Category: News

South Melbourne will meet Alamein FC for the second time this season with the girls looking to continue on their winning ways after their impressive 3-0 win over Southern United while Alamein will also be looking for maximum points after their 1-0 win over Bayside United last weekend.

South Melbourne (DWWWW)

The girls are in good form with four wins in the past five matches. Coming off a 2-0 victory over Bayside United, the girls were dominate right from the outset against Southern United with three first half goals to Medwin, De Vanna and Ayres securing all three points for South. Now in second position after Calder United defeated the Bulleen Lions 4-2 on Monday night, the girls will be striving to retain top spot with maximum points when they kick off a historic double header at AAMI Park against Alamein on Sunday afternoon.

Alamein FC (LWDWW)

Coming off a 4-0 victory against Heidelberg United, Alamein were able to secure their eighth win for the season, with a narrow 1-0 win over Bayside United courtesy of a first half goal to Kelsey Minton in the 20th minute. Now in fourth position and six points behind ladder leaders Calder United, Alamein will be looking for nothing less than three points against an in-form South at AAMI Park on Sunday.

Head to Head

The last time these two teams met was in Round 6 this year where Alamein secured a narrow 2-1 win over South Melbourne at HA Smith Reserve courtesy of a second half goal to Marielle Pastor in the 85th minute
South urges their fans to come and support the girls in their Round 15 encounter with Alamein at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon.

Match Details

South Melbourne vs Alamein
Sunday 11 June @ AAMI Park
Kick off 4pm

South Melbourne FC is excited to announce the signing of Spanish Forward, David Barca Moreno.

Moreno will arrive in Australia following a successful stint playing with Getafe B in Spain, where he was able to play in many different roles in the front third, including both as a striker and as an attacking midfielder.

The 24-year-old Spaniard will provide another quick attacking option for Chris Taylor, providing the club with someone who can link up with Milos Lujic up front.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Senior Coach Chris Taylor was pleased with the signing. “We’re excited to add another attacking option to our roster and someone who we think can assist the club throughout a very tough second half of the season. With the club still involved in three competitions, its important we added depth to our front third and provide support to those currently in the squad”.

We’d like to welcome David to the club and look forward to seeing him in our colours shortly.

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South Melbourne FC, in conjunction with the Victorian Government, Football Federation Victoria and Alamein FC are pleased to launch a historic double header at AAMI Park this Sunday June 11th.

As part of the day, Alamein will host the SMFC Senior Women from 4pm, with South Melbourne to then host Heidelberg United in the men’s fixture from 6.30pm.

The women’s match will also create history, being the first WNPL Match to be played at AAMI Park, with South Melbourne’s Women’s Ambassador and current Matilda’s Captain Lisa De Vanna leading the team, along side Captain Alex Cheal.

Lisa De Vanna was excited of the prospect of playing at AAMI Park. “It’s been a long time coming, but it’s great to finally see aWNPL game get equal billing at Victoria’s premier football arena AAMI Park. South is a club with very strong ambitions moving forward and I am personally excited to see the Club continuing to provide such wonderful opportunities for its female footballers”

The South Melbourne Senior Men will then host current league leaders and arch rivals Heidelberg United in the second match commencing at 6.30pm. Both clubs share a rich history spanning over 55 years, with the traditional derby between both sides being one of the more iconic matches in Victorian football.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, Senior Vice Captain Michael Eagar echoed De Vanna’s thought’s. “It’s been an exciting few weeks for the club and to also have the opportunity, along with our girls, as one club to play at this wonderful stadium. We urge all of our fans to support us in a must win derby match.”

South Melbourne FC Director and A-League / W-League Bid Team Member Gabrielle Giuliano stressed the importance of these events. “South is a club moving forward as one and we are excited to see both our senior women and men playing on AAMI Park this weekend. It’s an exciting opportunity for our male and female players of all ages, members and football fans alike to attend both matches and to experience something quite new.”

The Match Day is also considered a SMFC Home Match, with the same privileges applying for all our 2017 SMFC Season Pass Holders and Financial Members to the matches at AAMI Park. To receive entry, members must show their membership to the SMFC Ticket booth to receive a special entry ticket for the day.

We urge all football fans and the SMFC Family to attend this historic double header, as we expect a large crowd in attendance in what promises to be an exciting day for Victorian Football.

South Melbourne FC would like to confirm the signing of Bardhi Hysolli from NPL Victoria club Bulleen Lions.

The dynamic and hard working youngster will add depth in the SMFC midfield, as well as another creative option through the attacking third. He joins the club following a 12 year spell at the Veneto Club, where he has been highly regarded as a standout performer throughout his junior career.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Football Director Nicholas Maikousis. “We’re excited to be adding another young talented footballer to our senior roster. Bardhi is an energetic and hard working individual, who we think will add some depth to our squad.

We look forward to having him in our colours for the remainder of the season.”

We wish Bardhi all the best for the rest of the season.

The Funeral Service for Mr Ernie Ackerley will be held at The Boyd Chapel, Springvale Botanical Cemetery, 600 Princes Hwy, Springvale on WEDNESDAY (June 7, 2017) commencing at 2.00 p. m. Private Cremation will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Kidney Foundation would be appreciated. Envelopes will be available at the Chapel.

South Melbourne will meet Southern United FC for the second time this season with the girls looking to continue on their winning ways after their 2-0 victory over Bayside United, while Southern United will be looking to bounce back from their narrow 1-0 defeat to Calder United last weekend.

South Melbourne (DDWWW)

South Melbourne have had an impressive five weeks with three wins in the past five matches including a 2-0 win over Bayside United last weekend courtesy of two second half goals to in-form striker Lisa De Vanna in the 53rd and 69th minute. Currently in third position, and only two points behind ladder leaders Geelong Galaxy United, the hosts’ will be striving for maximum points when they meet Southern United at the Knox Regional Football Centre on Sunday.

Southern United (WWLWL)

Coming from a 4-2 win against Box Hill United, Southern United were unable to continue on their winning ways last weekend against Calder United, with a narrow 1-0 defeat to the reigning champions courtesy of a Michelle Barbieri penalty kick in the 76th minute. With a narrow loss against the reigning champions, the visitors will be looking to bounce back with nothing less than three points when they meet an in-form South Melbourne outfit on Sunday.

Head to Head

The last time these two teams met was in Round 5 this year where South Melbourne secured an impressive 3-1 win over Southern United at Lawton Park Reserve.
South urges their fans to come and support the girls in their Round 14 encounter with Southern United at the Knox Regional Football Centre on Sunday.

Match Details

South Melbourne vs Southern United
Sunday 4 June @ Knox Regional Football Centre
Kick off 5:30pm ( U18’s kick off 3:30pm)

South Melbourne FC is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the club’s greats, Mr Ernie Ackerley (aged 73) on Thursday.

Mr Ackerley was born in Manchester, England and spent his youth career playing at Manchester United. He was also an England Under-21 international before arriving at Middle Park from Barrow in September 1964.

Mr Ackerley played for South Melbourne Hellas until 1971, scoring 58 league goals as a forward. He won the club’s top goal scorer award in 1965 and was twice runner-up, to Con Nestoridis (1966) and David Gorrie (1969). Mr Ackerley was the first player in SMFC history to score four goals in Victoria’s top division, with four goals in a 6-1 win against Melbourne Hungaria at Olympic Park in May 1966.

He achieved the following during his time at South Melbourne:
* Victorian State League Championships 1965, 1966;
* Club top goal scorer 1965 (16 league goals, 18 in all competitions);
* Ampol Cup wins 1969, 1970 (scored late in the 1970 final to force extra time);
* One of only nine players in SMFC history to score four goals in a league match;
* SMFC Hall of Fame member.

A few weeks prior to his passing, a small delegation from SMFC including current coach Chris Taylor and club greats Jim Armstrong, Michael Mandalis and Ulysses Kokkinos, visited Mr Ackerley in hospital to present him with a 2017 SMFC shirt. They spent the day chatting, reminiscing about their playing days and even phoned Greece for Ernie to briefly speak with the legendary Con Nestoridis, with the two players having played together up front for South in 1966 and 1967.

Mr Mandalis, a five-time championship winner with SMFC as a player, spoke to smfc.com.au about his great friend. “Ernie truly was one of the greatest players to wear our club’s shirt. For Con Nestoridis [who many supporters and former players consider the greatest South Melbourne player of all time] to still speak highly of Ernie shows how special he was. It really was brilliant seeing Ernie speaking with Nestoridis on the phone the other week.”

“We have lost a legend. I send my deepest condolences to Ernie’s wife Wendy and their children on this sad day.”

Vale Ernie Ackerley, 23 September 1943 to 1 June 2017.

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South Melbourne defeated local rival Port Melbourne 2-1 on Sunday at Lakeside Stadium, and in the process moved up to third on the ladder and just a game off top spot.

South was coming off a massive high from their midweek cup match against Dandenong City, which saw them come back from 4-1 down to win 5-4 and secure their spot In the 2017 FFA Cup round of 32.

Meanwhile Port Melbourne, who were looking to stay in touch with the top six, were coming off the back of a 1-0 loss at home to ladder leaders Heidelberg United.

Luke Adams was back in the south starting 11 after missing the Cup match, taking the place of Luke Pavlou. Jesse Daley also found himself starting after being used as a second half substitute in the midweek cup match.

Port started the match well, capitalising on some poor defending from South, with Andreas Govas beating Nikola Roganovic at his near post to give Port Melbourne a 1-0 lead after 10 minutes.

Having fallen behind, South began battling back, and a free kick in the 14^th minute whipped in by Jesse Daley saw vice-captain Michal Eagar head just wide.

Ten minutes later Govas found himself with a golden opportunity to double Port’s lead, but shot was aimed straight at Roganovic who stopped the shot with ease.

34 minutes in Matt Millar went on a run through the Port backline turning their defenders inside-out, but he was unable to put his shot on target. Four minutes later Marcus Schroen had a free kick on the edge of the area that was taken well, but the Port keeper did enough to turn the shot around the post for a corner.

Just before half time Millar hobbled off injured and was replaced by Pavlou. With the half drawing to a close South had one final chance to score, with Daley taking the chance and sending the teams into the break level at 1-1.

South came out on the front foot in the second half, dominating possession but not creating too many clear cut chances; Schroen’s shot high and wide from outside the box being the only highlight in the first 20 minutes of the second half.

On 65 minutes Milos Luijc had a golden chance to score off a Daley cross but fired his shot wide. South eventually took the lead in the 69^th minute, when a perfect cross from Daley found Luijc who headed the ball home.

In the 76^th minute Daley almost added a second goal to his name shooting just wide. Late in the game Tim Mala was sent off for South for a second yellow card leaving South fans biting their nails during the last five minutes of the match. From the resulting free kick Francesco Stalla drew out a world class save from Roganovic to preserve South’s lead.

Earlier that day, South Melbourne’s WNPL senior team ran out 2-0 winners beating Bayside United, with Lisa De Vanna scoring a double. South sit third on the WNPL ladder, just two points off first place.

South Melbourne 2 (Daley 45 Luijc 69)
Port Melbourne 1 (Govas 10)

South Melbourne FC would like to announce changes to its upcoming home fixtures at Lakeside Stadium.

• South Melbourne FC Men vs Avondale (Previously scheduled for Sunday June 4th) will be moved to the Catch Up Round in August
• The Derby Match between South Melbourne FC Men and Heidelberg United will take place on the Sunday the 11th at AAMI Park. Kick off time for the match will be at 6.30pm.
• South Melbourne FC Women on Sunday June 11th at AAMI Park Kick off at 4pm Against Alamein FC.

As this is a SMFC Home Match the same privileges apply to all our 2017 SMFC Season Pass Holders, Corporate Members and Financial Members to the match at AAMI Park.