Match day one
I picked up my membership on Friday. I bought it last year, when then-South player Sam Poutakidis rang me up as part of a fundraising drive. The club was on the brink of being liquidated, unless they came up with a truckload of cash to pay off some bills.
So the first game is tonight, at 6 pm. South kick off the season with a game against traditional rivals Heidelberg United. The last time South hosted Heidelberg in a competitive match was in October 1994, at Middle Park. The only South player from that match in tonight's game is playing for Heidelberg, the infamous Con Boutsianis. Boutsi has been arguably one of the club's most technically impressive players, scoring spectacular goals from free kicks and open play. His frequent transfers back and forth keep him teetering between crowd favorite and villain, however. Tonight, some South fans are planning on donning balaclavas in memory of his involvement in an armed robbery.
Near-liquidation, 10 months without a game, and virtual relegation as the old National League was dismantled have taken their toll on the squad. Experienced kiwi international Vaughan Coveny is the only regular from last year's team. Most players moved to VPL clubs when the NSL folded, which means we'll be facing them this season. Goalkeeper Dean Anastasiadis is once again the first choice, and former player Con Blatsis returns to the squad in a few weeks after playing in England and Turkey. The rest of our squad is very young, and judging from the pre-season friendlies, not quite ready to take on the world.
But that doesn't matter. The cruelly long off-season is now over. Tonight is the first game of the season, and of South's new life in the state's top league. I get to put on my hat and shirt, catch up with old friends at the pub, and perhaps sing in the odd chorus of "South Melbourne, South Melbourne, Ole Ole Ole." I've missed it!
So the first game is tonight, at 6 pm. South kick off the season with a game against traditional rivals Heidelberg United. The last time South hosted Heidelberg in a competitive match was in October 1994, at Middle Park. The only South player from that match in tonight's game is playing for Heidelberg, the infamous Con Boutsianis. Boutsi has been arguably one of the club's most technically impressive players, scoring spectacular goals from free kicks and open play. His frequent transfers back and forth keep him teetering between crowd favorite and villain, however. Tonight, some South fans are planning on donning balaclavas in memory of his involvement in an armed robbery.
Near-liquidation, 10 months without a game, and virtual relegation as the old National League was dismantled have taken their toll on the squad. Experienced kiwi international Vaughan Coveny is the only regular from last year's team. Most players moved to VPL clubs when the NSL folded, which means we'll be facing them this season. Goalkeeper Dean Anastasiadis is once again the first choice, and former player Con Blatsis returns to the squad in a few weeks after playing in England and Turkey. The rest of our squad is very young, and judging from the pre-season friendlies, not quite ready to take on the world.
But that doesn't matter. The cruelly long off-season is now over. Tonight is the first game of the season, and of South's new life in the state's top league. I get to put on my hat and shirt, catch up with old friends at the pub, and perhaps sing in the odd chorus of "South Melbourne, South Melbourne, Ole Ole Ole." I've missed it!
posted by Curt at 10:10 am
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