Draft:Swinburne Football Club

Swinburne Football Club is an Australian amateur soccer club based in Glen Iris, Victoria that competes in Football Victoria's Sunday Metropolitan Leagues. The club is affiliated with Swinburne University of Technology.

Early years
Founded in 1978 - initially as 'Swinburne Soccer Club' - the club has a storied history marked by periods of activity and dormancy. Established during its inaugural year, the club grew steadily, culminating in a notable photograph from circa 1981, showcasing its early years.

After thriving through the 1980s and 1990s, the club unfortunately ceased operations towards the end of the latter decade. However, in 2003, a resurgence occurred when former players and current students of Swinburne University reassembled the club and its committee. This revival saw the club re-enter competitive play by fielding two men's teams, namely Seniors and Reserves, within the Amateur Soccer Federation of Victoria (VicSoccer).

In 2004, Swinburne FC relocated to improved facilities at Fritsch Holzer Park in Camberwell, a move aimed at enhancing proximity and amenities for its members. Concurrently, the club expanded its competitive footprint by entering a women's team into the VicSoccer women's league. Regrettably, despite initial strides, the women's competition faced dissolution by the league in the subsequent year.

Recognising the need for further growth and development, Swinburne FC relocated once more in 2006 to the larger and more accommodating Howard Dawson Reserve. This move marked a pivotal moment for the club, providing enhanced facilities that facilitated broader participation and elevated the standard of play. Additionally, in the following year, the club successfully reintroduced a women's team, underscoring its commitment to gender-inclusive participation and community engagement.

2010s
In 2013, Swinburne FC achieved a significant milestone by entering the Football Victoria system and joining the Victorian State Leagues, commencing its journey in State League 5.

Under the guidance of former Victorian Premier League player Tony Trifunov, the club was competitive in its early years in the State Leagues and pushed for promotion. Winger Christian Safko was awarded the league-wide State League 5 Best & Fairest Medal in 2013

Following the departure of Trifunov and some key players, the club experienced a slight decline and struggled to reach the top half of the table.

In 2015, Swinburne FC entered a 'Thirds' team in the Sunday Metropolitan Leagues for the first time. Qualifying for the Grand Final in its first season, the Thirds made the trip out to Esther Reserve to face South Yarra SC "Casuals". Donning the green away kit, the Thirds powered their way through the Casuals, registering a 3-0 victory and securing the club's first Sunday trophy.

Swinburne FC's tenure in the State Leagues concluded after the 2018 season, following which it transitioned exclusively to the Metropolitan Leagues from 2019. This strategic shift aimed to consolidate the club's focus and enhance its competitive edge.

2020s
Since transitioning exclusively to the Metropolitan Leagues, Swinburne FC celebrated numerous triumphs in the early 2020s. Under coach Jonathan Mandaradoni, the club secured the Premiership / Championship double in Metropolitan League 5 in 2022, defeating Fawkner SC 2-0 in the Grand Final. In 2023, the club once again did the Premiership / Championship double, this time in Metropolitan League 4 under the guidance of coach Harry Arhondis. Swinburne FC defeated RMIT FC 2-1 in the Grand Final.

2023 Australia Cup 'cupset'
During the 2023 Australia Cup Preliminary Round 1, Swinburne FC achieved a remarkable upset by defeating State League 4 side Lyndale United, a team five tiers higher in the Victorian football ladder, in a penalty shootout.

Despite facing challenges such as being without a Senior Head Coach and playing away from home with a squad of just 14 players, Swinburne took a 1-0 lead into half time. However, a second half comeback by Lyndale saw Swinburne trailing 2-1 late in the game. In a dramatic turn of events, stand-in coach and center back Jonathan Mandaradoni leveled the score with a crucial header with only seconds left on the clock.

With neither side able to break the deadlock during extra time, the match was decided by a penalty shootout. Midfielder Mackenzie Hyder, making a memorable debut for the club, secured victory with the decisive spot kick which resulted in a 5-3 shootout triumph. This historic win marked Swinburne's first-ever progression from the tournament's opening round, showcasing the team's resilience and determination against higher-ranked opposition.

Home ground
Swinburne FC plays its home games at Howard Dawson Reserve in Glen Iris. Commonly referred to as HDR, the playing field is notorious for its raised synthetic cricket pitch in the middle as well as its unreliable bounce, especially after considerable amounts of rain. The ground is also used by St Kevin's Old Boys SC and the two teams play off for the 'HDR Cup' when they play in league competition at the ground.

Team song
To celebrate wins, Swinburne players will gather in a circle and sing 'Swinburne's on Fire' to the tune of Freed from Desire by Gala Rizzatto.

The Elgin Inn
Swinburne FC has a long and proud partnership with The Elgin Inn in Hawthorn, Victoria. Players often gather at this pub after games for dinner and a drink, in addition to official club events such as trivia nights and presentation nights.