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Preston Lions FC

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Preston Lions FC
Full namePreston Lions Football Club
Nickname(s)Makedonia, Lions, Lavovi, Reds
Founded1947; 77 years ago (1947)
GroundB.T. Connor Reserve
Reservoir, Victoria
Capacity6,500[1]
OwnerPreston Lions Supporters Trust
ChairmanDavid Cvetkovski[2]
ManagerLouie Acevski (Mens Team)
Daniel Foden (Womens Team)
LeagueNPL Victoria
20242nd of 14
(promoted) Victoria Premier League 1
Websitehttp://www.plfc.com.au/

Preston Lions Football Club (formerly Preston Makedonia Soccer Club) is a semi-professional soccer club from Preston, a northern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The club was established in 1947 to play non-professional soccer matches against other teams in the local community until 1959, and 12 years later, they joined the Victorian Soccer Federation (now Football Victoria), the club's first season in an officially sanctioned competition.[3] The club won promoted in 2022 from NPL 3 Victoria and in 2024 from VPL 1 to return top flight football Victoria NPL in 2025. The Lions currently compete in the NPL Victoria competition, which is the third tier in the Australian soccer league system.The club won the VPL/NPL Victoria in seasons 1980, 1994, 2002 and 2007.

History

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Foundation

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The club was founded in 1947 and was affiliated with the Victorian Soccer Federation (now Football 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.

Transformation of the club and affiliation to VSF

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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 Makedonia 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 Lions Social Club was also established around the same time and is located directly opposite the ground.

National Soccer League

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Chart of yearly table positions for Preston Makedonia in NSL

Preston Makedonia continued to compete successfully in the NSL for the next 13 years, achieving their best finish in 1987 as runner-up in the national championship. In 1992 Preston Makedonia 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 Makedonia played their last match in the NSL.

Victorian Premier League

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Relegated to the Victorian Premier League, Preston Makedonia were once again crowned Victorian champions in 1994. Around this time, Soccer Australia forced VPL clubs to abolish any ethnicity associated with their club names. Preston Makedonia Soccer Club was renamed the Preston Lions Soccer Club. The club has since adopted the title of the Preston Lions Football Club, following the lead set by the sports’ governing body and keeping in line with how the game is known in the UK and countries where people don't speak English–as "football".

The club experienced a disastrous campaign in 1995, being relegated to the Victorian State League Division 1 after finishing bottom of the Premier League. Championship winning coach Peter Ollerton was sacked after five games with a record of 1 win, 1 draw and 3 losses to start the '95 campaign.[4] Sean Lane came in on 2 April but lasted just 13 games with a 3–5–5 record. Norrie Pate oversaw the rest of the campaign as head manager but was unable to avoid the drop. Preston bounced straight back to the Premier League, winning promotion with their 2nd-place finish in the '96 State League 1.[5]

Makedonia would once again become Victorian Premier League champions in both 2002 and 2007, adding to its already impressive collection of trophies. Preston had 3 points deducted at the start of the 2007 season, making the feat all the more impressive. The 2007 grand final at Bob Jane Stadium against Whittlesea Zebras was attended by an estimated 4,500 people.[6]

Recent History

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In season 2009, in the club's 50 year anniversary, Preston finished the season in 12th place and were relegated, just two seasons after being crowned VPL Champions. Makedonia managed just 7 points all season in what was one of the worst ever VPL seasons recorded.[7] Preston narrowly avoided relegation in 2010, finishing one point above the relegated FC Clifton Hill, qualifying to the relegation playoff against State League 2 side Diamond Valley United, winning the encounter 1–0 through a Robert Najdovski goal.[8]

Preston's fall from grace was continued in the 2011 State League One season, where the club was not able to avoid relegation, finishing bottom of the table. Makedonia experienced many heavy defeats in the 2011 season, finished with 56 goals conceded, 17 more than any other side in the competition.[9]

Preston Lions, playing in the third tier of football in Victoria for the first time in over 30 years, had a disappointing 2012 season, finishing mid-table.[10] 2013 was more of the same for the historic outfit, placing 7th in the regionalised Victorian State League 2 North-West.[11]

After the inception of the National Premier Leagues Victoria, Preston were "promoted" to the Victorian State League 1 North-West, but as the Premier League was split into two divisions, Preston remained at essentially the same tier, the third, as they were before in the Victorian football pyramid.

The 2014 season saw the Lions manage a 2nd-place finish in the league, missing out on top spot and a State League 1 NW championship by just three points.[12] The club parted ways with head manager Josip Biskic in May[13] and replaced him with Englishman Andy O'Dell. When O'Dell came in after Round 7, Preston were at the bottom end of the ladder. The Lions then went on an incredible run under their new coach, not losing a game for the rest of the season.[14] A landmark moment was achieved when in August 2014, Preston were able to announce that they had eradicated their ATO debt in full,[15] with acknowledgement arriving form the ATO in September 2014. President Zoran Trajceski resigned at the end of 2014.[16]

The Lions followed up their 2nd-place finish in 2014 with a 4th-place finish in 2015.[17] In June 2015, Andy O’Dell was sacked as head manager following poor results and was replaced by former player Željko Popović.[18] Popović was initially brought in on an interim basis, but the good results he achieved until the end of the 2015 season saw him reappointed for the 2016 season. The 2016 season saw another runners-up finish in the league for the Lions, finishing six points behind champions Altona Magic SC.

With one point from three games to start the 2017 State League One season, head coach Željko Popović was replaced by former Preston Lions goalkeeper and former Hume City FC coach Lou Acevski.[19] Acevski's first game in charge was an FFA Cup 5th qualifying round thriller, losing on penalties to fellow State League One North-West side North Sunshine Eagles FC, after the match finished 4–4 in extra time. Preston striker Chris Davies scored all four goals for his side, but blazed his penalty over the bar to give the Eagles the win.[20] Preston finished the season in fourth place, with Davies' 14 goals enough to clinch the club's golden boot award. Robert Stambolziev also played eight games for the club, scoring nine goals.

Preston had a poor start to the 2018 season, winning just one of its opening six games. Club returnee Naum Sekulovski was given the club's captaincy. A late season charge that saw the club go 12 games undefeated, propelling the club from the bottom half to second place, saw the club come in with a chance to challenge Geelong SC for the title and subsequent promotion to the NPL. In the penultimate game of the 2018 State League 1 season, 3,869 people packed out BT Connor Reserve.[citation needed] A win would have seen Preston jump Geelong into first place, but the visiting club came away with a 2–0 victory, winning the championship. Queenslander Rhys Saunders was Preston's top goalscorer with 14 goals, managing the feat despite arriving mid-season.

Makedonia started the 2019 season with a 7–0 win over FC Clifton Hill, a promising sign of things to come. Preston would go undefeated until Round 11 of the season when it went down 4-2 to fellow Macedonian-backed club Sydenham Park SC. However, the club quickly recovered and went on to confirm promotion from State League 1 with a 1–0 win over Keilor Park SC. One week later, Preston claimed the State League 1 North-West championship title with a 4–0 victory over Banyule City, the club's first league title in 12 years.

Preston won the 2022 National Premier Leagues Victoria 3 competition, with star player Connor Bell taking out the joint golden boot award with 14 goals.[21]

The club finished in 8th place in its first season in the National Premier Leagues Victoria 2 competition in 2023.[22] Initially looking like a promotion contender, Preston's last 10 games saw 6 draws and 4 losses, falling down into mid-table.

National Second Division (2025 onward)

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On November 20th 2023, Preston were announced as one of the eight foundation clubs of the new National Second Division which will begin in 2025. They will continue to play in the VPL 1 for the 2024 season in Victoria, before transitioning to the new national second league following season. It will be the first time since 1993 that Preston have competed on the national stage of Australian football.

Supporters

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Preston has traditionally garnered support from the local Macedonian community across Melbourne but it also received much support from Macedonians all across Australia when they were competing in the NSL.

Nowadays, the club has significantly broadened its fanbase beyond the Macedonian community, with the Lions working hard to appeal to the broader football community in the northern suburbs of Melbourne.

Preston is well known throughout Australian football for having one of the largest and most dedicated supporter bases with crowds in the NSL often exceeding that of 10,000, a large figure for the time. There have been numerous supporter groups throughout the year; including Pečalbari from the 1990s who were founded by recent Macedonian immigrants to Australia, many of whom had been involved with ultras groups such as Komiti and Čkembari. Other groups include the Lions Pride from the early to mid 2000s and the Preston Boys until around 2011. Today the club is supported by a variety of groups, including the Preston Makedonia Ultras and Lavovi Melbourne.[citation needed]

Current squad

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As of 27 October 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Australia AUS Matthew Symes
2 DF Australia AUS Domenic Folino
3 DF Australia AUS Alec Mills
4 DF Australia AUS Aaron Anderson
5 DF Australia AUS Jakob Cresnar
7 DF Australia AUS Benji Lyvidikos
8 MF Australia AUS Luc Jeggo
9 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Matthew Whelan
10 FW England ENG Connor Bell
11 MF Martinique MTQ Wesley Jobello
12 DF Australia AUS Jake Trajkovski
14 MF Australia AUS Marcus Schröen
16 GK Australia AUS Bon Scott
18 MF Australia AUS Andrija Roksandic
19 FW Australia AUS Giorgio Serdenes
20 DF Australia AUS Stefan Nigro
22 MF Australia AUS Brandon Lauton
No. Pos. Nation Player
24 FW Australia AUS Delarno Pharoe
26 FW South Sudan SSD Chok Dau
30 GK Australia AUS Ahmad Taleb
31 DF North Macedonia MKD Matthew Bozinovski
33 DF Australia AUS Adrian Valenti
35 DF Australia AUS Andrew Stubley
52 MF Australia AUS Luke Oresti
77 FW Afghanistan AFG Sayed Fatemi
90 FW Australia AUS William Baynham
— FW Australia AUS Lleyton Brooks
— FW Australia AUS Gian Albano
— DF Australia AUS Michael Boffey
— FW Afghanistan AFG Jawad Rezai
— MF Australia AUS Jack Bozinovski
— GK Australia AUS William Sparrow
— Australia AUS James Petrovski
— FW Australia AUS Alex Walter

Honours

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2007 Victorian Premier League Grand Final

National

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State

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  • Victorian Premier League/ NPL Victoria Champions: (4) 1980, 1994, 2002, 2007
  • Victorian Premier League/ NPL Victoria Minor Premiers: (3) 1994, 2003, 2007
  • Victorian Premier League/ NPL Victoria Runners-Up: 1978
  • Victorian Premier League/ NPL Victoria Finalists: (7) 1994, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008
  • National Premier League 2/ Victorian Premier League 1 Runners-Up: 2024
  • National Premier League 3/ Victorian Premier League 2 Champions: 2022
  • Victorian Division One/ State League Division One Champions: (2) 1966, 1975
  • Victorian Division One/ State League Division One Runners-Up: (3) 1964, 1965, 1996
  • Victorian State League 1 North-West Champions: 2019
  • Victorian State League 1 North-West Runners-Up: (2) 2014, 2016
  • Victorian Division Two/State League Division Two Champions: (2) 1961, 1973
  • Dockerty Cup Winners: (1) 1992
  • Dockerty Cup Runner-Up: (2) 1985, 1986
  • Victoria Cup: (1) 1980
  • Federation Cup Winners: (3) 1973, 1975, 1996
  • Federation Cup Runner-Up: (1) 1963

Women's

  • Victorian Womens Premier League (2nd Tiers) Champions: 2022
  • Victorian Womens Premier League (2nd Tiers) Minor Premiers: 2022

Metro (FFV)

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  • Metropolitan League 3 North-West Champions: 2015

Individual awards

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Victorian Premier League Gold Medal – Metropolitan Player of the Year

  • 2015 Ibrahim Yattara

Victorian Premier League Gold Medal – VPL Player of the Year

  • 2001–Chris Emsovski
  • 2003–Chris Emsovski
  • 2005–Anthony Magnacca

Bill Fleming Medal – Media voted VPL Player of the Year

  • 1994–Adrian Pender
  • 2006–Anthony Magnacca
  • 2007–Tony Sterjovski

Victorian Premier League Coach of the Year

  • 2007–Goran Lozanovski

Victorian Premier League Top Goalscorer

  • 1979–Gary Ward

Victorian Premier League Goalkeeper of the Year

  • 1999–Lou Acevski

Victorian Premier League Under 21 Player of the Year

  • 2005–Serkan Oksuz

Jimmy Rooney Medal – VPL Grand Final Man of the Match

  • 1994–Chris Sterjovski
  • 2002–John Spazaovski
  • 2007–Zoran Petrevski

Weinstein Medal Junior Player of the Year

  • 1989-Robert Spasevski

Representative Football

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Australian Representatives – Senior Level

  • Doug Brown
  • Billy Celeski
  • Gary Cole
  • Oscar Crino
  • Robbie Dunn
  • David Jones
  • John Little
  • George Jolevski
  • Goran Lozanovski
  • John Markovski
  • Zarko Odzakov
  • Sasa Ognenovski
  • Peter Ollerton
  • Con Opasinis
  • George Slifkas
  • Warren Spink
  • Sean Lane
  • Phil Traianedes
  • Kris Trajanovski
  • Andrew Zinni

National Representatives – Youth Team

  • John Little (AUS)
  • Warren Spink (AUS)
  • John Markovski (AUS)
  • Robert Spasevski
  • Naum Sekulovski (AUS)
  • Kris Trajanovski (AUS)
  • Goran Lozanovski (AUS)
  • Vasco Trpcevski (AUS)
  • Bill Tijuelo (AUS)
  • Daniel Miller (AUS)
  • George Campbell (SCO)
  • Graham Heys (ENG)
  • Robert Stambolziev (AUS)

Victorian State Representatives – Senior Level

  • George Campbell
  • John Sapazovski
  • Anthony Magnacca
  • Pece Siveski
  • Serkan Oksuz
  • Jonathan Munoz
  • Sean Lane
  • Robert Spasevski
  • Robert Stojcevski
  • Steve Jackson

Notable former coaches

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Records

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Season-to-season records

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● Preston Makedonia Inaugural season *Victorian Provisional League*

1959 - 4th - 10 Teams in League.

● Victorian Metropolitan League Division 2

1960 -3rd - 10 Teams in League.

1961 - 1st - 10 Teams in League ***Promoted*** to Victorian Division 1 South.

1962 - 10th- 12 Teams in League.

1963 - 7th -12 Teams League.

1964 - 2nd - 12 Teams in League.

1965 - 2nd - 12 Teams in League.

1966 - 1st - 12 Teams in League. ***CHAMPIONS**

** Promoted** to STATE LEAGUE. (Premier League).

1967 - 12th - 12 Teams in League. **Relegated** to Metropolitan League Division 1

1968 -3rd - 12 Teams in League.

1969 -7th - 12 Teams in League.

1970 -7th - 12 Teams in League.

1971 -8th - 12 Teams in League. **Relegated** to Metropolitan League Division 2

1972 - 3rd - 12 Teams in League.

1973 - 1st - 12 Teams in League ***CHAMPIONS****Victorian Metropolitan League Division 2 **Promoted**to Victorian Metropolitan League Division 1

1974 - 3rd - 12 Teams in League.

1975 - 1st ***Champions*** Victorian Metropolitan League Division 1**Promoted to State League**

1976 - 7th ' 12 Teams in League.

1977 - 10th - 12 Teams in League.

1978 - 2nd **Runners up** - 12 Teams in League.

1979 - 3rd-12 Teams in League.

1980 - 1st ***Champions*** - 12 Teams.

● Promoted to the National Soccer League (NSL) for 13 Seasons.

1981 - 12th- 16 Teams in League.

1982 - 5th- 16 Teams in League.

1983 - 3rd- 16 Teams in League.

1984 - 6th - 12 Teams in League.

1985 - 5th - 12 Teams in League.

1986 - 6th - 12 Teams in League.

1987 - 2nd - 14 Teams in League ** Runners Up**

1988 - 12th - 14 Teams in League.

1989 - 5th - 14 Teams in League.

1989/1990 - 9th - 14 Teams in League.

1990/1991 - 8th - 14 Teams in League.

1991/1992 - 14th - 14 Teams in League.

1992/1993 - 13th - 14 Teams in League

Season 92/93 ** Relegated** to VPL

  • Victorian Premier League

1994 - 1st ***Champions***

1995 - 12th ** Relegated ** to Victorian State League Division 1

  • Victorian State League Division 1

1996 - 2nd Runners - up & Promoted to Victorian Premier League

  • Victorian Premier League

1997 - 4th

1998 - 8th

1999 - 3rd

2000 - 5th

2001 - 9th

2002 - 5th in regular season *Champions*

2003 - 1st *Minor Premiership*

2004 - 4th

2005 - 7th

2006 - 7th

2007- 1st ***Champions***

2008 - 6th

2009 - 12th ** Relegated to Victorian State League Division 1

  • Victorian State League Division 1

2010 - 10th

2011 - 12th ** Relegated to Victorian State League Division 2 N/W

2012 - 9th

2013 - 7th

2014 - 2nd

  • 2014 season Renamed to Victorian State League Division 1 as a result of the re-structure from FFV and the Inaugural seasons of NPL & NPL 1 *

2015 - 4th

2016 - 2nd

2017 - 4th

2018 - 3rd

2019 - 1st ***Champions*** & Promoted to NPL 3 Victoria

  • National Premier League 3 Victoria

2020 - Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia

2021 - Cancelled mid-season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia

2022 - 1st ***Champions*** & Promoted to NPL 2 Victoria

  • National Premier League 2 Victoria

2023 - 8th

Victoria Premier League 1

  • 2024 season Renamed to Victoria Premier League 1 as a result of the re-structure from Football Victoria *

2024 - 2nd & Promoted to NPL Victoria

  • National Premier League Victoria

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "BT Connor Reserve". Austadiums. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  2. ^ "PLFC Executive Committee". Preston Lions FC. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  3. ^ "CLUB HISTORY". Preston Lions FC. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  4. ^ "Preston Lions 1995". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  5. ^ "1996 Victorian State League Division One - Final Table". Archived from the original on 30 May 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  6. ^ "Victorian Premier League - 2007 Season Results". Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  7. ^ "Victorian Premier League - 2009 Season Table". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  8. ^ "2010 Victorian State League Division One - Final Table". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  9. ^ "2011 Victorian State League Division One - Final Table". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  10. ^ "2012 Victorian State League Division Two North-West - Final Table". Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  11. ^ "2013 Victorian State League Division Two North-West - Final Table". Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  12. ^ "2014 Victorian State League Division 1 North-West - Final Table". Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  13. ^ "CLUB ANNOUNCEMENT". Preston Lions F.C. Archived from the original on 28 March 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  14. ^ Twomey, Liam. "Cairnlea coach has a point to prove". Star Weekly. Archived from the original on 27 November 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  15. ^ "Debt Demolished!!!". Preston Lions F.C. Archived from the original on 26 September 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  16. ^ "Presidents Report 2014". Preston Lions F.C. Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  17. ^ "2015 PRESIDENT'S REPORT – Preston Lions FC (PLFC)". www.plfc.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015.
  18. ^ "COACHING ANNOUNCEMENT". Preston Lions F.C. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  19. ^ Kulas, Damir. "Back to the future as Acevski returns to Preston as coach". The Corner Flag. Archived from the original on 14 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  20. ^ Kulas, Damir. "Eagles soar in thriller while NPL outfits progress". The Corner Flag. Archived from the original on 15 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  21. ^ "Ladder for NPL 3 VIC Men". GameDay. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  22. ^ "Ladder for NPL 2 VIC Men". GameDay. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
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Archive Website

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