South Melbourne FC would like to confirm the signing of forward Max Mikkola for the 2022 NPL Victorian season.
Mikkola joins us following a sensational season in Queensland with Lions FC, scoring 23 times in 31 appearances and forming a key component in his side winning the championship.
His excellent season saw him also rewarded with a place in the NPL Queensland Team of the Year having been recognised as one of the most dangerous attacking players throughout the state.
The left footer is regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in the NPL, with his silky skills and ability to change a game something that South fans can look forward to in 2022.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Football Director Andrew Mesourouni was pleased with our latest acquisition. “Max is an explosive forward that scores exciting goals. He is a massive addition to our 2022 playing group and someone we are excited to have in blue and white Max also is a confident and humble person that is equally excited to join South. We see him as a big player that can make a difference in a big club.”
South Melbourne FC would like to announce the signing of Spanish Goalkeeper Javier Díaz López for the 2022 NPL Victoria season.
He joins us from Bentleigh Greens and will be added to the squad for selection in the upcoming game on the 12th of November against A League Champions, Melbourne City.
A fantastic shot stopper and a composed player while on the ball, López adds experience to our squad as well as linking back up with former teammates Marco Jankovic and Joshua Wallen. South fans would remember López as man-of-the-match performance between the sticks in our encounter this season.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, Football Director Andrew Mesourouni welcomed López to the club. “We are excited to bring a player of Javier’s quality into our squad and look forward for him to link up with the team immediately. He is an experienced player having played a large part of his career in Europe and quality individual.”
We welcome Javier to SMFC and look forward to seeing him immediately at training
South Melbourne FC can confirm that General Tickets will go on sale online this Monday 1st November for our highly anticipated FFA Cup match against Melbourne City to be held on Friday November 12th. Sales will commence online on Monday afternoon.
As previously disclosed, the match will also be limited to those who have received a double vaccination, or to those who hold a medical exemption. Each patron will need to check in to the game using the Services Victoria app, with vaccination to be verified prior to any entry. For supporters aged below 16, vaccination status is discretionary, while those who are unable to use a smartphone to check in, we suggest you bring your vaccination certificate and photo id to the match.
As part of the ticketing arrangements, the following complimentary tickets will be made available for the SMFC family without needing to book online, as a thank you for your unwavering support during these tough times.:
All 2021 SMFC Financial Members: Categories included: 2021 SMFC Voting Rights (Adult and Concession), 2021 SMFC Season Pass (Adult and Concession), 2021 Covid Renewal
All Financial Life Members (Only those renewed in 2021).
One ticket per registered SMFC Junior Player
Members and Players will be allocated times during the next week where they can collect their pass from the club offices. We will have further details of this in the coming days.
There will be no ticket sales in person, with the entire event being sold online.
For those who cannot purchased tickets online, we suggest you should engage the services of family or friends to secure online tickets.
We look forward to seeing a big crowd at Lakeside as football returns following our lengthy lockdown over the past few months.
Western United proposed .\ League Mens matches moved away from Lakeside
South Melbourne FC can confirm that the proposed Western United FC home matches at Lakeside Stadium for the A-League Mens 2021/22 season have been moved to AAMI Park.
SMFC President Nicholas Maikousis – “We welcome the outcome in this matter and acknowledge the consultative approach to bring this issue to a suitable conclusion”.
The club thanks all parties for a swift resolution and wishes Western United all the best moving forward.
South Melbourne FC rejects the plans of Western United FC to use Lakeside Stadium
South Melbourne FC notes the announcement by Western United FC of its intention to use Lakeside Stadium for a select number of games in the 2021/22 A-League Season.
Lakeside Stadium and Albert Park is the home of South Melbourne FC and has been for over sixty years. Our licencing arrangements with Lakeside Stadium and the State Government ensures it will remain this way for decades to come.
South Melbourne FC has a stadium, we have a home and we are proud to call it our own.
Executives at Lakeside Stadium and Melbourne Sports Centres have advised South Melbourne FC that contrary to the announcement made by Western United FC, there is no written or signed agreement in place with Western United FC or the Australian Professional Leagues to allow Western United FC access to Lakeside Stadium for the 2021/22 A-League Season.
South Melbourne considers Western United to be a direct competitor in the Melbourne, Victorian and Australian football market. Their acceptance to the A-League was based largely on the commitment to having a purpose-built football stadium constructed in Melbourne’s west. It is approaching three years since the A-League expansion clubs were announced and construction works have still not commenced. Western United’s use of Lakeside Stadium is not acceptable and South Melbourne FC will vigorously oppose any such plans.
South Melbourne can confirm that it will be exercising all rights to prevent Western United FC from playing A-League matches at Lakeside Stadium.
The club will provide its members, players, parents and supporters with further updates as information is available .
South Melbourne FC would like to welcome Ausbil as a Principal Partner for the 2021 NPL Victoria season.
Ausbil Investment Management Limited is a leading Australian investment manager. Established in April 1997, Ausbil’s core business is the management of Australian and global equities for major superannuation funds, institutional investors, master trust and retail clients.
South fans will be able to see the Ausbil branding on signage and on the scoreboard at Lakeside Stadium during our home matches throughout the season.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Director Denis Durand, along with President Nicholas Maikousis welcomed Ausbil to the South family. “We are thrilled to welcome the Ausbil team to the club for the 2021 season. We look forward to working with them throughout the 2021 season and thank them for their support of our club”
SMFC welcome Freehill Mining as 2021 Principal Partner
South Melbourne FC is pleased to announce that Freehill Mining has renewed & extended its relationship with the Club as a Principal Partner for the 2021 National Premier League Victoria season. The Freehill Mining logo will also appear on the back of the South Melbourne FC shirt.
Freehill is an Australian mining and exploration company that is headquartered here in Melbourne. The company has an overall focus on iron ore, copper and gold resources in Chile.
Freehill has had a long involvement with the club, having attended numerous corporate events including our annual Jersey Presentation Night.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, Club President Nicholas Maikousis thanked Freehill to the SMFC family for 2021. “We’re thrilled to welcome the Freehill Mining Team back to the South family in 2021 and we are looking forward to continuing the longstanding partnership as Principal Partners.”
SMFC welcome Bank of Sydney as 2021 Principal Partner
South Melbourne FC is pleased to announce that Bank of Sydney has joined the Club as a Principal Partner and as the Club’s official Bank Partner for the 2021 National Premier League Victoria season.
Bank of Sydney has local branches in Melbourne CBD, Oakleigh and Northcote and offers its customers true and personal relationship banking as well as competitive products and services to help them reach their financial goals.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Club President Nicholas Maikousis welcomed Bank of Sydney back to the SMFC family for the upcoming season. “Bank of Sydney have been tremendous partners of our club throughout the past decade and we are thrilled to have them back on board for this season. We thank Miltos Michaelas (CEO), Theo Kelidis (State Manager – Vic) and their team for their continued support.”
We are very proud to renew our support and partnership with SMFC for another year. We cherish the Club’s history that brought the community together for over 50 years and we are pleased to support them as they continue to grow. We wish them best of luck for this year’s National Premier League Victoria,’ said Miltos Michaelas, CEO of Bank of Sydney.
South Melbourne leading the way developing blind footballers
Representatives of South Melbourne FC at he launch of the National Para Fives Series
The journey to the Paris 2024 Paralympics kicked off last weekend for blind footballers in Australia with the launch of the National Para 5s Series.
The partnership between Australian Blind Football and Paralympics Australia will bring together the best blind footballers from around the country four times a year for national training camps. The camps, based in Melbourne, will feature players from five clubs, the largest of which is locals South Melbourne FC.
The South Melbourne FC all abilities football program commenced at the Albert Park based club in 2018 when Chairman Bill Papastergiadis signed off on the formation of a powerchair football team. Fast forward three years and the program has been expanded to embrace blind and vision impaired footballers.
“Our aim is to offer the most diverse and inclusive All Abilities Football program in Australia. Our program embraces footballers of any age, any gender, any culture and any ability. The announcement of the National Para 5s Series will enable our blind footballers to play for and represent South Melbourne on the national stage” Papastergiadis said.
South Melbourne Chairman Bill Papstergiadis and President Nicholas Maikousis at the launch of the National Para Fives Services for Australian Blind Football
The squad trains regularly in Albert Park under the guidance of coach Ankit Singh with the support of Australian Blind Football. The link between blind football and South Melbourne extends further with former club NSL footballer Sebastian Petrovic serving as the only internationally qualified blind football referee in Australia and regularly helping mentor the clubs’ blind footballers.
“We are able to utilise the club facilities and the experience of our coaching team to provide our blind footballers with a fantastic development opportunity. They train side-by-side with vision imapaired players on Sunday mornings preparing for the national training camps. Our program is designed for everyone however and we welcome those who are looking for some exercise or something new to try. Together with Football Victoria and Blind Sports Victoria we offer free introductory sessions bringing new participants to the game” said Skip Fulton, Football Coordinator of the All Abilities Program.
All Abilitiers Coordinator Skip Fulton with President Nicholas Maikous and blind footballer Amir Abdi
Featuring three members of the Australian national team, the South Melbourne squad played an exhibition match against Olympic FC from Brisbane as part of the announcement in front of the media on Sunday. The National Para 5s Series will provide the first opportunity for competitive blind football in Australia bringing together South Melbourne, Olympic FC, Adelaide Comets and Perth SC.
“I am incredibly proud of the program we have put together and the opportunities it provides to so many members of our footballing community. We are building on sixty years of football heritage and it is exciting to see South Melbourne competing on the national stage in this form of the world game.” said club President Nicholas Maikousis.
The National Para 5s Series will commence in June with South Melbourne FC taking on Olympic FC in the first fixture.
Blind football players of South Melbourne FC and Brisbane Olympic FC
South Melbourne FC rejects the plans of Western United FC to use Lakeside Stadium
