They were supposed to sell that ground to developers and take over at Caroline Springs (juniors train there, play some matches there), or further out at Melton. The deal ended up falling through apparently.

Didnt they sell the ground at one stage??^^^^

In answer to both of you - There was as much politics at SGX as there was at any other club, you just didn't hear too much about it because we weren't as big (in the 90s/early 2000s) as Knights or Hellas. Happened twice (as far as I know) however could be more, that money was stolen from the club, large amounts, by former committee members. Nobody trusted anyone for a long time. The vibe was lost from games and people stopped rocking up. They were hurt, believe me. My grandfather used to go week in week out, my uncles played there in the late 60s/70s and they were all gutted by it.

Then Victory came along and they had something to cling to again. You guys know this, it's all about a sense of belonging and knowing you are part of something.

That's probably the best way I can explain the downfall. To be fair now, they are trying again. I think there's been a fair bit of directive from the FFV, where perhaps in the past this lacked a little. They were extremely lucky to get the NPL licence, considering the facilities there are probably the worst out of any NPL club. The pitch is a paddock, changerooms/clubrooms need a massive revamp. It's going to take a bit of investment, I'm not sure where that comes from. Certainly hope it's not going to be from the parents of the kids playing there.

Even ten years ago the passion of George Cross fans was tangible. Today was so muted. Felt like 3/4 of the crowd today didn't care about the game they were there to watch.

Considering SGX were NSL rivals with south and knights it would have been virtually impossible to follow one of these teams even aside from the ethnicity, I mean George cross and Hellas blockbusters go back to the 60s at Olympic park. What I'm more wondering is why did they abandon George cross? The 2 clubs play at different times of the year, did the supporters lose confidence in the people running the club? They were so passionate about the club I find it baffling how they couldn't care less anymore. Sgx being a spent force is a major blow for the Victorian football community though.

I'm assuming Muscat must have been a factor cos I honestly don't know one Maltese person that goes for Melbourne city.

Absolutely they have. Not sure if it's a Muscat factor but Maltese people love football, they love sports in general. Like you mentioned, back in the 90s / early 2000s we drew big crowds, even in a lower division. When the A-League and Victory came along, the Maltese community of Melbourne could connect to MV. They craved professional football and a club to follow. Being perfectly honest, after SGX never returned to the NSL, there was no way they were going to support a Greek or Croatian club.

Italians are welcoming in Italy too.

What is wrong with you, Benjamin?

My wife and I love Greek food. Greece has great cuisine.

We like Greece too.

To answer Fatboi's question I've had a bit of involvement in the local Italian and Greek NPL clubs, despite not being Italian or Greek.

I like most NPL teams in Newy but can't help give a bit of extra love to Broadmeadow Magic (Macedonian club) and I have no Maco ties in my family.

Have most of the Maltese moved on to victory? Muscat factor? I kid you not I'd attend George cross games in the early 2000s when they had been playing in the 3rd tier and they were getting crowds of around 2,000, they were nuts and passionate, went to a game last year and the crowd was about 100 and I must have spotted at least 30 people wearing some kind of mv merchandise, nothing of sgx.

This has become a similar theme across many local clubs but seeing it up close was a real eye opener, the local scene was rocking back in the 90s and early 2000s.

:-k Might have played against you depending on age...

Went to watch Knights quite a bit, only because they were local and in the NSL. I'm not Croatian though, I'm Maltese and used to watch Sunshine George Cross almost weekly in the VPL. Still get out to a few NPL games a year.

Did they have fans at the junior matches as well.

Australian with Dutch heritage - supported Marconi since I was a kid.

The people are always welcoming as I tend to see from Italians.

Played and supported Green Gully in my junior years, even though i wasn't Maltese. playing away at Knights stadium was awesome as a kid :cool:

Edited by griffindinho: 7/1/2016 10:43:28 PM

:lol: sometimes that happens. Depeneds whose cookimg on the day

Had a risotto there. Was okay expected to be blown away but wasn't:(

Growing up and living in the western suburbs of Melbourne from the 70's till the late 90's I had heaps of soccer clubs/matches to choose from every weekend. I would regularly go and watch Green Gully, George Cross, St.Albans Dinamo, Melbourne Knights and a few local Greek clubs(Yarraville, Westvale, Western Suburbs). The Maltese 'derbies' were as wild games you could ever see. Never felt uncomfortable, unwelcome etc anywhere I went. Would also go to Heidelberg games with uncles and even Preston games with Maco mates. Some people seem to want to make excuses why not to go to the local 'ethnic' club rather than go checking it out.
I even played for a local amateur Croatian club, was the only non Cro in the squad. Half the team couldn't speak English as they were refo's. Football was the language.

Its the Frango galina and beautiful fresh pane my friend lol....can't beat that pecant flavour !

I know this wasn't directed at me BUT I was coaching at a 'Portuguese' club in NSW and I grew to love the club. Most of the players I coached during my time there weren't of Portuguese ancestry and they loved the club. If the club were ever in Australia's top flight, I think some of those boys would support the club. Many could have played at a higher level but wanted to stay and one day play first grade for the club.

So to answer the question, I think these clubs could get supporters from current/ex players, coaches or volunteers. It's a different type of passion.

My local club is werribes city bees. Italian based club but dont feel weird. Hell most of the players arent even Italian

I'm English heritage and support a Serbian/Jewish club - Sydney FC :lol:

Australian born from Italian parents.
I'm with some others here, just love the game, I don't care who's game I watch no matter the background.
Gone to most NSL grounds back in the day when/where was convenient, sure I liked to see Apia when possible but didn't matter.
Major point - the effniks always have the better feed/s ! I'm all for it :)
I more so due to local football commitments watch local association games more + attend many YL games.....

My local state league team in WA is a region based team with no ethnic ties.

Growing up in Sydney I didn't really support an NSL team (until the Northern Spirit came along) ... again this was because of geography. But I use to like watching Melbourne Croatia/Knights and Marconi play (sad to see Marconi now relegated to the second tier in the NSW NPL, although good that my old local team were runners up in NSW NPL2 last season).

When I was young watching the NSL it didn't really dawn on me that ethnicity was a criteria for following any particular team (we also only had one ethnic based club in our local soccer association that I played against, so wasn't really around me either growing up ... I just grew up playing alongside my Iranian, Malaysian, Indonesian, Korean, Afghan, English friends).

Apart from my involvement with other clubs at the time, the team I (together with 5% of other non Greeks) watched the most was South Melbourne Hellas.

I have no Greek ancestry in me but they drew the biggest crowds and therefore the best atmosphere. If you love football there should no barriers.

BTW whilst their crowds were high in top flight (in their hundreds now) they were still considerably less than HAL crowds.

So long as the clubs are cut off from the national stage, they will always rely on the hardcore of supporters who've been there for decades (this naturally will come from their original support base, plus their descendants).

I can remember being in crowds at South that were ethnically 'broader' in the last couple of years of the NSL, and the first year back in the VPL, until the reality of being out of the big time settled in... So there's no question to me that non-Greeks can follow a 'Greek' side. As I said, I think my biggest advantage/benefit was that I didn't know of this divide when I started going, I just went to watch the football. Too many make an issue of the ethnic thing - and I tend to think that it's not the ethnic supporters who are making the big deal...

I move to and fro during the NPL season so I don't really have time to follow a single club all season. If i'm in Brisbane I'll go watch Brisbane City most weeks (especially if the Fury are in town), they have a great stadium, proud history and the football is usually alright. I don't have any Italian in me and don't speak the language but it's a fun day out regardless.

If I'm in Melbourne then Richmond SC (German) are nearby and are a great club to follow but it is a bit harder to get to their games now because MV now have a team in the NPL and i'd rather watch our yoof.

Neither teams ethnicity has any influence or effect on my enjoyment of the game. I'd recommend to any football fan who is bored in the winter months to start following their local club, regardless of historical ethnic connections. The food and beer at Anglo clubs are shit anyway.

Do you ever think there will be a time when clubs with monoethnic ancestry will be supported by people of any race or culture. Or do you think people will find it hard to identify. I'm just thinking out loud here with all the potential pro/rel and second tier talk, in the long term say a club like South was promoted do you think they would supporters other than Greek Australians?

No idea. I don't check passports. ;)