South Springvale SC

South Springvale FC is an Australian semi-professional soccer club based in Springvale, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. The club was formed by local Greek Australians in 1968, as 'Sandown Dynamo'. The club currently competes in the Victorian State League Division 1. Their home ground is Warner Reserve.

South Springvale achieved national notoriety by qualifying for the 2014 FFA Cup Round of 32.

History

South Springvale was founded in 1968 by Greek immigrants who migrated to Australia in the early to mid-1960s. The club was initially called Sandown Dynamo and played at Springvale High Schools’ facilities.[1] During the next 12 years, Sandown Dynamo competed in the Victorian Amateur Leagues, but rose quickly in the 1980s and 1990s, entering the Victorian Provisional Leagues in 1985, and gaining promotion to the Victorian State Leagues in 1992, reaching Victorian State League Division 2 by 2000.[2]

In 1980 the club shifted to Warner Reserve whilst also changing its name to South Springvale Soccer Club. Over the next two decades the club endured many good years culminating in three championships, in 1990, 1991 and 1995,[2] whilst also claiming the State League Cup in 1994.[3][1] Since the 2014 season, the team has been competing in the FFV State League 1 South East.[4]

In 2014, South Springvale defeated National Premier Leagues Victoria side Hume City in 3–0 in the 2014 Dockerty Cup quarter-final to become the first Victorian club to qualify for the inaugural FFA Cup Round of 32, the first national round.[5][6] South Springvale and Hakoah Sydney City East FC were the only two fourth tier sides to win through to the Round of 32. Aris drew South Cardiff FC and played them on 29 July as the home team at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex, winning on penalties after twice equalising after going behind, the first time through Florea and the second time through Dimitrakopoulos.[7] Approximately 1,500 people were in attendance. Aris then drew Gold Coast, Queensland based side Palm Beach SC away from home, and so travelled to Queensland on 23 September 2014. In front of 2,300 people at Robina Stadium, Palm Beach narrowly won 1–0 through a Boxell goal in the 81st minute and ended Aris' FFA Cup adventure.[8] In 2019, Aris were promoted to State League 1 following a 2nd place finish that season. The club is aiming to gain promotion to the NPL system for the first time this year.

The club adopted its nickname and colours from Greek side Aris Thessaloniki F.C. The Greek side is known for its Yellow and black colours and this is why South Springvale play in those colours. Further, the club's crest is a homage to Aris with the logo even adopting the Greek spelling of Aris being 'APHS'.

Honors

  • Victoria (state) Dockety Cup – Runners Up: 2014.
  • Victoria (state) Victorian State League Division 3 South East – Runners up: 2002, 2010.
  • Victoria (state) Victorian State League Division 4 – Champions: 1995.
  • Victoria (state) Victorian Provisional League Division 1 – Champions: 1991.
  • Victoria (state) Victorian Provisional League Division 2 – Champions: 1990.
  • Victoria (state) Victorian Provisional League Division 3 – Runners up: 1988.[2]
  • Victoria (state) Victorian State League Champions Cup – Champions: 1994.[3]

Players

Current senior squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
GK AUSJosh Dorran
GK AUSEvan Kraloglou
DF AUSJarryd Barnes
DF AUSAdriano Chiappetta
DF KORKitae (Andy) Park
DF AUSSteven Sifinos
DF AUSThomas Simos
DF AUSChristos Tahmazis
DF AUSPeter Varsamis
MF AUSJoshua Caruana
No.Pos.NationPlayer
MF JPNTakeru Honda
MF AUSCody Martindale
MF AUSDimitar "Berbatov" Mitkov
FW AUSTimothy Atherinos
FW AUSAron Handakas
FW AUSJason Ricciuti
FW AUSZeik Zeik
FW AUSMarcelo Arapis
FW AUSAlhaji Tarawally

Current reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
GK AUSJordan Gammoh
DF AUSChristian Altidis
DF AUSEmanuel Emmanouilidis
DF AUSFilimonas Kasimis
DF AUSLuke Michailidis
DF AUSIsaac Papakyriakopoulos
DF AUSElijah Tracanelli
DF AUSGeorgio Tsatsos
MF AUSVinda Chheang
MF AUSBlake Dickson
No.Pos.NationPlayer
MF AUSJaz Omerogullari
MF AUSEric Pagoulatos
MF AUSAthan Panagiotou
MF AUSSebastian Davies
FW AUSJuan Hernandez
FW AUSFrankie Varsamis
FW AUSAnthony Vecchi
FW AUSMarko Vrban
FW GREFrank Mellios
FW VIEFelix Nguyen

Club officials

Committee

  • President: Jim Simos
  • Vice President: Andrew Pagoulatos
  • Secretary: Heather Paliouras
  • Treasurer: Toula Simos
  • Committee Member: Jim Banasios

Men’s team staff

  • Senior Team Head Coach: Steve Voursoukis
  • Senior Assistant Coach: George Balaskas
  • Senior Team Manager: Peter Tragakis
  • Reserve Team Head Coach: Peter Panagiotou
  • Reserve Team Manager: Andrew Pagoulatos
  • Goalkeeper Coach: Michael Kikikakis
  • Physiotherapist: Adil Rodrigues Chico
  • Masseur: Adam Bedikian

References