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Since its foundation in
1947 and affiliation with the Victorian Soccer Federation
(now Football Federation Victoria) in 1959, the Preston
Lions Football Club has grown to become one of the most
recognised and popular sporting clubs in Australia.
Based in the suburb of
Preston, Victoria, the Makedonia Soccer Club was
originally created as a focal point for the newly
immigrated Macedonian community to gather and socialise,
and to provide the then Australian-Macedonian youth with
the opportunity to learn and play this ‘world game’ that
was so popular back in their homeland of Macedonia.
A change of name to the
Preston Makedonia Soccer Club in 1959 and promotion to
the Victorian Division Two (South Competition), the club
moved forward in leaps and bounds to become champions of
the Victorian Metropolitan League Division One in 1966,
and as a result, was promoted to the state’s top
competition, the Victorian State League in 1967.
The club first experienced
championship success at the state’s top level in 1975 and
again in 1980. As Victorian champions, Preston competed in a play-off against other state champions and in 1981 they
were promoted to the then National Soccer League (NSL)
competition.
During this significant
period of growth the need for much larger facilities
became apparent and the club consequently moved from its
home base of T.A. Cochrane Reserve in Collier Street,
Preston, to its current home ground at B.T. Connor Reserve
in nearby Reservoir. The Preston Makedonia Social Club
was also established around the same time and is located
directly opposite the ground.
Preston continued to
compete successfully in the NSL for the next 13 years,
achieving their best finish in 1987 as runner-up in the
Southern Division Championship. In 1992 Preston took out the prestigious Docherty Cup in a thrilling penalty shootout
against arch rivals
South Melbourne. However financial difficulties led to
poor performances and in 1993 Preston played their last
match in the NSL.
Relegated back to the
Victorian Premier League, Preston were once again crowned
Victorian champions in 1994. Around this time, the VPL
clubs agreed to abolish any ethnicity associated with
their club names and the Preston Makedonia Soccer Club was
renamed the Preston Lions Soccer Club. The club
has since adopted the title of the Preston Lions
Football Club, following the lead set by the sports’
governing body and keeping in line with how the game is
known all over the world – as “football”.
Preston would once again become
Victorian Premier League champions in 2002, adding to its
already impressive collection of titles.
Today the club has over 200
players at both senior and junior level, with a further 50
people involved in coaching, training, volunteering and
assisting with the running of various teams. This group
is supported by a team of approximately 30 committee
members who are responsible for the management and
administration of the club at the strategic and
operational level.
Over the years, the Preston
Lions have produced many champion players who have gone on
to represent Australia at youth and senior level such as
Warren Spink, Robbie Dunn, Phil Trianidis, Zarko Odzakov,
George Jolevski, Andrew Zinni, Oscar Crino, Peter Ollerton,
Gary Cole, John Markovski, Kris Trajanovski, Goran
Lozanovski, and John Sapazovski who captained the
Victorian State Team on their tour to China in 2005.
With more than 5,000 loyal
supporters, the Preston Lions Football Club boasts the
largest following in the Victorian Premier League
competition. In fact, during blockbuster games we can
attract crowds in excess of 10,000 which is significant
for any state competitive sporting event.
The Preston Lions Football
Club respects the strong Macedonian cultural influence
that has ensured the success of this great club to date,
however we also recognise that the club now has a bigger
role to player in the wider community. We understand that
the future of football and our club lies with our children
and this is why we are developing junior development
programs to raise community awareness of the Preston Lions
Football Club and football in general. We also want to
encourage and create a better environment for families,
corporate partners, sponsors, members and supporters to
attend our games and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere at the
club.
Given the club’s proud
history and current position as a leader in Victorian
football, none of this would have been possible without
the hard work and dedication of our predecessors, that is
all our past presidents, committee, members, sponsors,
supporters and volunteers, who were fuelled by the
passion, loyalty and desire to help build what has today
become an icon in Australian sport.
We believe that the Preston
Lions Football Club must continue to grow for the benefit
and enjoyment of the people in our community who have now
come to depend on its continued existence. |
