Monday, 18 February 2013 9:00 AM
South Melbourne FC would like to announce the departures of Steve Burton, Glen Trifiro and Jason Saldaris for the 2013 Victorian Premier League season.
Both Burton and Saldaris return to Perth. whilst Trifiro has returned back to his native New South Wales, where he will be playing for Sydney United 58 in the 2013 New South Wales Premier League.
The club would like to thank the trio for their efforts throughout 2012 and wish them all the best for the year ahead.
Thursday, 14 February 2013 10:24 AM
By John Kyrou
South Melbourne FC regrets to confirm that 2012 captain Steven O’Dor has retired effective immediately due to increasing professional work commitments.
Steve played for South in the old National Youth League prior to 2004. The young centre-back was signed by John Anastasiadis as part of South’s first squad in the Victorian Premier League when the Club returned to state football in 2005. His debut match was in the opening round against Heidelberg United on Sunday 30 January 2005 in front of a crowd of nearly 12,000 at Lakeside Stadium. Along with goalkeeper Dean Anastasiadis and fellow centre-back Arthur Tsonis, O’Dor was a key reason why South only conceded 17 goals during the home and away season, the lowest in the Premier League that year.
Steve only featured in 17 matches during 2006 and 2007 after going not only to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, but also to the A-League for a short stint. Ironically, Steve only featured in three games in 2006 and subsequently did not play in the victorious Grand Final side that defeated Altona Magic 1-0 on Sunday 24 September that year. After juggling playing for South and also being in Canberra with the AIS in 2007, Steve returned permanently to South in 2008 whilst also concentrating on finishing his Law studies. He was rewarded when he received the Theo Marmaras Medal for SMFC Player of the Year in 2008.
Steve made 23 appearances for South in both 2008 and 2009. He was recognised for his leadership capabilities when Michael Michalakopoulos appointed him vice-captain in the Club’s 50th year in 2009 and new coach Vaughan Coveny kept that status in 2010. Steve travelled to Singapore with the Club in 2010 for the Singapore Cup and featured in all three matches as South overcame Gombak United in the First Round before succumbing to Bangkok Glass FC over two legs in the Quarter Finals. In the Premier League that season, he chipped in with four goals including a brace against Altona Magic on Sunday 4 July at John Cain Reserve (a 3-1 win).
Eddie Krncevic appointed Steve as Captain of the Club in 2011, a position he has held until now. He scored three goals in his 19 appearances in 2011 including a well-placed header for the winning goal against the Oakleigh Cannons at Jack Edwards Reserve on Friday 18 March (a 2-1 win). Unfortunately, increasing work commitments and injury restricted Steve to only 14 appearances in 2012. However he was still able to make an impact and will be remembered for his winning goal late in the game against Hume City at Epping Stadium on Friday 11 May (1-0 win). A heart-to-heart with coach Peter Tsolakis over the summer has resulted in Steve making a very mature decision to completely step aside as not only a player but as a captain. As a result, this will allow a younger player not burdened with as many work commitments to replace him in the squad.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC President Leo Athanasakis said “its a sad day for the club to hear of the early retirement of Steve but we all admire his courage and professionalism in relinquishing not only the captaincy but his spot in the team due to increasing professional commitments. This underlines the strength of character and the measure of the individual who did not want to impact the club because he could not fully commit to this season. On behalf of everyone at South, I wish Steve all the very best for the future and have no doubt he’ll be supporting his team mates from the terraces”.
South Melbourne FC is saddened to hear of Steven O’Dor’s retirement from the game but is absolutely delighted in the professionalism that he has shown not only regarding this decision but also throughout his entire career at the Club. He joins a list of greats to have captained South throughout the Club’s 54 year history and will always be remembered as a key player in the most recent chapter of South’s history.
2005: 17 appearances (15 starts, 02 subs), 0 goals
2006: 03 appearances (03 starts, 00 subs), 0 goals
2007: 14 appearances (14 starts, 00 subs), 1 goal
2008: 23 appearances (23 starts, 00 subs), 0 goals
2009: 23 appearances (23 starts, 00 subs), 1 goal
2010: 22 appearances (22 starts, 00 subs), 4 goals
2011: 19 appearances (19 starts, 00 subs), 3 goals
2012: 14 appearances (13 starts, 01 subs), 2 goals
Total: 135 appearances (132 starts, 03 subs), 11 goals
Victorian Premier League
135 appearances (132 starts, 03 subs), 11 goals
Singapore Cup
3 appearances (03 starts, 00 subs), 0 goals
State Knockout Cup
1 appearance (01 start, 00 subs), 0 goals
Overall
139 appearances (136 starts, 03 subs), 11 goals
South Melbourne FC Hall of Fame Member
Squad member in SMFC’s 2006 Premier League Championship side
Member of SMFC’s 2007 & 2009 Hellenic Cup Championship sides
Captain of SMFC’s 2011 Hellenic Cup Championship side
Theo Marmaras Medalist (SMFC Player of the Year) 2008
Vice Captain 2009 & 2010
Captain 2011 & 2012
Tuesday, 5 February 2013 7:58 AM
South Melbourne FC was delighted to once again host the soccer clinics of the Challenge Soccer Cup in Albert Park over the weekend.
The camp is designed to give kids with cancer and their brothers and sisters an opportunity to have some time-out from cancer treatment and the rigours of hospital visits through participation in a range of sports activities and workshops.
South Melbourne FC was more than happy to support this charitable cause and play a major role in trying to put a smile on the faces of these brave children.
Players that represented South on the day included Fernando De Moraes, Luke Byles, and Alan Kearney, and Joe Keenan, along with a number of the club’s Youth Development Program coaches as well. Throughout the day, South’s players and coaches conducted multiple clinics, teaching the kids a number of training and warm up drills, ball skills training, as well as playing a series of mini games, which lifted the spirits of the kids and players alike.
SMFC President Leo Athanasakis spoke with smfc.com.au and commented on the event “congratulations to all involved at the club for volunteering their time to help out for such a worthy cause. We at South Melbourne are extremely proud to be associated with Challenge, and this kind of charity work highlights how football can make a difference and bring joy to so many people. The kids had a fantastic time on the pitch despite the difficulties and hurdles they face in dealing with cancer.”
South Melbourne FC is proud to support this wonderful cause and urges all fans to check out the Challenge website (www.challenge.org.au) to learn more about what can be done to support these inspirational kids.
Wednesday, 16 January 2013 4:25 PM
Whilst it is almost four months since our final match of 2012, the South Melbourne senior squad commenced pre-season training in preparation for the 2013 Victorian Premier League season.
Under the watchful guidance of Head Coach Peter Tsolakis, the boys were put through a gruelling 90 minute session, which consisted of a great deal of running around the Lakeside Stadium Athletics track.
Impressing in the opening session were new recruits Tyson Holmes and Alan Kearney, with Kearney quickest around the track.
Others to impress were the reigning Theo Marmaras Medalists, with both Luke Byles and Dimitri Tsiaras leading the way throughout the tough session.
The senior squad will now continue to train over the course of the next 10 weeks in preparation for the Round 1 clash away to Green Gully.
Also part of this preparation will be a series of friendly matches to be organised later in the pre-season. Please stay tuned to smfc.com.au, our social media channels and our App for the latest game times as they are scheduled.
Click here to see the exclusive photos from the opening training session.
Tuesday, 15 January 2013 10:48 PM
South Melbourne FC is delighted to announce the signing of 24 year old striker Rhys Meredith for the 2013 Victorian Premier League season.
Meredith joins the club from Brisbane Premier League club Redlands United, where he was regarded as one of the most dangerous and exciting attacking players in the league.
The speedy attacker’s 19 goal 2012 season caught the eye of A-League outfit Western Sydney Wanderers, with Tony Popovic asking Meredith to trial with the club along side former South player Jason Trifiro. Unfortunately despite some outstanding performances, Meredith was overlooked and returned home to Queensland.
It was during this period however where he was able to tear apart reigning A-League Premiers Brisbane Roar for Redlands in a friendly game. In what was a man of the match performance, Meredith scored a hat trick in a narrow loss for Redlands.
It is with the ability to score and lightning pace that Meredith was seen as an ideal fit for the South squad.
We wish him well for the 2013 season and beyond.
Thursday, 10 January 2013 8:41 PM
South Melbourne FC is delighted to announce another key signing in its preparation for the 2013 Victorian Premier League season, with former Everton midfielder Alan Kearney signing with the club.
The 25 year old Irishman comes to the club following an outstanding year with Southern Stars where he played a leading and dominant role in the middle of the park.
Previous to this, Kearney spent four seasons with Everton, earning a call up to the senior training squad along side Socceroo Tim Cahill. During his time with the Toffees he managed to play in Everton’s reserve side, where his outstanding performances ensured that he was a regular throughout his time spent there.
A hard working and uncompromising midfielder, Kearney will bring to the side a very tough element to the midfield as well as also having the ability to play on either flank should he be required.
South is very excited to have Alan join the club and cannot wait to see him in our colours in 2013. We wish him all the best for the season ahead and beyond.
Friday, 4 January 2013 11:15 AM
Over the past few years South Melbourne FC has been at the forefront of the digital space, providing easy access for our fans around the globe to keep in touch with the club via its numerous different mediums.
In 2013 we will be looking at taking this to another level and subsequently the club is excited to be launching its very own official smartphone app.
The Official South Melbourne FC App ,which has been a while in the making, will provide all fans with the latest news directly from the club and an easy connection to our existing services. This includes SMFC TV, southRadio, social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), Online Merchandise Store, Online Membership Portal, as well as the latest fixtures, results and ladders for all Junior and Senior Teams.
So no matter where you are, you will always be able to keep in touch with all the latest news from South Melbourne on your smart phone or tablet.
The app can be downloaded immediately for FREE via Apple’s App Store and Google Play and is compatible with all iPhone & iPad versions, as well as all Android Devices. Windows mobile users should see the app appear within the next few weeks.
Thursday, 3 January 2013 10:49 PM
South Melbourne FC is pleased to announce the return of former player and fan favourite Carl Recchia to Lakeside Stadium for the 2013 Victorian Premier League season.
Recchia joins the Club from the relegated Moreland Zebras, where in 2012 he secured the Mirabella Medal and Golden Boot award for being their best and fairest player as well as the leading goal scorer with eight goals.
South fans will no doubt be familiar with Recchia, with the hard-working and versatile midfielder having already had two previous spells at the Club. His first stint was in the former National Soccer League in the 2003/04 season before he returned to play for South in the 2010 and 2011 VPL seasons respectively. He has played a total of 47 League matches for the Club and scored six goals in the process. In addition he has represented South four times in the RHB Singapore Cup and once in the FFV State Knockout Cup, bringing his career total to 52 matches and six goals in all competitions representing South Melbourne FC.
Carl is one of the most accomplished midfielders in the VPL and is also capable of going forward and scoring goals as well as being able to play in defence if required. He is also a natural leader, which is another reason why the Club is delighted with his return.
South Melbourne FC welcomes Carl Recchia back to Lakeside Stadium and wishes him the very best for season 2013 and beyond.
Monday, 24 December 2012 11:09 AM
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 2013 as we open our refurbished social club, office space, and new futsal court operation.
