Category: News

South Melbourne FC was proud to welcome club legend Ted Smith back to Lakeside Stadium as a special guest at the 2023 Season Launch.

The 2023 season opening fixture featured Moreland City FC who are recently promoted to NPL Victoria and are returning to the top tier of Victorian football for the first time in 75 years. South Melbourne choose to recgonise Ted Smith as he represented both clubs.

Ted is a former Socceroo representing Australia at the 1956 Olympics. He then played for Moreland in 1957 before joining South Melbourne in 1961.

At South he played approximately fifty league matches, scored two goals and celebrated success winning the 1962 Victorian Soccer League Championships.

He has been inducted into the South Melbourne FC Hall of Fame and the Football Australia Hall of Fame.

Ted continues to contribute to the football community and has been a member of the Football Victoria Historical committee since 2007.

South Melbourne President Nicholas Maikousis said “It was fantastic to once again welcome Ted to Lakeside and recognise his contribution to the club over such a long time. He has celebrated success with South Melbourne and the 2023 season opener was the perfect opportunity to have him as our special guest given he also played for Moreland.”

Ted Smith walked the match ball out on to the pitch and joined the referees and captains of both teams for the coin toss.

South Melbourne FC defeated Moreland City 2-1 at Lakeside Stadium in the 2023 NPL Victoria season opener on Thursday 16 Feburary 2023.

Photos of Ted Smith at the 2023 Season Opener at Lakeside Stadium

South Melbourne is thrilled to announce the signing of current Dominican Republic International Central Defender Brianne Reed.

The American-born Reed joins us directly from FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark, where she was proudly part of the Danish Club winning the 2020 Cup Competition which was their first major piece of Silverware. She has also played for FC Kansas City in the NWSL, taken as the 18th pick in the 2016 NWSL College Draft.

Reed is a powerful central defender who commands the ball both in the air and on ground level. As well as her physical attributes and aggressive style of play, her leadership both on and off the park is a stand out and something that coach George Georgiadis will be looking to immediately add to his young squad.

Speaking to SMFC Media, SMFC Women’s Football Director Theo Chronis was elated with the signing. “It’s great to welcome Brianne into our squad as a marquee International signing. She brings with her experience both throughout American and European football and we are naturally thrilled to have someone of her calibre play for our famous club.”

Senior Coach George Georgiadis was also excited to have Brianne in the heart of his defence. “When we heard Brianne was available we were extremely keen to bring her to Australia and into our club. An outstanding person with natural leadership qualities, she will not only bring a high quality defender into the squad but a leader who can also help grow the squad around her.”

We would like to welcome Brianne Reed to Australia and to our club and we look forward to her joining the squad in the next few weeks for pre-season.

South Melbourne FC would like to announce the signing of New Zealand attacker Tayla Christensen for the 2023 NPLW Victoria Season.

Christensen adds significant bite to South’s attacking third with an ability to play in any role across both attack and midfield.

She joins us from Viajes InterRías in Spain, with previous experience at FC Malaga City, TCU University in the United States and a representative of the 2012, 2014 and 2016 New Zealand Youth squads that made it to the World Cup.

Tayla brings added experience and a proven goalscorer alongside an already potent attacking South attack.

Speaking to SMFC Media, Senior Coach George Georgiadis was elated with his new international signing. “Tayla compliments our squad with her ability across many different positions as well as her experience in both the American College System and throughout playing in Spain. She’s quick, direct and can score goals which is what we want to see.

We wish Tayla all the best in 2023 and welcome her officially to the SMFC Family.

South Melbourne FC is pleased to confirm the signing of Nathaniel Hancock from the United Arab Emirates for the 2023 NPL Victoria Season.

Hancock is a versatile player who can play in any position across the back four or midfield and will be
looking to add further toughness to the SMFC lineup.

Prior to his time in the UAE, he had an impressive stint at Adelaide Raiders after arriving from St George in NSW.

Speaking to SMFC Media, Senior Football Director Andrew Mesourouni welcomed Nathaniel to the club. “He is
an extremely versatile and tough player who can play in a number of roles to help the team. With experience at NPL level and abroad,
we are looking forward to him having an impact throughout the season.”

Hancock arrived back in Australia last week and had his first session with his team ahead of the week away in Shepparton
with the squad.

South Melbourne FC can confirm the signing of young winger Kosta Emmanuel for the 2023 NPL Victoria season.

Emmanuel burst onto the scene at Brunswick City, with his lightning speed and ability to get behind defenders giving him an opportunity at senior level after progressing through the junior ranks.

He then moved onto Eastern Lions in 2022 and is looking forward to making the step up into our squad and as part of Esteban Quintas’ attacking lineup.

As well as raw speed, Emmanuel will also pose a threat in front of goal where he has found the net on numerous occasions over the past 3-4 seasons at each level he has played at.

Speaking to SMFC Media, Senior Football Director Andrew Mesourouni welcomed Kosta to the club. “We are very excited to what Kosta brings to our playing group in 2023. As a pure winger with extreme pace we are looking forward to him playing a role throughout the season and adding significant bite to our attack.”

South Melbourne FC can confirm the signing of striker Ajak Riak for the 2023 NPL Victoria season.

Riak joins the club following a highly successful year at Bentleigh, providing the Greens with a dynamic target in the front third that contributed so much to their attacking ways this season. This includes scoring in excess of 10 goals across all club matches, while providing assists for many more.

Riak is expected to slot into the new South attack with an ability to play both as a traditional centre forward, as well as on either wing.

He will link up with new signing Ali Sulemani and former teammates Danny Kim and Jack Painter-Andrews in a rejuvenated South attacking half.

Speaking to SMFC Media Football Director Andrew Mesourouni was pleased with the acquisition. “Ajak is an exciting forward and one that was key in Bentleigh reaching the NPL Finals and winning the Dockerty Cup. He’s big, strong and quick with the ball at his feet, so we are excited to see what he can do at home on Lakeside Stadium.”

We can’t wait to see Ajak in our colours when the season commences.