Author: SMFC Media

Wednesday, 7 December 2011 6:07 PM

 South Melbourne FC is delighted to announce the signing of Luke Byles from Heidelberg United for the 2012 Victorian Premier League season.

Byles arrives at Lakeside Stadium having spent a few seasons at Heidelberg United. Originally from the United Kingdom, Byles has played in midfield, in defence as a centre-half as well as left-back. Byles had played as high as Southampton’s reserve side at the beginning of the 2003/04 English Premier Reserve League season before being released. He came to Melbourne and spent a few seasons at the Bergers and has a reputation for being good in the air and strong in the tackle. His versatility in being able to play multiple defensive positions was no doubt a big factor in the coaching staff’s decision to sign him.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC President Leo Athanasakis said “we are excited to see Luke at the Club, and are confident he will be a great acquisition”.

South Melbourne FC welcomes Luke Byles to Lakeside Stadium and wishes him all the best for season 2012.

Check out Luke’s exclusive interview with smfcTV

Friday, 2 December 2011 12:05 PM

South Melbourne FC is pleased to announce the appointment of Irene Stamatopoulos as the Head of Women’s Football. An ex-footballer who represented South Melbourne from 1994 until 1997, Irene has been involved in coaching since 2003 at all levels – from junior through to senior.

Irene joins SMFC from Oakleigh Cannons Soccer Club. Her accreditation includes a Youth Licence with a completed advance pass and she has also completed Certificate 1 in her Senior Licence.

Irene was awarded the FFV Female Coach of the Year Award in 2009 for her outstanding work in developing not only her own team but for her efforts in advancing women’s football.

We’d like to welcome Irene to the South family, and we wish her all the best.

SMFC Women’s Football:

Skills to Play Soccer – Friendships For Life

SMFC needs you. We are looking for girls of all ages to come and join our club. From junior (age 5 and up) through to senior level, beginners to those with experience. Come and unite with us as we work towards becoming the number 1 women’s football club in Melbourne in a nurturing, team orientated environment.

Pre-season training commences February 2012. More information to come.

Contact Irene Stamatopoulos on 0403 857 090 or at womens@smfc.com.au to register your interest.

Thursday, 1 December 2011 12:21 AM

South Melbourne FC would like to advise that commemorative tshirts to mark the launch of Lakeside Stadium are available for sale.

These commemorative t shirts are available to be purchased online or on the launch event day.

December 11 marks the official return of South Melbourne FC back to its newly refurbished home. A number of activities are planned for the day, with the festivities culminating in the exhibition match between South Melbourne FC and Sydney Olympic. Please note that memberships will be available to be purchased on the day, as well online (smfc.com.au/membership).

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.

Monday, 28 November 2011 11:01 PM

South Melbourne FC would like to congratulate both the Brisbane Roar and SMFC Hall of Fame members, Ange Postecoglou and Paul Trimboli, in the team’s outstanding achievement.

The Roar’s 4-0 defeat over the Perth Glory saw it reach 36 matches without a loss, surpassing the 74-year record held by Eastern Suburbs of the New South Wales Rugby League.

Head Coach Ange Postecoglou played 10 seasons at South, and played in the first two of the Club’s NSL Championships. In a successful coaching stint at the Club, he lead South to back to back NSL Championships in 1998 and 1999, 1999 Oceania Confederation Club Championship, and coached South at the inaugural FIFA World Club Championship in 2000.

General Manager of Football, Paul Trimboli, lead a distinguished career at South, with many football pundits saying he was one of South’s best ever players. Paul played 17 seasons, with a career spanning 430 NSL matches and 115 NSL goals. He was a member of the 1991, 1998, 1999 NSL Championship sides, and captained the side in the 1999 Oceania Confederation Club Championship and FIFA World Club Championship in 2000.

See the Paul Trimboli tribute video produced by smfcTV

Friday, 25 November 2011 9:57 AM

South Melbourne FC is delighted to announce the signing of Bradley Norton for the 2012 Victorian Premier League season.

Bradley Norton arrives after being released from A-League franchise Adelaide United. The 20 year old has Victorian Premier League experience, having played for the Melbourne Knights in 2009 and Northcote City in 2010. South fans may remember him as the player who scored the winning goal with a beautiful left-footed shot from outside the box in Northcote’s 3-2 victory against South at John Cain Memorial Park on Sunday 6th June 2010.

South Melbourne FC welcomes Bradley Norton to Lakeside Stadium, and wishes him all the best this season.

Check out Brad’s smfcTV interview

Monday, 21 November 2011 1:31 AM

South Melbourne FC is delighted to launch its membership package for the 2012 Victorian Premier League season.

The new season marks the start of a historic new era for our great club.

After an absence of 18 months, we are returning home to the newly refurbished Lakeside Stadium. The State Government has committed over $60 million in providing new and improved facilities. The refurbishment works have resulted in improved spectator amenities, fully furnished corporate suites, improved lighting, an impressive large electronic scoreboard, and a second grandstand. There truly is no better way of catching all the action at Lakeside Stadium.

The club continues its focus on generating new members and providing added value to its current loyal membership base. This season, we have reintroduced a membership cap, key ring, and offered our members a FREE annual subscription to OPA Magazine, which is valued at over $60. Moreover, our South Gold members will have the opportunity to watch all the action from dedicated premium cushioned seating located in the main Grandstand. In order to provide further value, we have slashed the membership price in 2012.

Memberships can be purchased online, or simply returning the completed membership application form with your payment details.

The return to Lakeside Stadium will officially commence at the football launch on Sunday 11th December. A number of activities are planned for the launch day. The festivities will culminate with an exhibition match to celebrate the occasion involving the senior men’s side competing against 2011 NSW Premier League Champion Sydney Olympic FC. Don’t miss out on this much anticipated launch event, with the South faithful to be out in numbers in welcoming the Club back to its home..

Click here to view the 2012 membership options

Friday, 18 November 2011 2:00 AM

South Melbourne FC wishes to announce that it will host NSW Premier League Champions Sydney Olympic in an exhibition match on Sunday 11th December 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.

South Melbourne FC and Sydney Olympic have shared a long history of derby matches in the old National Soccer League, and have also enjoyed many great matches at Lakeside Stadium. They first met at Lakeside on 4th February 1996 in a game that South triumphed 2-1 (with goals from Vaughan Coveny and Paul Trimboli) in front of a crowd of 10,127. Another memorable game was on Australia Day in 2000 when South defeated Olympic 2-0 with only nine men, thanks to a penalty from Steve Panopoulos and a goal from Andy Vlahos, as well as the heroics of goalkeeper Chris Jones. The last time Olympic played at Lakeside was in the final NSL season on the 10th December 2003, when they came from 3-0 down to trail 3-2 before Con Boutsianis hit a trademark free kick late in the match to give South a 4-2 victory.

Since the end of the National Soccer League, Sydney Olympic has been playing in the NSW Premier League. It endured many difficult seasons in the NSW Premier League – even risking relegation – but finally broke out in 2011, securing the Minor Premiership before defeating rivals Sydney United 2-0 in the Grand Final at Belmore Sports Ground earlier this month.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early on the 11th December to watch all junior levels of the Club playing in mini-matches across the Lakeside Stadium pitch and to take the opportunity to stroll around the stadium and observe the new facilities. The Senior Mens match between South Melbourne FC and Sydney Olympic will kick-off at 5.30pm. 

Please note that entry on the day is free.

South Melbourne FC President Leo Athanasakis was delighted to officially announce the match, adding that “we are quite excited to host the NSW Premier League champions in what promises to be a great celebration. It will provide the opportunity for our fans to inspect the new facilities at Lakeside Stadium, and see the Club return back to its home. I encourage everyone to get to Lakeside Stadium early and enjoy the festivities”.

South Melbourne FC welcomes NSW Premier League Champions Sydney Olympic and invites all football supporters to come down to Lakeside Stadium on Sunday 11th December to be part of a new chapter in South’s history as the Club begins life at the refurbished facility.

Wednesday, 16 November 2011 8:37 AM

South Melbourne FC is delighted to announce the signing of Trent Rixon from Northcote City FC. The big striker has decided to link up with former coach Peter Tsolakis at Lakeside Stadium for the 2012 Victorian Premier League season.

Rixon arrives at South with big expectations on him following an excellent career at Northcote City. His many goals helped Northcote win double-promotion in consecutive seasons, progressing from State League Division 2 in 2008 to the Victorian Premier League in 2010. In Northcote’s first season back in the VPL, Rixon further enhanced his own reputation and that of Northcote’s by scoring 19 goals in the VPL to win the Golden Boot award, as well as helping Northcote reach the finals series in what was an incredible achievement for Iraklis in their 50th year. Although Northcote just missed the finals by a solitary point in 2011, they compensated by winning the Mirabella Cup and it was Rixon as captain that held aloft the Cup at AAMI Park on Saturday 10 September.

With the departure of Jesse Krncevic, coach Tsolakis was seeking to sign a big forward capable of scoring many goals and will no doubt be delighted with the addition of one of his former players to his new South squad. Rixon himself was saddened to leave Northcote City after many seasons at the Club but was looking forward to starting a new chapter of his footballing career at Lakeside Stadium.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC President Leo Athanasakis said “we are excited to land a marquee signing such as Trent Rixon. We hope that he will link up well with his new team mates and continue his terrific goal scoring form”.

South Melbourne FC is delighted to welcome Trent Rixon to Lakeside Stadium and wishes him all the best in season 2012 and beyond.

Check out the smfcTV interview with Trent Rixon

Monday, 14 November 2011 8:11 PM

South Melbourne Football Club would like to invite players of the following age groups for trialling in November-December 2011

MANCHESTER UNITED CUP TRIALS (players born 1997)

Date:Saturday 26th November & 3rd December
Venue: To be advised after players have submitted an expression of interest email which also lists their details & experience to hgatsoulis@bigpond.com
Deadline: Please have your expression of interest emails in by 9pm 23th November. Invitations will then be sent advising venue.
Selecting Coach: Joe Montemurro

Player trials Saturday 3rd December

Vacancies exist for talented players in these age groups:

NEW TEAM U12 Wallabies
5 players needed only (born 2000) email Tom on tkalas@au1.ibm.com

NEW TEAM U13B
4 players needed only (born 1999) email Louis on louisnasopoulos@optusnet.com

Goalkeepers Vacancies exist for U12, U13B, U14A…..SMFC offers goal keeper training as part of club fees
Please email hgatsoulis@bigpond.com if you have an interest in trialing.

Trials Saturday 19th November

Thursday, 13 October 2011 3:54 PM

South Melbourne FC has appointed Peter Tsolakis as its new Head Coach for the 2012 Victorian Premier League season.

Affectionately known as ‘Gus’, Tsolakis represented South Melbourne FC as a player between 1988 and 1994. He played 160 National Soccer League matches and scored 30 NSL goals over his seven seasons at Middle Park. He was well known for his powerful strikes at goal and delighted South fans with many memorable and timely goals. He was a member of the 1990/91 NSL Championship team (scoring a penalty in the dramatic shoot-out) and also played and scored in the 4-1 rout of Sydney Olympic in the 1989/90 National League Cup Final. Gus was assistant to Danny Wright for the 2002/03 NSL season and actually oversaw the final two NSL matches that season as Senior Coach following Wright’s dismissal.

Gus proved what an amazing athlete he was by playing State League football into his 40s, notably with Northcote City. After eventually hanging up his boots, he coached Northcote City and oversaw the incredible transformation of a side playing State League Two football in 2008 to being crowned the inaugural Mirabella Cup champions in 2011. As coach, he won double-promotions as Champions of State League Two in 2008 and State League One in 2009 before Northcote finished as finalists in the Victorian Premier League in 2010. Northcote City fell just one point short of successive finals appearances in 2011 after failing to win in the final round, ironically against South in one of the games of the season that ended in a highly entertaining 3-3 draw.

SMFC President Leo Athanasakis is delighted to welcome Peter back to the Club, adding that “the Club is excited to welcome back one of its favourite sons. Both Peter and his father won Championships with the Club, and we have been very impressed with Peter’s coaching achievements at Northcote City. We welcome Gus back to South Melbourne FC and are confident he will bring the Club much success.”

South Melbourne FC wishes Peter Tsolakis the best for season 2012 and is excited at the prospect of him leading the Club in a new chapter of its history.