Category: News

Decision on South Melbourne FC bid for A-League expansion

To all players, parents, members and supporters,

Today at 11:49am I was contacted via phone by FFA Board Chairman Chris Nikou and FFA CEO David Gallop. I was advised one Melbourne-based bid was selected for an expanded A-League licence and this was the Western Melbourne Group. The full details on the A-League expansion was announced at an FFA media conference at midday today.

We are naturally disappointed the decision made by the FFA Board did not include South Melbourne to receive an expansion licence at this time. We are however cognisant of the Board’s difficult position making a decision considering the strengths of the various bids.

We are confident South Melbourne FC is and will remain a viable option for an A-League licence in the future. The preference of the Western Melbourne Group means our main supporter base and catchment area in the south and south-east of Melbourne remains unaffected by the expansion announcement today. We feel South Melbourne FC will continue to be an option for further expansion in the future.

We look forward to engaging with FFA Board members and management in the coming weeks and months to better understand the opportunities available to the club to further strengthen our position for the next round of A-League expansion.

We are a club with a proud 60-year history and we plan to be around beyond another 60 years. We will always embrace an ethos which embraces multicultural diversity, equally embraces women’s, men’s and youth development and encourages an environment where any club in the country can aspire to and reach the highest level in Australian football.

Our efforts to this point have been building for fourteen years and more specifically over the last twelve months. Investment has been made in resources to present our bid and these will not have been wasted as the club is in a stronger position as a result. As the only bid with an operating club and football department, we are able to capitalise on these efforts effective immediately.

I would like to acknowledge the contribution on my fellow bid team members and the leadership they have shown in this journey. I would also like to thank the broader South Melbourne family and the ongoing commitment of our players, parents, members and supporters who have and will continue to serve the club for years to come.

We recognise the positive and engaging support the South Melbourne FC community has provided throughout this process. We look forward to their unified voice supporting the club and our teams throughout 2019 and beyond. We will now turn all our attention to the coming season and continuing our success both on and off the pitch.

Whilst today was not our day, our time will come. We are here. We are ready. We are South Melbourne.

Regards

Bill Papastergiadis
Chairman, South Melbourne FC

Striker Kelsey Minton aims to lift silverware and score goals at Lakeside Stadium as she joins our Premiership Senior Women’s team.

Kelsey has played senior football in Victoria since an early age. She started in the Women’s State League with Casey Comets before making the move to Berwick City where she played alongside recent signing, Goalkeeper Erin Hudson.

At Berwick City, Minton had a break out year in 2015 scoring 22 goals and securing the State League 2 South-East Golden Boot helping earn the team promotion to the top level of Victorian football. The following year Kelsey once again appeared at Medal Night when she shared the State League 1 Golden Boot having scored 17 goals.

Minton joined the NPLW from 2017 onwards starting with Alamein FC where she has spent two years.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, Women’s Football Director Gabrielle Giuliano said “Kelsey is a dynamic and aggressive forward and she will give coach Angelo Koutos many options in the attacking third. I am looking forward to watching her settle in and make the most of the fast quality surface we have at Lakeside Stadium.”

Kelsey joined the squad this week as a part of pre-season training at Albert Park under coach Angelo Koutos.

South Melbourne FC extends its condolences to the Papastergiadis family, following the recent passing of John Papastergiadis.

John is the father of South Melbourne FC and A-League Bid Team Chairman Bill Papastergiadis and an uncle of President-elect Nicholas Maikousis.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, Gabrielle Giuliano passed on her condolences to the Papastergiadis family. “We are extremely saddened to learn of the passing of John Papastergiadis. He was a loving man, who had a strong family focus. Our thoughts are with Bill and his family at this time.”

South Melbourne FC can announce that it has signed the dynamic and exciting attacker Nick Krousoratis for the next two NPL seasons.

Krousoratis makes the move to Lakeside Stadium following three seasons at Green Gully. He scored 30 goals in all competitions including both fixtures against South in 2018. He is recognised as one of the more dangerous attacking midfielders in the competition.

Known for his ability with the ball at his feet, combined with his elusive pace, Krousoratis will provide coach Con Tangalakis an experienced and dangerous option who can play in any position in our attacking third.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Men’s Senior Football Manager Peter Kokotis was pleased to have Nick join the club. “Nick is an exciting talent who can turn matches off his own boot. He has performed exceptionally well for Green Gully and Port Melbourne in the NPL and we hope to see him continue his growth as a footballer while at the club.”

We welcome Nick to the club and look forward to seeing him throughout the pre-season.

South Melbourne FC would like to announce the signing of Perry Lambropoulos ahead of the 2019 NPL Victoria season.

The 22-year-old arrives at Lakeside Stadium following a highly successful 18-month period at Port Melbourne, playing in 46 league matches and forming a part of a solid defensive unit that saw the Sharks qualify for the 2018 FFA Cup Round of 32 and NPL Victoria Finals.

In 2016 he played 23 matches for Oakleigh Cannons under under coach Con Tangalakis including starting in the NPL Grand Final against South Melbourne. He has also spent time at both Springvale Aris and Bentleigh Greens throughout his youth career.

As a composed and versatile defender, Lambropoulos has the capability of playing in any role across the back four.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Men’s Senior Football Manager Peter Kokotis welcomed Perry to the club. “We are excited to bring another quality player into our playing group. Perry is a hard working and extremely calm defender. While he is best known for his energy and ability up and down the line, Perry can also play in numerous different positions throughout the defensive half. We are looking forward to him playing for the club in 2019.”

South Melbourne FC welcomes Perry Lambropoulos to Lakeside Stadium and look forward to seeing his progress throughout the pre-season.

South Melbourne FC is excited to announce the signing of central midfielder Dean Bereveskos from Bonnyrigg White Eagles in New South Wales.

At only 23 years of age, Bereveskos joins the club having already built an impressive football resume.

As a junior, he spent time at the Bayer Leverkusen Academy in Germany and then represented the Wolverhampton Wanderers Youth Team in the United Kingdom.

Returning to Australia he has accumulated five years experience in the New South Wales NPL competition. His journey started there with Sydney University, Paramatta FC then progressing to Bankstown City and Sydney City. It was his time at Sydney City in 2017 that saw him play an integral role in the club’s FFA Cup qualification and Waratah Cup triumph. In 2018 he played at Bonnyrigg White Eagles.

Dean studied at the Australian College of Physical Education where he completed his Bachelor of Education and has experiencing coaching at a youth level.

He will provide the club with a hard working midfielder, who also has a knack of finding the net on his own.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Senior’s Football Manager Peter Kokotis was excited by the signing. “We see Dean as a traditional box to box and extremely hard working midfielder, so we’re naturally pleased to add someone of his quality to the centre of the park. With experience in the top flight of NSW football, we are hopeful that he can adjust to life in Melbourne and make an impact to our starting 11.”

We wish Dean all the best for his time at the club and look forward to seeing him in action throughout the pre-season.

South Melbourne FC is excited to announce that the club has signed 2018 NPL Victoria Rising Star Gerrie Sylaidos from Northcote City ahead of the upcoming season.

Sylaidos joins the club following a break out season with Northcote City, with the attacking midfielder scoring in eight occasions in his 26 league matches. He was also instrumental in the club reaching the FFA Cup Round of 32 for the very first time.

Prior to his time at Northcote, Gerrie also played at Melbourne City in both the National Youth League and NPL 2 competition.

With the ability to play on either wing or directly behind the attackers, Sylaidos will bring a versatile and dangerous attacking threat to the South Melbourne line-up.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Senior’s Football Manager Peter Kokotis was excited with the acquisition. “Gerrie had a very impressive 2018 season in the NPL and we are excited to see this young talent in our colours for the upcoming season. At only nineteen years of age he has room to continue his development as a footballer, so we look forward to seeing him throughout 2019.”

South Melbourne FC welcomes Gerrie to the club and wishes him all the best for his time at Lakeside Stadium.

WOW! What an incredible strike from Gerrie Sylaidos! ???

?: @NorthcoteCity #FFACup #MagicOfTheCup? pic.twitter.com/Odewqj0m3q

— FFA Cup (@FFACup) April 19, 2018

South Melbourne FC is delighted to advise that Peter Kokotis has been appointed to the position of Football Manager (Senior Mens).

Peter has previously served the club in a number of roles, through assisting the Football Department over many years with recruitment, as well as a highly successful stint as South Melbourne’s General Manager during the period 2012-15.

Peter has extensive experience in the football industry, having worked as a talent scout and a player agent. Furthermore, his diverse roles and positions within football has allowed Peter to develop a wide network of contacts within the industry, both locally and overseas. Apart from his General Manager duties, Peter played an integral role in the Club that heralded a highly successful era of titles and trophies.

Talking to smfc.com.au, Peter said “It’s great to be back home in a role that I believe I can contribute strongly. Its an exciting era of change as we move forward tackling the many challenges we are facing in the ever changing and competitive football market. My role I see is not only to manage and support the football coaching staff in particular my life long friend senior coach Con Tangalakis but also help create the South Melbourne football DNA and culture that I believe needs cultivating again since we have entered the State and NPL leagues. I feel privileged to be back home with an opportunity to make a difference & I particularly thank our President-elect Nicholas Maikousis and board Director Andrew Mesourouni for their support.”

SMFC President-elect Nicholas Maikousis shared his thoughts with smfc.com.au on the appointment, saying “we are excited to be formally welcoming Peter back to the Club. His understanding and experience of the game will provide the Club with certainty that the football operations will remain in safe hands. We look forward to Peter working closely with the Senior Head Coach, as they seek to forge a new era of success at South Melbourne.”