Alexander vs the Lions — Terrace Edition

Words: Tom Biltcliffe

Images: Tom Biltcliffe

Alexander the Great perished in 323 BC. As is the case with many revered ancient figures, it is a widely held belief that alcohol played some part in his downfall.

Slightly less dramatically but still viewed through the prism of a few cans of Victoria Bitter, a club which bears his name succumbed to a last gasp defeat.

Heidelberg United Alexander FC goes under a few monikers including Αλέξανδρος (Alexander) and Μέγας (Great) hinting not so subtly at the club’s origins of being formed by Greeks from Florina in 1958.

That Heidelberg United Alexander FC's de-throning came at the expense of Melbourne neighbours Preston Lions - a club founded by Macedonian descendants - only rubbed salt in to the wounds and extra lemon onto the souvlaki.

Less than five miles separate these two proud clubs, among the oldest in the National Premier League (NPL) Victoria, one step down from the A-League.

And yet, rather than "who are ya?" it was more a case of "where are ya?" with fewer than 250 fans in attendance and scarcely anyone from the North Melbourne suburb of Preston making themselves known.

©Tom Biltcliffe/ Terrace Edition. Olympic Park. Heidelberg United FC.

Lions fans weren’t permitted to attend the match due to “risk mitigation” which is a shame given that the fixture could grow with the right conditions.

Despite the endeavour of both, this game was goalless until the 90th minute. The few hundred home fans raised the Hellenic flag high in the hope it would stir one last gallant attack from their yellow and black troops. It didn't work.

Visiting striker Luke Francis notched the winner, not with an arrowed shot, more a bobbling effort to strike a dagger at the heart of the Bergers.

It hasn’t been the easiest of times for last season’s grand final winners who recently had their Asia Champions League Two slot vetoed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Deemed to have satisfied the mandatory criteria set out by Football Australia, the AFC said, “no entry” and instead replaced them with behemoths Melbourne Victory.

©Tom Biltcliffe/ Terrace Edition. Olympic Park. Heidelberg United terrace.

All of this rather stings in these parts but a trip down Catalina Street provided a welcome antidote to the disillusionment associated with the A-Leagues; a division where any player showing promise often exits rather swiftly to the lure of European riches, while cynics jibe that imports are sometimes past their best.

Some top flight clubs struggle to even half fill their stadiums. And while there weren’t too many braving the elements for this Saturday 3pm kick off, it was refreshing – literally and metaphorically – to grab a beer and saunter around the pitch to the sporadic choruses of “Come on, Bergers!”

The grassy knoll at one end was a welcome change of vantage point, as was heading to the back of the covered terrace for some much needed shelter.

Australians know their football, they just have other competitors for their fandom, whether it be Australian Rules Football (AFL) or Rugby League.

However, getting to local games against the backdrop of some spirited Socceroos performances at the World Cup and, who knows, we may just see the next Nestory Irankunda.

Meanwhile Preston Lions went on to beat Newcastle Jets, one of the great upsets in the Australia Cup.