South Melbourne FC has recently been the talk of football in Australia since the conclusion of the A-League season. Surprisingly they weren’t even in it.
With interest having been recently expressed to acquire 100% of the Melbourne Heart licence and links to bailing out the cash-strapped Central Coast Mariners, it is clear South Melbourne FC want to be a part of the competition.
This isn’t the first time South Melbourne FC had expressed interest in joining our A-League either, for in 2007-2008 they sent a formal letter of interest and a lodged application to become the second Melbourne licence as part of the Southern Cross consortium.
It would be later announced that Melbourne Heart FC would become Melbourne’s second football club.
Recently one of our Roar experts posed this question ‘Is the A-League ready for South Melbourne?’
The topic while contentious, received quite an overwhelming response. Arguments raged both for and against while the main sticking point was the fact they are an ‘ethnic club.’
The A-League had intentionally moved away from clubs such as South Melbourne in an effort to prevent a repeat of ethnic tensions and crowd violence between clubs that occurred in the National Soccer League.
I waged in on the debate and had to do a bit of research myself as I had never experienced the former National Soccer League days.
I was torn as to whether or not their inclusion to our League would be beneficial or detrimental.
I ultimately left it to those more experienced to argue it out.
Firstly, who is South Melbourne FC (Hellas)?
In late 1959, South Melbourne was formed with the amalgamation of Hellenic and Yarra Park Ajas (Ajax). However the key problem for the new South Melbourne club was they had no football ground. This led to them linking with South Melbourne United, which played at Middle Park.
The new club would be named South Melbourne Hellas (Latin term – the land of the Greeks) thanks to its large Greek Australian supporter base – the club name associated for the majority of its 50 years.
They are the most successful Australian domestic football club having won four Championships, five Premierships and participated in a total of seven grand finals.
They were also voted the Australian Club of the decade for the 1990s.
South Melbourne were blessed with the fact that so many of their talented and enthralling players were able to represent Australia at the highest level.
Some of which had and are now associated with the A-League: Ange Postecoglou, Eugene Galekovic, Damien Mori, Simon Colosimo, Kevin Muscat, Michael Valkanis, Danny Allsopp and Memhet Durakovic just to name a few.
South Melbourne United was the oldest of the three clubs to amalgamate, having history date back to the early 1900s.
They were not viewed as an ethnic club and although being the oldest, they had never achieved tremendous success with their most successful season being in 1958: second in Victorian Division 1.
This union between Hellenic, Yarra Park and South Melbourne United yielded not only Middle Park and a number of classy players, but it also gave the new club a strong junior section, as South Melbourne United had been fielding juniors since the mid 1950s and had won the 1957 Under-15 championships.
Ultimately this union would lead South Melbourne Hellas to go on and create Australian football history.
Our latest inclusion into the A-League from Western Sydney, were named the Wanderers to pay homage to the ‘Wanderers,’ the first registered association football club in Australia, who played in the area of Western Sydney in 1880.
With former National Soccer League clubs such as Marconi Stallions, Parramatta Power, Blacktown City, APIA Leichardt, Sydney United and Western Suburbs all residing or having affiliation to Western Sydney, the Wanderers were created to give Western Sydney the football club it had been waiting for.
Breaking down the cultural differences and ethnic backgrounds has been witnessed through the expansion of the Wanderers and quite regularly people make reference to the diversity of supporters that reside in Western Sydney and their support of the Wanderers.
Ultimately the Western Sydney region has been united and Football Federation Australia deserve a pat on the back: despite the main reasons the club originally set up (demise of Gold Coast United).
Football Federation Australia was very cautious in selecting who was to be part of the new A-League. They decided upon a ‘one city – one team’ principle in order to protect the initial development of the foundation clubs.
Towards the end of the National Soccer League, reigning Victorian club Melbourne Knights made a bid to change their name to Melbourne United.
The club was required to drop their Croatian ethnic identity as the FFA did not want a repeat of the old NSL days where racial and ethnic tensions resided and their disputes turned to violence.
The club proposed to play a portion of games at Olympic Park Stadium and possibly at South Melbourne’s home ground Lakeside Stadium. The bid failed and the Knights kept their name and now play in the Victorian Premier League.
FFA had made it clear their stance on expansion and unless former NSL teams wanted in, they would have to bow down in order to achieve the possibility of expansion.
Melbourne Knights had the right idea, for the proposed Melbourne United could have been a tremendous success like the Western Sydney Wanderers.
It is clear that South Melbourne FC have a strong case for possible expansion into the A-League. With such history how could you deny them? Are they still an ethnic club and if inclusion were to occur would we ultimately see a repeat of the old NSL days?
With the FFA having made their intentions clear, perhaps a chance to do the Wanderers all over again but in South Melbourne may provide an opportunity for the racial and ethnic backgrounds to become ‘United’ and see the successes of the Wanderers become reminiscent once again?
Without the need for South Melbourne to take over Heart or seek expansion, maybe South Melbourne United FC would be an easier and more successful alternative.
Over to you, FFA.
Terence
Guest
We all know about the divide between SFC and WSW. Everyone is afraid of introducing a so-called ethnic club in South Melbourne because of the fear of opening the gates to other ethnic teams. It won't happen because these ex-NSL teams do not have the money or ambition to be in the A-League. South Melbourne always has since it was excluded by the Victory and then Heart. I think SMFC should be encouraged to develop in the NPL until ready to be promoted to HAL, or Heart get relegated through lack of support. I realise there are issues with the NPL here in Victoria, but let's leave that aside May I add that the inclusion of Brisbane Roar, founded by a original Dutch-NSL Queensland (Brisbane) Lions,and winning the Brisbane licence over non-ethnic NSL Brisbane Strikers, has not had any detrimental effects on the HAL. As for mergers...I would say that Heart shoud merge with the Geelong group,Galaxy, and call themselves Geelong Heart and establish a point of difference with the Victory. I am European, not Greek , and I used to follow SMFC in the NSL. Now I follow Victory. Don't know who I'd follow if SMFC join. I certainly never warmed to Heart even though they have had some good players
craig johnston
Guest
FFA is fully aware and I think they have pretty much lost confidence in the ability of MH to take the game to stage 2 in this city MHs model has been primarily to feed off the MV not to complement the MV as a defining alternative
craig johnston
Guest
There is a lot more evidence backing an historical clubb with a tag as the most successful one in Australia than the silly concept of Melbourne Heart
South Melbourne FC
Guest
Melbourne Heart tearing seats and acting like hooligans swearing and carrying on infront of my children (whats the difference). South Melbourne being judged on stuff happening almost 20 years ago. Most successful soccer club in Australia not being given a chance to compete. Un-Austrlian, what happen to fair go. Give them a chance. What a joke.
Fletcher
Guest
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. What next? A Croation, Serbian or Jewish backed team? God help us. Thank goodness Lowy runs the ship, otherwise it would be back to the days of Croat-Serb-Greek-Italian riots at football grounds.
Cameron
Roar Guru
1860melbourne, You would place them in a position that better represents a large population of South Melbourne, venturing east would also help.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Ian Syson, That wouldn't be such a bad idea. I'm not usually one for dates at the end of the name but to unite and signify the existence of South Melbourne as a whole in football - South Melbourne 1883 doesn't sound bad at all. It's already historically appealing.
Cameron
Roar Guru
South Melbourne are serious about making any effort to join the A-league. It may not occur but what they are doing will still aid the development of football, especially in Melbourne. SOUTH MELBOURNE FC LAUNCHES AMBITIOUS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM South Melbourne FC recently launched its ambitious Youth Development Program that will form part of the club’s application to receive an ‘Elite Club’ licence and commence the transition to fulfil the criteria stipulated in the FFA National Competitions Review. The club will be employing a full time Technical Director from Brazil who will arrive in Melbourne in October to commence overseeing the Youth Development Program. To assist the Technical Director, a team of full time primary coaching staff will train and implement the football curriculum. All primary coaching staff will hold UEFA or FIFA equivalent to B or C coaching licences. Each youth team will also be assigned an Assistant Coach. Medical and education support will also feature as part of the Youth Development Program. Benefits of participation in the intensive SMFC Youth Development Program include: •SMFC youth players to be trained in the latest training methods currently employed in Europe and South America •Minimum of four training sessions for U12-18 age groups per week for 48 weeks •Minimum of three training sessions for U9-11 age groups per week for 48 weeks •Full time Technical Director and full time highly qualified coaching staff •Education support to assist players with the provision of tutors to fulfil their academic commitments prior to training. •Opportunity to participate in Exchange Program to train at overseas academies •Provision of medical staff to oversee players and provide support, advice, medical attention and nutritional information http://www.smfc.com.au/news/1231/south-melbourne-fc-launches-ambitious-youth-development-program/
Cameron
Roar Guru
Pete4, What about South-East Melbourne, close to Geelong. Population growth in this area continues to grow rapidly andthe other surrounding areas would be able to support. The key idea here is to represent the whole population demographic of South Melbourne.
Paul Mavroudis
Guest
Well I reckon FFA knows pretty well what's going on with regards to South's A-League ambitions.
Bob Anderson
Guest
Being born in 1970, I'm glad to know I'll be dead within the next 20 years. I won't procrastinate on that burial plot anymore.
Johnno
Guest
No WSW still has problems with fan connection. Already the Paramatta Wanderers " jibes have come out. West sydney is as complex as the rest of the sydney metropolitan . West sydney is divided into 4 hubs, and at times there is a lot of strong cultural divisions, for many years that's already reared it's ugly head via GWS plan's with west sydney. You have south-west sydney , which is Campelltown,Liverpool,Cabramatta, Minto,Camden I'll add in too. Then you have west which is Paramatta,Auburn,Granville, Lidcombe, Then Inner west. Newtown, Glebe ,five dock etc. Then North west, which is castle hill, baukilm Hills etc. And then Penrith and the blue mountain's, and st mary's these places. All these parts of greater western sydney are very different, with there own culture's and divisions. Castle Hill , like to think of themselves as North-west and north shore, and don't like to identify with greater western sydney. GWS desperately wanted to market themselves to this demographic, but have faced an uphill battle getting fans from this affluent part of west sydney and Mcansion's, god fearing types of castle hill. And then places like homebush, rhodes, breakfast point, young trendy parts of west sydney in other words, and places like west ryde too. They like to identify more with Sydney Swans which has more links with the North shore and eastern suburbs. So west sydney or greater western sydney has so much division and microcities within themselves too and communities. The dream of the wanderers capturing the heart's of all of west sydney is still along way off, I worry the wanderers have too big an area to try and capture, like GWS, and may end up just being the Parramatta wanderers. Imagine these NRL mergers Parra Eels, West tigers, Penrith Panthers, no chance of merging into one west sydney super club.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Cheers for that Stevo. That was a lot to take in but I enjoyed it and learnt a bit more. Whether this link aids or dissuades our fellow readers it makes for an interesting read and gets you thinking about the future of Australian football. Time has passed and the ethnic and racial tensions between these football clubs has not been as apparent in today's society (you could thank the FFA/A-League for that). When the FFA Cup starts it will be most interesting to note what will occur. Our A-League teams will not participate until the later stages of the tournament this could provide these former NSL clubs with the re-kick start they need for these 'fans' to come back. Whether the ethnic and racial tensions will unravel before our eyes is only what ifs and maybes. I believe the current parties involved have the games best interests at heart and are willing to ensure the A-League continues to prosper. A lengthy process will be adopted to ensure our former NSL teams are in order and have moved away from ethnic and racial tensions between clubs. In the mean time I only wish to look further into the history of Australian football and the future prospects the A-League may wish to seek. Your link has provided plenty of food for thought, but I am sure those with the power are well educated on the matter.
West
Roar Pro
Paul, I don't think SMH could buy an A-League club without the FFA's knowledge, its more the way they are going about it trying to pick up a cheap Licence. As far as I am aware SMH are the club who had discussions with CCM about relocating to Melbourne or Geelong and selling shares or control of the club and the A-League licence to SMH. And SMH are also the club who had discussions with MH about selling 100% of the club and their A-League licence for 3.5M. As far as I am aware they have not had any discussions with the FFA.
Stevo
Guest
http://www98.griffith.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/handle/10072/23189/50120_1.pdf?sequence=1 Not sure that I'm helping you here kellett_1992 but another interesting article about football's compex and interesting history in Australia. Makes Einstein's theories look like child's play :)
1860melbourne
Guest
South Melbourne the suburb 50000 residents as opposed to WSW 2 million residents is a stark difference.
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
Their results at the moment don't matter Johnno, what matters is that the club is attempting to build a serious base and has a definitive plan for community engagement- they want an NYL team in five years, a W-League team soon after, and no doubt will bid for an A-League licence when expansion comes around after that. Their home crowds so far in the Queensland NPL have been extremely good for a State League team, at around 2000-2500 people.
Tommy
Guest
Max you can't compare Sth Melbourne's average crowds at the end of the NSL with Hearts crowds now. There was very very little coverage of the NSL back then and when there was, it was extremely negative! If Sth was getting 5-6k then, with the coverage the a league gets Sth would EASILY get more fans then Heart! I am all for getting this great team back into the national league
Ian Syson
Guest
Just thought I'd mention. 130th anniversary of football in Melbourne this year. In August it will be the 130th anniversary of inter colonial Vic v nsw football. game 2 was played t lakeside. In September it will be 130th anniversary of the naming of the first SMFC playing out of lakeside. Like wsw and wanderers circa 1880, this bid has some substantial history to tap into and a fortuitous series of anniversaries to build a promo cmpaign around. I, as a south supporter, am taken with the idea of south Melbourne 1883 as a name. It taps into long history and keeps the south Melbourne name http://neososmos.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/130-years-of-organised-soccer-in.html
Paul Mavroudis
Guest
What makes you think that South is doing anything without the FFA's knowledge?