Preston Lions
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| Full name | Preston Lions Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Lions, Makedonia, Lavovi, Reds |
| Founded | 1947 (1959) |
| Ground |
B.T. Connor Reserve, Reservoir, Victoria |
| Capacity | 8,000 Includes 1,000 seating approx |
| Owner | Preston Lions Supporters Trust Est 2012 |
| Chairman | Zak Gruevski |
| Manager | Lupce Lou Acevski |
| League | Victorian State League 1 N/W |
| 2016 | 2nd |
| Website | Club home page |
Preston Lions Football Club (formerly Preston Makedonia Soccer Club) is a soccer club from Preston, a northern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The club was formed in 1947, joining the Victorian Soccer Federation in 1959, the club's first season in an officially sanctioned competition. The Lions currently compete in the Victorian State League Division 1. The Club won the Victorian Premier League in both 2002 and 2007.
The club was founded in 1947 and was affiliated with the Victorian Soccer Federation (now Football Federation Victoria) in 1959. Based in the suburb of Preston, Victoria, the Macedonia Soccer Club was originally created as a focal point for the newly immigrated Macedonian community to gather and socialise, and to provide the then youth with the opportunity to learn and play the "world game" that was so popular back in their homeland of Macedonia.
In 1959 the club established itself from an amateur club to a semi-professional club, and a change of name to the Preston Makedonia Soccer Club with promotion to the Victorian Division Two (South Competition). Preston Makedonia moved forward in leaps and bounds to become champions of the Victorian Metropolitan League Division One in 1966, and as a result, was promoted to the state’s top competition, the Victorian State League in 1967.
The club first experienced championship success at the state’s top level in 1975 and again in 1980. As Victorian champions, Preston competed in a play-off against other state champions and in 1981 they were promoted to the then National Soccer League (NSL) competition.
During this significant period of growth the need for much larger facilities became apparent and the club consequently moved from its home base of T.A. Cochrane Reserve in Collier Street, Preston, to its current home ground at B.T. Connor Reserve in nearby Reservoir. The Preston Makedonia Social Club was also established around the same time and is located directly opposite the ground.
Preston continued to compete successfully in the NSL for the next 13 years, achieving their best finish in 1987 as runner-up in the Southern Division Championship. In 1992 Preston took out the prestigious Dockerty Cup in a thrilling penalty shootout against arch rivals South Melbourne. However financial difficulties led to poor performances and in 1993 Preston played their last match in the NSL.
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