young children as well.
The itinerary for the day’s activities are as follows:
1.00pm – 1.50pm SMFC U12A vs. U12B
2.00pm – 2.50pm SMFC U13A vs. U13B
3.00pm – 3.50pm SMFC U14/15A vs. U15B
4.00pm – 4.50pm SMFC U14A vs. U14B
5.00pm – 5.20pm SMFC U11 vs. U10A SMFC U10B vs. U10C SMFC U9A vs. U9B
5.20pm Official launch by the Honourable Member for Albert Park, Mr. Martin Foley
5.30pm South Melbourne FC vs. Sydney Olympic FC (Half Time – SMFC Girls U10A vs. U10B)
7.30pm – 9.30pm SMFC U21 vs. U18
It promises to be an exciting day, as South returns to its football home.
