Category: News

Thursday, 14 March 2013 10:04 AM

By Paul Mavroudis (Photo by Cindy NItsos)

After routing Malvern City 7-0 last Wednesday, South Melbourne FC has continued its pre-season preparations with two matches against Premier League opposition.

Last Saturday, in very hot and difficult conditions at Paisley Park, South lost 3-0 to VPL newcomer Pascoe Vale. After holding sway in the opening 20 minutes, South was eventually overrun by a determined and well organised opposition.

Last night at SS Anderson Reserve, in weather conditions better suited to football, South defeated 2012 State League One champion and Dockerty Cup finalist Port Melbourne 2-1. Both sides fielded relatively strong line-ups, though giving several players a go as the match wore on.

In the first half, a cross by new recruit Alan Kearney into a crowded goalmouth saw a Port player open the scoring with an own goal. Early in the second half, some showboating by Port Melbourne’s substitute goalkeeper allowed Dimi Hatzimouratis to dispossess him and score an easy goal. A late penalty saw a goal pulled back for the home side.

Our next pre-season match is against Heidelberg United at Lakeside Stadium, on Wednesday 20th March, kickoff at 7:30PM.

Tuesday, 12 March 2013 4:11 PM

South Melbourne FC is delighted to announce the addition of Office Fix as its new Principal Partner for the 2013 Victorian Premier League season.

Office Fix is a Melbourne based company which services over 1,000 business clients including schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and general businesses. It offers a wide range of services which includes:

• Printer toners
• Stationery and printing
• Office furniture
• Printers and copiers 

Office Fix will be the Club’s official office services and products supplier for the new season.

National Key Account Manager Ross Zontanos told smfc.com.au ‘Office Fix is looking forward to working with South Melbourne FC for the season ahead. We have been looking at expanding our marketing footprint and unlock new corporate networks within the sporting field, and believe the fit with South Melbourne is a very good one. We wish South Melbourne the very best for the new Victorian Premier League season and hope its the year we add some silverware to the new South Melbourne museum.”

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC General Manager Peter Kokotis said ‘we are quite excited to welcome Office Fix as the Club’s new Principal Partner. They are a large organisation that offers quite a broad suite of products and services to meet all requirements. We would like to thank long-term Club member and supporter Ross Zontanos for his assistance in securing this arrangement. I ask that you please liaise with Office Fix for all your office services and products as their pricing is extremely competitive and service is their hallmark. Support the corporate partners that support our great club”.

Beachcomber yehhh

South Melbourne FC is delighted to announce the launch of the first School Holiday Clinic for 2013.

These clinics will provide young players invaluable training to improve their skill set and further improve their technique. As part of the holiday football clinics, kids will receive specialist coaching by South Melbourne FC coaches from its elite Youth Development Programme and Socceroo legend Mehmet Durakovic. The clinics are to be held in conjunction with Alphington Grammar and the Golden Boot Football Academy. The kids will also receive lunch and a SMFC pack as part of their participation as well.

The cost of the SMFC clinic for all three days collectively is $220. Numbers are limited, so to reserve your place, please contact the Club on 9645 9797.

Dates
April 8th, 9th, 10th

Venue
Alphington Grammar – 18 Old Heidelberg Rd Alphington
Golden Boot Academy – Mount Waverley and Blackburn campuses

Cost 
$220 (inclusive of GST)

To Register 
Contact the club on (03) 9645 9797 or email the registration form to admin@smfc.com.au

Monday, 11 March 2013 10:40 AM

South Melbourne FC is delighted to announce the launch of the first School Holiday Clinic for 2013.

These clinics will provide young players invaluable training to improve their skill set and further improve their technique. As part of the holiday football clinics, kids will receive specialist coaching by South Melbourne FC coaches from its elite Youth Development Programme and Socceroo legend Mehmet Durakovic. The clinics are to be held in conjunction with Alphington Grammar and the Golden Boot Football Academy. The kids will also receive lunch and a SMFC pack as part of their participation as well.

The cost of the SMFC clinic for all three days collectively is $220. Numbers are limited, so to reserve your place, please contact the Club on 9645 9797.

Dates
April 8th, 9th, 10th

Venue
Alphington Grammar – 18 Old Heidelberg Rd Alphington
Golden Boot Academy – Mount Waverley and Blackburn campuses

Cost
$220 (inclusive of GST)

To Register
Contact the club on (03) 9645 9797 or email the registration form to admin@smfc.com.au

Thursday, 7 March 2013 8:50 AM

By George Kouroumalis

South Melbourne FC commenced it’s 2013 campaign on a warm Wednesday night at Lakeside Stadium with a very impressive 7-0 victory against State League opposition Malvern City.

The match was South’s first friendly game of the 2013 season, one month exactly before the Round 1 clash with Green Gully at Green Gully Reserve.

South dominated the game from the outset with Tyson Holmes scoring a hat trick within the opening 30 minutes in his first match for the club. Following on from this, another debutant Renco Van Eeken was on hand to score another double before the break to give South a commanding 5-0 lead.

In the second half South introduced some younger blood into the side, with many faces from last year’s Under 21 side over the past few seasons making their way onto the park. The dominance however continued and twolovely finishes by Hatzimouratis capped off a 7-0 win for the home side.

South’s next pre-season clash is against newly promoted Pascoe Vale this Satuday at Paisley Park in Altona. Kick off is at 3pm.

By Con Dimitrakakis

Ahead of the new Victorian Premier League season starting in April, Club stalwart Fernando De Moraes will be changing shirt number from 15 to 8, in honour of his father who used to wear the number during his playing career.

With the recent retirement of Captain Steve O’Dor, Fernando is the only player remaining from South’s first VPL squad from back in 2005. Fernando arrived from PSB Palestra São Bernado in Brazil to bolster our squad, having seen the Club play in his homeland at the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship.

Since then, Fernando has excelled in the blue shirt, having supplied the cross for Gianni De Nittis to nod in the goal that won the 2006 VPL Championship over Altona Magic, capturing the VPL Gold Medal for Player of the Year award in his stellar 2010 season (which included scoring a goal in the RHB Singapore Cup Quarter Final against eventual winners Bangkok Glass) and picking up a string of Club Golden Boot awards (2006, 2008, 2010) along the way. In all competitions, Fernando has pulled on the South jersey on 173 occasions and found the back of the net 59 times. In League competition only, he has played 168 games and scored 52 goals.

Dimi Hatzimouratis, who wore the number 8 shirt in nine matches last season before succumbing to a serious foot injury that ruled him out for the rest of the season, will complete the swap and wear Fernando’s old number 15 shirt in 2013.

As always, keep an eye on smfc.com.au for more squad announcements in the lead-up to the start of the new VPL season.

Thursday, 28 February 2013 3:38 PM

George Papadopoulos is on the far left of this photo

South Melbourne FC is in mourning following the passing of former midfielder and Hall of Fame member George Papadopoulos at the age of 76.

Born in 1936, Papadopoulos spent seven wonderful seasons at the Club from 1960 to 1966. He was a player in South Melbourne Hellas’ inaugural team in 1960 and played his part in the Club’s first ever Championship team that went undefeated in the Metropolitan League 1 North division (now known as State League 1) and easily won promotion into the Victorian State League that year.

The midfielder then went on to play a leading role throughout the 1960s and was a key member of the 1962, 1964, 1965 and 1966 Victorian State League Championships.

Mr Papadopoulos was also the first South player to score a goal in the old Australian Cup competition, a statistic that will always be credited to him in the Club’s history.

South Melbourne FC would like to extend its condolences to Mr Papadopoulos’ family and friends and thank him for the contribution that he made to South Melbourne FC.

His funeral will be held on Tuesday. 

Wednesday, 27 February 2013 3:51 PM

South Melbourne FC is delighted to announce the renewal of its partnership with Beachcomber Cafe for another season, with its logo proudly featuring on the back of the playing shirt for the 2013 Victorian Premier League season.

Located at the St Kilda Sea Baths, Beachcomber goes beyond expectations of a casual cafe experience. Spectacular beach side views, a sprawling outdoor dining area and a gourmet menu mean this restaurant showcases St Kilda’s food culture at its best. Delicious meals are served with a touch of the Mediterranean and set in the perfect location with its uninterrupted view of Port Phillip Bay. In addition, Beachcomber Cafe is open from morning until late in the evening, and is perfect for a morning pit stop, a lazy afternoon or to watch the sun set over the water.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC General Manager Peter Kokotis commented “we are excited to be announcing that Beachcomber Cafe has renewed its partnership with the club for the 2013 Victorian Premier League season. We hope the partnership becomes a long-standing relationship between both organisations. I ask all South fans and members to get behind our sponsors, and assist the organisations that are committing their support for this great club”.

The 2013 SMFC Jersey Presentation event will be held at Beachcomber Cafe. Details for the event will be released shortly.

Click here to visit the Beachcomber website

Tuesday, 26 February 2013 2:22 PM

South Melbourne FC is excited to announce its partnership with Alphington Grammar for the 2013 Victorian Premier League season.

Established by the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria in 1989, Alphington Grammar School has been designed from its inception to be academically strong, non-denominational and to embrace teaching excellence and cultural diversity. Situated only seven kilomentres from the CBD, Alphington Grammar is accessible by major commuter corridors and within easy reach of inner, eastern and northern suburbs. The school boasts modern classrooms designed for flexible Teaching and Learning programmes with iPad technology and expansive parkland grounds. Naplan and VCE results are impressive for all student cohorts.

Indoor and Outdoor Sports facilities are excellent at Alphington Grammar. The Andrianakos Centre boasts an indoor Multi Purpose Hall suitable for indoor Futsal, Basketball, Volleyball and Table Tennis. There are also 3 Multi Purpose Outdoor courts suitable for Tennis, T Ball and fitness training sessions and beautiful outdoor grounds suitable for all sports.

In what is an exciting move for both organisations, South Melbourne FC will avail Alphington Grammar of the expertise of its elite professional coaches to provide its students and their coaches with training and guidance to help improve their skill levels and competitiveness.

South Melbourne FC will run a focused Holiday clinic Alphington Grammar, with these clinics being available to all Alphington Grammar students in years 5 to 9 and those in surrounding areas in year 5 level and above who wish to participate. Details of the first clinics will be available shortly.

The club will also provide an active role in assisting Alphington Grammar with the promotion of all its events and related marketing material.

South Melbourne FC will also provide ALL Alphington Grammar students with a free junior membership for the 2013 Victorian Premier League season, enabling each student to watch the club participate in all of its home matches at Lakeside Stadium.

South Melbourne General Manager Peter Kokotis was delighted with the new partnership, telling smfc.com.au “we are quite excited to welcome Alphington Grammar to the South Melbourne family. It will be great for the students to have access to elite coaches who will be able to work with the school’s coaches and further develop the football skills of the students. The Club has actively worked with a number of community organisations and working with children to promote active lifestyles through football is fantastic”.

Mr Manuel Pappos, Business Manager at Alphington Grammar said, “ The bond between SMFC and AGS will be a huge benefit for our students as they strive to improve their football skills and develop their teamwork as a whole. The history of SMFC and AGS shares many cultural traditions and values which places this partnership in a very strong position to succeed into the future.”

We look forward to working with Alphington Grammar and hope to continue this partnership for many years to come.