Father Steven Scoutas, the founding figure behind the St Spyridon Soccer Club, has been honoured as a Life Member during celebrations marking the club’s 50th anniversary, recognising his vision in creating what has grown into today’s South East Eagles FC.
The milestone was celebrated at a special anniversary function attended by past and present players, officials and members of the parish community.
During the evening, club president Paul Peters formally acknowledged Father Steven as the founder of the club and presented him with Life Membership in recognition of his enduring contribution.
Father Steven first conceived the idea in 1976, shortly after arriving at St Spyridon Parish, when he proposed establishing an internal soccer competition between the parish’s eight afternoon Greek schools. The initiative aimed to bring young people together through sport while strengthening connections within the parish community.
The competition quickly proved popular, but within two seasons many of the most talented players were being recruited by local clubs. Recognising the need for a more structured pathway, Father Steven met with Con Pavlou and together they decided the club should enter the Southern and Eastern Football Association.
The association accepted the application, officially welcoming St Spyridon Soccer Club as its newest member and marking the beginning of the club’s competitive journey.
With Father Steven’s pastoral duties – including numerous weddings and baptisms each weekend -limiting his ability to attend matches, he appointed Pavlou as the club’s first president. Pavlou would go on to serve for decades and become widely recognised as a central figure in the club’s development.
Over the years, the club evolved and changed names before eventually becoming known as South East Eagles FC, continuing the legacy that began within the parish nearly half a century earlier.
During the anniversary celebration, Father Steven paid tribute to Pavlou, describing him as the “heart and soul” of the club for his tireless leadership over many years.
He also thanked the generations of volunteers who have supported the club, including presidents, secretaries, treasurers, coaches, managers and players who helped sustain the organisation across five decades.
In his remarks, Father Steven singled out current president Paul Peters, praising his leadership over the past decade and acknowledging the dedication required to guide a community sporting club.
The evening also reunited several of the original players from the early Greek schools competition, offering a reminder of how a small parish initiative grew into a long-standing football institution.
Reflecting on the milestone, organisers noted that a project created with the aim of bringing children together through sport has endured for half a century – a testament to the strength of the original vision.
Today, the club continues to write its history as South East Eagles FC, carrying forward the spirit of community, youth development and parish pride that first inspired its creation.
