Sydney Olympic FC is an icon of Australian football who some refer to as the Manchester United of Australia. (The club played Manchester United in a friendly match at Old Trafford in the ’80s.)
The club itself has won two national cups and two national league titles, plus state league glory prior to the establishment of a national competition in 1977, in which Olympic was a founding member.
But Olympic was and is more than a football club, a place whereby friendships for life were built, a social outing for many football fans and members of local communities and to top it off, a place where many marriages were started.
A great story takes us back to the ’70s when at Wentworth Park a groom, bride and bridal party had just been married at a local church in Redfern.
Immediately following the ceremony they went to watch Olympic do battle before the reception, in wedding gowns and all.
Characters of the club are too many to name and to talk about but one who stands out is Andrew Hatziannou, known to all in the football world as a mad Sydney Olympic supporter, and by the name ‘Andrea’.
His chants of “O-LYM-PIC” echoed through the crowd at Olympic games and he is a gentleman as well as an asset to the sport.
The return of Mark Bosnich to the Australian football scene was due to the work of Sydney Olympic.
The greatest goalkeeper that Australia has ever produced went to the heights of the world’s biggest football clubs but in recent years had gone through some lows.
Bosnich returned to competitive football in 2009, in a massive media conference held at one of Jim Kospestas hotels (a former Sydney Olympic President) in the Sydney’s CBD.
The Bosnich signing saw just over 3,000 at Belmore for his debut and over 6,000 Olympic fans for a friendly with Sydney FC in 2009.
Sydney Olympic are starting a revolution, a campaign that began in 2010 by the club’s board of directors who want nothing more than to see Sydney Olympic FC in the A-League.
While some have not supported the bid, it continues to grow.
The new board, led by President George Giannaros and fellow Directors Peter Phillips, Graham Athanaseris, Arthur Balayannis, Peter Englezos and Chris Tsioulos, have a team of fans, supporters, sponsors and staff who stand by the revolution.
The club has built new offices inside Belmore Sports Ground with boardrooms, video rooms, physio rooms, technical director and coaches offices, trophy rooms and the like to a cost of $150,000.
President Giannaros has said in the past that Olympic is building foundations for the club because anything that is going to last needs a solid footing.
With the club was desperate to shake the ‘gypsie’ tag picked up in the NSL and wanting a permanent home, in late 2010 the board announced a 25 year lease at Belmore Sports Ground, and in conjunction with the NRL Bulldogs, a $10 million redevelopment upgrade of the complex.
Olympic has parks in the St George, Canterbury and Bankstown areas for more than 500 elite footballers who play at the club.
Over the years, Olympic have produced over 60 Socceroos with the aim to produce more into the future.
Technical Director ‘Aussie Tom’ Tom Alexakis is UEFA A licensed coach, having spent time with Arsene Wenger and Wolverhampton Wolves football club and he believes that more Socceroos are in the making at Olympic.
In 2010 the call for sponsors was made and in four weeks the club raised over $200,000, with sponsors backing the club as it sought to win back fans.
Crowds had fallen, with the Olympic faithful not used to being in a second-tier competition.
The club wanted larger average crowds and with a growing newsletter database, over 500 life members and an increase in members, the revolution has support.
Fans love a winner, and the club appointed former player and Olyroo Peter Tsekenis and his assistant and another former player Peter ‘Flea’ Papoythis to take the reins in 2011.
What came about was a season of four trophies and a squad that would arguably challenge A-League sides.
The 2011 side won the Steve Christoforidis Cup, the 2011 NSW Premier League Championship and Premiership and the Brett Emerton Cup beating Sydney FC 1-0.
This year saw the club play 11 home games straight which was hard on the fans, but the last four games of the season saw crowds of 2348 , 3884, 4212 and 10,138.
The Olympic revolution has done wonders in bringing life to the club. New offices, a permanent world class ground, willing sponsors, a winning team, and a focus on crowds in 2012 has many wondering when the club may apply for an A-League license.
Playing in the NSW Premier League is a disadvantage, as media is nonexistent and the onus is on the clubs to do all the work.
But with a focus on fans in 2012, Olympic will send a message to the A-League: let us join, for the benefit of the Sydney football market.
December the 11th marks the next clash for the club, with South Melbourne FC v Sydney Olympic at the new Lakeside Stadium. We should see a full house for this grudge match and historical derby of Australian football.
Sam
Guest
If Olympic is granted their wish to join the A league, not only does it have its supporters from Syney, but they also have supporters that will attend all their games from Newcastle too. We have thousands of people who would definitely show up and support Sydney Olympic!! Great idea!!
Stevo
Guest
Pure Olympic GOLD comment !!! :)
Nikitaras
Guest
So do you still see Arnott's biscuits as Australian since it's been bought out by Campbell's soups an American company? Since it was bought out I look at Arnott's products at the supermarket & know it's just not the same, it's just not Aussie any more. Yet, consumers' still buy it mainly because they have been conditioned to do so, by marketing, habit, great taste, convenience etc. However, at the end of the day, profits go back to the US. When one sees an Arnott's biscuit product on the shelf & next to it is the Dick Smith 100% Aussie owned biscuit product, we all know which brand is truly Australian. That is the point. It is the Dick Smith products. Sydney FC is a product, a football team representing Sydney, yet it is still under foreign ownership. It doesn't mean you have to stop supporting the team, as it is still there to represent Sydney. It is your choice as to whether the foreign ownership aspect takes away your passion or support for the team. However, just like the Arnott's & Dick smith scenario, Sydney FC is the foreign owned product & Sydney Olympic is the 100% Australian owned product.
Steggz
Guest
But you missed the point. It doesn't matter who owns the club, it's where the club is. By your logic, Man Utd and Liverpool are American, Man City is from the UAE, Chelsea is Russian, etc. That's where your argument ends up.
Nikitaras
Guest
It's not an argument it's a question & the answer is an undisputable fact. Sydney Olympic is owned by Australians & Sydney FC is majority owned by a Russian.
Mr Independant
Guest
Why are we having an argument or whether SOFC should be allowed in. The formula should be very simple. 1. Earn your right to be invited by winning promotion 2. After winning promotion, demonstrate your ability to be financially stable 3.Kick-off your new season and good luck If your crowds don't come, if you don't win a few games, if you cause "crowd troubles", if you don't develop players you will quickly be in the relegation zone and back where you came from. It doesn't matter if you are SOFC, SFC, Sth Melb., Victory or Carss Park. Earn your right on the field, keep your club secure off the field....Welcome to the top tier of football! Is it rocket science? Mr Inde
Steggz
Guest
Rubbish argument. It's the same as saying Manchester United are owned by Americans, therefore they aren't an English club. Pure hogwash and sensationalism.
Nikitaras
Guest
Sydney Olympic FC is 100% owned & financed by Australians. Sydney FC has a Russian as a mojority shareholder. So which club is truly Australian????
Dominic
Guest
Of course there is a war dipstick. Perpetuated by the FFA as 'old soccer vs new football'
Terrance
Guest
My concern would be the crowd figures, yeah sure for the first season it would be okay, but after that?? Sydney folk are a fickle bunch, and with five different sports to watch do you really see Pan Hellenic Club being succesful LONG tern??
Stevo
Guest
There is NO "old football vs new football war in Australia." --- it's only in the minds of a few people you use it for their own arguments. The majority of young (active) supporters of A-league clubs most likely have never heard of Olympic, Hellas, JUST, or any other NSL team. But they do know about ManU, Barca, Liverpool, etc. This is 2011 not 1977.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
The Australia Cup was the top tier comp you have totally ignored that competition. It was the bases of a national comp. Stop embarrassing yourself with your lack of knowledge of the period. Also the state teams today have far more resources that of the 1963 NSW state league period---when they only had amateur administration running the game with absolute zero finance. Today's NSW state league has some $16m in their bank account with grounds owned by them at Parklea football complex. Stick to your knowledge of the Melbcow complex ... oops Melbcro
MelbCro
Guest
"and fans of old NSL clubs don’t watch the new competition, then why on earth do you want to be part of it?" Ah yeah, so now one Olympic supporter speaks on behalf of all of us. Well done mate. please show me the Knights fans that are calling for our club to join the A-League?
MelbCro
Guest
You are embarrasing yourself Qantas. I made a pretty clear comment if you open your eyes "NSW and Victorian State comps were the first tier football in this country". I'm sorry you have comprehension issues given your old age.
Johnno
Guest
j biennia you are a legend, you are very factually right on the NSL so many times, didn't someone say you played in the NSL. I would love if some one wrote a book or a did a dvd documentary on the history of Australian soccer, 1945-2004 when the NSL ended, or simply a documentary or a book on the history of the NSL would be a great thing to watch or read. SO many on here are trying to rewrite hostly on the NSL, but you jbinnie are very accurate a usual on your analysis of the old NSL, perhaps jbinnie you could write a book on the old NSL mate, you would do well writing about it. I think now in 2011 others on here keep going on about the old NSL and allowing old NSL clubs back in. Well i say life has moved on and allowing sydney olympic back on would be good at merging and ending the old football vs new football war in Australia. And the sydney olympic of 2012 or 2013 or 2014 or 2015 if it gets into the A-league would be nothing like the olympic of the 70's 80's 90's. The world has changed so much due to globalisation and internet Australia, Sydney,west sydney, inner west sydney, and Sydney Olympic are totally different.. If Belmore gets renovated a modern day Sydney Olympic would be amazing for the A-league. And they aren not an ethnic club now in fact all NSL clubs allowed fans, and players to be of all different ethnic origins. Sydney Olympic unlike sydney F.C are built on solid foundations and in my opinion have more appeal than Sydney F.C, and looking at Sydney olympic recent business model they know where they are going, and have clear business models and can attract millions in funding, where as Sydney F.C look a lost souless ghosts in there own town club, who have no idea on the direction or future of where they are going as a club, and what part of Sydney they represent . Sydney F.C has failed badly in attempting to have universal appeal to the Sydney public. They are lost club with no direction of where they are going in the future. Could you imagine sydney olympic playing in the Asian champions league vs teams like Gamba Osaka, in a modern renovated or newly rebuilt Belmore Oval that would be amazing.
Titus
Guest
I agree with Stephen--why do they even want to join a mainstream, plastic league? By its very nature, Sydney Olympic can't appeal to a wide audience because anyone who isn't already a football supporter with an extensive resume of active football support stretching back decades, isn't welcome at the club, or will at least be subject to ridicule.
Whites
Guest
No NRL team plays at Belmore. It's the training ground for the Bulldogs.
j binnie
Guest
Northener - You so pricked my conscience I decided to investigate. The first organised body in Australian soccer was in NSW back in the year 1882. This is 75 years before Sydney Olympic ( then playing under the name Pan Hellenic) was created in 1957 meaning the club is only 54 years old, the organised game 130 years old.. Their record of achievement in the NSL is no greater than Marconi's, Adelaide United's or Sydney City's and this is only adding to my confusion on what you mean. Please do explain as I would really like to follow your logic . Thanks again jb
Whites
Guest
Now that was a fantastic grand final (assuming you're referring to Perth-Wollongong). Surely the next team in the A-League should be from Wollongong. EDIT:Saw your comment further down and that you were referring to another painful grand final loss for Perth Glory. They really did know how to lose a grand final in the NSL days.
Steggz
Guest
No Northener. Olympic is a club that played in a national league. Where they played does not make them a 'national club'. Can we stop rewriting history please? Sure Olympic was doing well in the 90's, but the NSL failed to capture Australian audiences. The A-League is already doing far better in that than what the NSL did. Olympic won't work as an A-League club at this very moment because: 1) Belmore is not an advantageous location for a Western Sydney side 2) Olympic will not be able to respresent the whole of the Western Sydney area (which is what is required right now) 3) Allowing Olympic to enter now will only make relationships between the FFA and other ex-NSL clubs even worse.