Heidelberg United
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| Full name | Heidelberg United Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Alexander, Alexandros, United, Warriors, Bergers |
| Founded | 1958 as Alexander |
| Ground |
Olympic Park (Village), Heidelberg West, Victoria |
| Capacity | 12,000 |
| Manager | George Katsakis |
| League | National Premier Leagues Victoria |
| 2015 | 3rd |
Heidelberg United Football Club (commonly referred to as Alexander, Warriors, or Bergers) is an association football club based in the northern Melbourne suburb of Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia. The team currently competes in the National Premier League Victoria.
The Heidelberg United Alexander Football Club was founded in 1958 by Greeks from Florina. The Three years earlier (1955) the founding members of "Alexander The Great" dissociated themselves from the petty politics and the unbalanced ideological strife which characterised the Northcote Florinian Social Club in the late 1940s and early 1950s. They decided to form their own social club, the Clifton Hill Social Club. It was at that time when families, mainly immigrants wives and their unmarried children, began to arrive in Australia in great numbers.
In May 1955 the founding members, George Baniscas, Nicholas Themelkos, Nick Romanidis, Tryphon Rakovalis, Tryphon Avramopoulos, Chris Samartzis and Peter Economidis commenced their meetings at the residence of Tryphon Rakovalis in Fairfield. Their successful gathering attracted mostly Florinians, as well as from other regions. In 1957 discussions to establish "Alexander The Great" began.
Markos Economidis managed to convince the committee of Clifton Hill Social Club to contribute the funds required to purchase the necessary gear for the team. On 12 May 1958, the Clifton Hill members organised their first appeal. A total of 125 pounds was collected. Wishing to broaden support for the soccer team and in an effort to avoid any political affiliation and, thus, conflict, the leaders of "Alexander The Great" launched a campaign to run a completely independent sporting club. Their move gained momentum immediately.
The first committee consisting of George Baniscas (President), Markos Economidis (Secretary), NicholasThemelkos (Vice-President), Tryphon Rakovalis (Treasurer), A. Doukas, E. Mangopoulos, G. Milopoulos, V. Iliopoulos and T. Iliopoulos and Members. They declared Megas Alexandros its administrative independence from Clifton Hill Social Club.
During the first two years (1958–1959) "Alexander the Great" received the financial support of the Clifton Hill Social Club, as well as of their own membership, the spectators and supporters, even the players. The records of the club indicate, for example, that on 1 February 1960 the players donated the amount of 5 pounds 3s 0d. The inaugural game was played on 13 September 1958 attracting four hundred spectators and 2 pounds 2s 10d was collected, an amount which" was increased to 5 pounds 8s 3d within three months following the successful and popular start up of the club. The committee members walked around the fences to collect the entrance 'tickets' in a hat. Their wives were responsible for washing the playing gear and for having the first-aid box ready. The main expenditure areas included the hiring of the soccer grounds, administrative expenses, players' clothing, fees for the referee, usually 1 pound 10s 0d and drinks for the players.
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