Fitzroy City Serbia
Encyclopedia
Fitzroy City Serbia is an Australian association football (soccer) club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Victorian State League Division Three South-East. At the start of the 2009 season club legend Nebojsa Kovacevic had been appointed as first team manager and at the start of 2010 season Branko Stojanovic had been appointed as 2nd team manager, the club had in turn successfully returned to the state leagues where it rightly belongs. At the Start of the 2010 season Nebojsa Kovacevic has been reappointed as first team manager and his young team will be working hard to achieve yet another successful season.
in Carlton, Victoria
. Carlton Serbia played most of their home games in the inner city suburbs of Melbourne and featured mainly players from the local Serbian Australian
community. In 1963, the club merged with Ringwood United from Ringwood, Victoria
and became known as Ringwood Serbia. In 1991 the club became Fitzroy City or Fitzroy Serbia and played its games at the old ground of the ex VFL/AFL club Fitzroy Lions at Edinburgh Gardens in Fitzroy, enjoying their best ever results from 1999 - 2001.
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After many successful years Fitzroy climbed up to the VPL in season 2002 were they spent 1 year before been relegated on the final day of the season finishing with 22 points, one point less than St. Albans Dinamo. The clubs glory moment in the VPL came in a 4-1 win over the then mighty Port Melbourne Sharks. Although bitterly disappointed the club is still to this day very proud of the Premier League Generation.
The Supporters of Fitzroy Serbia are called "Melbourne Srbija Firma" or "MSF" organised with the view of helping the club back to its rightful spot in the Top Leagues of Victoria.
History
The club was originally known as Carlton Serbia and was founded in 1963, primarily by members of the St. Sava's Serbian Orthodox ChurchSerbian Orthodox Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
in Carlton, Victoria
Carlton, Victoria
Carlton is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne...
. Carlton Serbia played most of their home games in the inner city suburbs of Melbourne and featured mainly players from the local Serbian Australian
Serbian Australian
Serbian Australians are citizens of Australia who are of Serbian ancestry. According to the 2006 census, there are 95,364 people in Australia who are of Serbian ancestry. Serbs have migrated to Australia in various waves during the 20th century...
community. In 1963, the club merged with Ringwood United from Ringwood, Victoria
Ringwood, Victoria
Ringwood is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, east of Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maroondah. At the 2006 Census, Ringwood had a population of 15,185....
and became known as Ringwood Serbia. In 1991 the club became Fitzroy City or Fitzroy Serbia and played its games at the old ground of the ex VFL/AFL club Fitzroy Lions at Edinburgh Gardens in Fitzroy, enjoying their best ever results from 1999 - 2001.
The Premier League Years
In 2002 Fitzroy City Serbia competed in the Victorian Premier LeagueVictorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
.
After many successful years Fitzroy climbed up to the VPL in season 2002 were they spent 1 year before been relegated on the final day of the season finishing with 22 points, one point less than St. Albans Dinamo. The clubs glory moment in the VPL came in a 4-1 win over the then mighty Port Melbourne Sharks. Although bitterly disappointed the club is still to this day very proud of the Premier League Generation.
Recent history
In the 2009 Season, Fitzroy Serbia restored some long lost pride by finishing the season as champions of the S/E provisional League 1. Nothing more stated the dominance of the club as the final day thrashing of close rivals Mooroolbark 6-0. In season 2006 the club competed in State League 3 South East ending the season in 5th place. Nikola Veljovic finished the season with the most league goals. In season 2007 the club was relegated into Provisional League 1 South East from State League 3 South East. Season 2007 Srbija ended with 8 wins and 14 losses from 22 matches finishing in 10th spot which meant the club went down due to the bottom 4 clubs having to go down. On 2nd 2000 Fitzroy City played former European and World Champions Red Star Belgrade after talking an early led Fitzroy were beaten 3-1 a man of the match performance was put in by Bojo Jevdevic keeping the Red Star players at bay in the first half. One of Fitzroy's most memorable performances after their Premier League generation came in a late season 3-1 win over then high flying Diamond Valley United in the 2005 State League 2 South-East season with Pete Veljovic scoring a double on a wet and rainy day at Partingtons Flat giving Fitzroy a strong chance of surviving the drop eventually though relegation came. After spending two seasons out of the Victorian State Leagues Fitzroy returned in the 2010 season in bright style with a opening day derby victory over Noble Park United "Drina" 3-2 with captain Nik Mitrevski scoring twice from the spot to give Srbija a 3-2 victory and a perfect start to their new season.Supporters and Legacy
Fitzroy City "Srbija" is the oldest Serbian backed football club in Victoria. The club has a very special place in hearts and in the minds of most Australian Serbs. Stretching back to 1963, the club has always looked to promote Serbian culture, customs and provide a common point on interest for the many thousands of Australian Serbs living in Victoria. Throughout Australia 'Fitzroy Srbija' has an envious reputation of being seen as true Serbian club which always looked to promote young Serbian talent, even during the tough times the club experienced after the premier league years.The Supporters of Fitzroy Serbia are called "Melbourne Srbija Firma" or "MSF" organised with the view of helping the club back to its rightful spot in the Top Leagues of Victoria.
Senior Team 2009 (Champions)
League
- Victorian Provisional League Division 1 SE
- Champions (x1) : 2009
- Victorian State League Division 2 NW
- Champions (x1) : 2000
- Victorian State League Division 3
- Runner-up (x1) : 1999
Top club goal scorers
- 2009 - Nathan Jones 12
- 2006 - Nikola Veljovic 23
- 2001 - Zlatko Mihajlovic 13
- 2000 - Michael Maljanek 19 (Also State League Div 2 NW top scorer)
- 1999 - Rade Krasic 9, N Milenkovic 9, M Nikolic 9