Tributes have flowed after the death of Football Victoria Hall of Fame member and Heidelburg United FC legend, John Dimtsis, on Tuesday evening after a long battle with illness.
“A person who has contributed so much for the game in the country,” Heidelburg United wrote on Twitter.
The Board of Directors and staff at Football Australia and Football Victoria also expressed their condolences to Dimtsis’ family on his passing.
“John Dimtsis’ name will forever be synonymous with football in Victoria,” Football Victoria said in a statement.
“A well respected and much loved member of our community for such an extended tenure and deep passion for the game and its people, his passing will be felt deeply by so many in the football community across Australia.”
Dimtsis was born in Greece on 22 June, 1940 and came to Australia at the age of nine. After attending Northcote High School he joined the Commonwealth Bank before moving to the State Bank of Victoria, where he worked intimately with the area’s large Greek community.
This path led him to the Alexander Soccer Club, then playing at John Street. He quickly became an influential administrator, serving as Club Treasurer before gaining the attention of the Victorian Soccer Federation (VSF). He joined the Board of VSF and by 1980 was appointed President.
While retaining his role as President of the VSF, Dimtsis became Treasurer of the Australian Soccer Federation (ASF) and Deputy Chairman under John Constantine. In 1995, Dimtsis served as acting chairman of the ASF.
During his time with ASF, he managed referees, juniors, indoor soccer and women’s football. He played a major role in negotiating the merger between the men’s and women’s organisations and helped facilitate the latter’s entry into Olympic competition.
After five years following his period at the ASF he returned to his beloved roots by re-joining Heidelberg United, completing his spell as president of the club at the conclusion of 2014.
He was made an Honorary Life member of HUFC in 2016 and in 2017, inducted into Football Victoria’s Hall of Fame.
Source: Football Victoria.
