Northern Falcons FC
Full nameNorthern Falcons Football Club[1]
Nickname(s)Falcons
Short nameNFFC
Founded1986 (1986) as 'Flemington Floridia SC'
GroundHayes Park
ChairmanFrank Pizzo
Head CoachKaan Kalayci
LeagueFootball Victoria - State League 4 North
20192nd
WebsiteClub website

Northern Falcons Football Club is a semi-professional football club that is based in the northern Melbourne suburb of Thornbury. Founded in 1986 by the Sicilian Floridian community of Melbourne, the Falcons currently compete in Football Victoria State League 4 North [2][3][4]

History

On field

The football club was established under the name of Flemington Floridia Soccer Club in October 1986 as the sporting arm of the Floridia Social Club. The club's inaugural home venue was the parkland at the foot of the Flemington commission housing on Flemington Road.[5] The club debuted Victorian state league football in 1993, participating in the Provisional League Division Three, now formally recognized as Victoria's eighth tier.[6] The club's senior squad achieved promotion twice in 2005[7] and in 2008[8] into the Victorian State League Division 4 where it competes today. The Falcons were runner's up in 2019 also but were not promoted to Victorian State League Division 3.[9] Prior to the last match of the season against second placed Heidelberg Eagles, the Falcons only had to draw at a minimum to ensure its first premiership, and promotion, but were defeated 5–0.[10]

Off field

The club is led by president Frank Pizzo[11] who has earned recognition for the club from Football Victoria for numerous workings. In 2008, with support from the Darebin Council, Pizzo established the club's 'All Abilities' program for players with disabilities in weekly competitive competitions.[12] In 2013, Football Victoria awarded Pizzo with the federations' annual volunteer of the year award for his & the club's efforts with the 'all abilities' program.[13] Most recently the club embarked on starting a junior female program and in season 2021, they boast four all girls teams and a female community of over 80 people.

Name timeline

Name Period
Flemington Floridia SC1986–1994
Flemington Falcons SC1994–2004
Northern Falcons FC2004–present

Staff

As of 23 July 20–21

Football department

Name Role
Head coach Kaan Kalayci
Assistant coach Hasan Ibrahim & Jim Hristoforidis
Reserves' Coach John Apidopoulos
Junior Technical Director Troy Pennycooke-Morgan

Executive

Name Role
Frank PizzoPresident
Frank MaterazzoSecretary
Joe PizzoTreasurer

Honours

Runner's up (2): 2008 (North-West), 2019 (North)
Runner's up (1): 2005 (North-West)

References

  1. ↑ "ABN Lookup". November 2014.
  2. ↑ Michell, Tim (16 May 2016). "Falcons pushing top clubs". Herald Sun.
  3. ↑ "NEWS".
  4. ↑ "Victorian Football Club Archive - Noble Park to Nunawading City".
  5. ↑ "Northern Falcons Football Club". Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  6. ↑ "Victorian Provisional League Division Three - 1993 Season Table". www.ozfootball.net. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  7. ↑ "2005 Victorian Provisional League Division 3 North-West - Final Table".
  8. ↑ "2008 Victorian Provisional League Division Two North-West - Final Table".
  9. ↑ "Victorian State League Division 4 North 2019 Season Table".
  10. ↑ "FFV - Metropolitan Match Centre".
  11. ↑ Irwin, Julia (14 July 2014). "Review shows need to increase social diversity in sports". Herald Sun.
  12. ↑ "Northern Falcons all abilities success | Football Federation Victoria". www.footballfedvic.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016.
  13. ↑ Northern Falcons President Rallies Support For New Inclusive League In Melbournes North Herald Sun
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