Victorian football clubs South Melbourne FC and Melbourne Knights FC may be rivals on the pitch, but off the field they’re fighting as one to give both clubs the opportunity to participate in Australia’s top flight competition.
Melbourne Knights President Pave Jusup invited the President of SMFC Nick Maikousis, Chairman Bill Papastergiadis, Head of Football Andrew Mesourouni and Tony Margaritis to an event at Knights Stadium to mark the great history between the two clubs.
The function was held immediately before the match between the two teams, where the Knights managed to defeat Victoria’s National Premier League leaders South Melbourne 1-0. Knights have now managed to tighten the gap between them and South Melbourne, trailing by only one point.
Jusup applauded the Melbourne club rivalry, saying “you cannot manufacture a rivalry. It comes through history and passionate supporters”.
Jusup also noted that clubs like South Melbourne and Knights should be playing top flight football and that it was time to make this happen.
The event was also used to discuss the upcoming proposed National Second Division, where both Chris Nikou and Nick Galatas indicated that the competition could be up and running in 2023.
Andrew Marth, a Knights legend during the days of the NSL, recounted the thrill of playing in front of thousands of supporters when up against South.
“It was real and it was passionate”, he said. It was also noted that in that era, a number of players played in both shirts, such as Davidson and Fausto D’Amici amongst many others.
Nick Maikousis was impressed with the the Knights’ welcoming hospitality at the event, highlighting how they are fierce competitors on the pitch, but there is mutual respect at board level.
Andrew Mesourouni and Bill Papastergiadis spoke with Jusup about the thriller that was played out the Tuesday before in the FFA cup.
“The thousands that attended the FFA cup game reflected the need for there to be a revamp of the structure of Football in this country” said Bill Papastergiadis.
READ MORE: Shootout victory sees South Melbourne take glory against rivals Melbourne Knights in FFA Cup
“Such passion and support cannot be ignored”.
South Melbourne FC won via a penalty shootout to beat their local rivals in the FFA Cup, yet the game was remembered for the incredible on-field and crowd atmosphere.
Andrew Mesourouni said “it’s time now to make the National Second Division a reality”.
