Our Story
Our extended story
The Old Xaverians Soccer Club (OXSC) was established in 2002 to meet the ever-increasing demand from past students of Xavier College to continue with competitive soccer. The Steering Committee including Peter De Luca, Jamie McCormack, James Nicholls, John Ubaldi, Peter Clyne and Phil Barcellona met in November 2001 and established the basis from which the club emerged. The OXSC was born in the tradition of other prominent Old Xaverian sporting clubs, based on the intrinsic values of integrity, goodwill and fair-play. The club is proud of the links it has forged. The OXSC is a valued member of the Old Xaverian Association and the Associated Old Boys Soccer Association. The Club is also supported by the Xavier College administration, the Xavier Soccer Committee, Melbourne's Italian community, and prominent members of the Victorian soccer community. 2002The Club enjoyed considerable on-field success in its debut year. The Club’s debut game saw the Seniors, with an average age of 20, completely outclass their opposition with a 9-0 victory against Arlaadi United (highlighted by 4 goals from Daniel Robilotta). As the Club moved home grounds from Xavier to Smith Reserve and finally to Myrtle Park in Balwyn, the impressive results continued. By season’s end, the Reserve Team finished in a creditable third position and the Social Seniors, with the majority of players playing competitive soccer for the first time, stormed home to finish fourth. The Seniors Team finished their inaugural season as undefeated champions of the ASFV Division 2 with 15 wins and 2 draws from 17 games. Victory in the season-ending ASFV Top 4 Cup confirmed the club’s status as the youngest and most successful member of the Amateur Soccer League in 2002. The final was a hard fought contest. Trailing by two goals with 15 minutes remaining, Gianni Bramante and Anthony Barbieri scored to take the game to a penalty shoot-out where Matt Pessina produced 2 vital saves and Daniel Robilotta stepped up to score the decisive penalty. Matthew Clyne, Greg Horgan and Adam Schulz won the respective Best and Fairest awards. Ned Halliday, Nick Eakin and Nick McCormack were recognised as the outstanding clubmen. 55 players represented the club in 2002 – a mix of Old Xaverians, non-Xaverians, experienced soccer players and soccer rookies. Members of the playing group ranged from the 2001 Xavier First XI graduates of Matthew Clyne, Matthew Pessina and Adrian Ubaldi to the 35 year old Bundesliga veteran Peter Kozle. 2003The Old Xaverians Soccer Club was formally accepted into the VSF Provisional League Division 3 in December 2002 capping a remarkable rise in the space of one short year. In 2003, the Club fielded two teams in the VSF Provisional League and another two in the Amateur Soccer League in a more ‘social’ environment. A mid table finish for the Seniors in their first season in the VSF proved to be the foundation for success the following season. The signing of playmaker Anthony De Luca just before the transfer deadline from Premier League side Fawkner would be the catalyst for the club’s surge up the ladder in following years. He marked his debut against Dandenong Sparrows at Myrtle Park with a goal, the first of his 47 goals in just 51 appearances. Luciano Fioravanti signed off as OXSC senior coach after a successful two years at the helm. 2004The OXSC continued to grow in playing numbers and off-field strength, with the four teams representing the club in 2004. The resignation of new coach Jamie James on the eve of the new season provided some early challenges. The Seniors (coached by Michael Sette and captained by Anthony De Luca) secured promotion to the VSF Provisional League Division 2 with a victory in the final game of the season against Endeavour Hills. The OXSC produced the best performance of their history with an emphatic 5-1 victory as Anthony De Luca returned from the University Games in China, Andrew Vittadello recovered in time after a wretched run of injuries and Adrian Ubaldi made his first senior appearance for six months after a trip to Europe. The game was effectively over in the first two minutes as Gianni Bramante put Anthony De Luca through on goal with a cultured 20 metre pass with the outside of his right foot after just 30 seconds and then player coach Michael Sette scored at the back post just a minute later. Anthony De Luca added another three goals to take his season tally to a record 25 goals and 17 assists in 19 games.
2005OXSC fielded four teams once again and appointed ex-Socceroo Fausto Tarquinio as senior coach. The club moved its home playing base to Hays Paddock after two and a half successful years at Myrtle Park. Once again the fate of the senior team was to be decided in the final game of the season. A hard fought yet decisive 5-2 win against the odds not only denied Lyndale United promotion but also saved the OXSC from relegation. Goalkeeper Damian Cilmi was outstanding in the first half with the game still tied at 0-0 while Anthony De Luca, Andrew Vittadello and Niki Cunningham all scored on a memorable day for the club. The only negatives on the day were the serious leg injuries sustained by Michael Blazincic and Daniel Lombardi in the earlier Reserves game. 2005 was also notable for the goalscoring exploits of Reserve coach Chris Ketsakidis who notched a club high 5 goals in the Reserves victory over Noble Park in round 16.
2006The OXSC consolidated its teams into 3 squads to play in the Football Federation of Victoria. The new-look Socials team competed in the FFV for the first time. The departure of key players before the season began and then coach Fausto Tarquinio mid-year ensured a testing year for the OXSC senior team. It eventually secured survival in the division with a 7-0 victory over Noble Park. Andrew Vittadello, ably supported by the consistent performances of Giorgio Perelli and Simon Ventoruzzo, was appointed coach in round 10 and marked the occasion with a last minute winner against Noble Park. He was to win the top goalscorer and best and fairest awards, suitable recognition for his contributions throughout the year.
2007The OXSC Committee unanimously voted to rejoin the Amateur League of Victoria. Damian Cilmi was appointed as coach of the OXSC Seniors while Cameron Rawlings took charge of the OXSC Thirds with Gianni Bramante (Seniors), Phil Barcellona (Reserves) and Peter Gregory (Thirds) installed as captains. A number of new players were signed and it was the addition of the likes of best and fairest winner Peter Twomey from Sydney and runner-up Scott Callahan recruited from Princeton University (USA) that ensured the OXSC Seniors were title contenders. After a promising start inspired by the goalscoring exploits of Adrian Ubaldi and Simon Ventoruzzo, the Seniors headed the table at the half-way mark of the season but faltered with the loss of key defenders Marco Stella and Sefan Sorani through injury. The OXSC Reserves recovered from a slow start to notch 7 out of 8 wins in the second half of the season and finish in the top 4 while the Thirds battled bravely all season without much reward.
2008It was a case of so near but so far for the OXSC in 2008 with both the Seniors and Reserves squads mounting sustained title challenges but finding Middle Park too consistent by year’s end. Both teams finished second with Andrew Vittadello (Seniors), Tom Pearse and Alex Balaton (Reserves) and Jonas Beard (Thirds) recognised as the year’s best and fairest winners.
2009In their third season back in the Amateur League, the OXSC comprehensively dominated both the Seniors and Reserves league seasons and both sides were rightly crowned champions at the conclusion of 2009. After overcoming a broken leg sustained against Hellenic Moorabbin in late 2008, former Bradford City player Liam Flynn dominated the competition from start to finish with 15 goals and 13 assists in 16 games and was acclaimed as the team’s best and fairest player (with Nick Butler securing second for a very consistent season in the centre of defence). The OXSC Reserves emerged undefeated with a remarkable 17 wins and 5 draws from 22 games to finally overcome their nemesis Middle Park. The 11 point gap between the OXSC and Middle Park in second place was a fitting recognition of the team’s consistent season with Chris Ketsakidis top-scoring with 7 goals and Peter Gregory best and fairest. The highlight of the season was the 4-0 demolition away to Albert Park in round 18 to wrap up the title with four rounds remaining . The OXSC thirds continued their improvement with a ninth placing – Brendan Pegiel (best and fairest), Tim Mullaly (runner up best and fairest) and Kieran Hickie (top goalscorer) were their stand-out performers.
2010Hugh Tobin was installed as Club President following a successful 9 year leadership from Peter De Luca (inaugural President). Hugh oversaw another successful year on and off the pitch with the Reserves winning back-to-back titles and memorable club functions including a Trivia Night which witnessed the naming of the “Old Clyne End” and the “De Luca End” of Hays Paddock for the first time.
2011OXSC returned to the Football Federation of Victoria in 2011, fielding Seniors, Reserves and Thirds squads in the Thirds League (Division 1, Division 3 South-East and Division 6 North-West). A fourth OXSC team was re-established (for the first time since 2005) in response to player demand and was eventually nicknamed the ‘Ducks’. The OXSC chose to field the Ducks in the VicSoccer league as a show of support for the new administration following the tragic death of VicSoccer CEO John Kelly. Damian Cilmi took charge of the Seniors for a fifth year, whilst Andrew Kavanagh & Greg Horgan (Reserves), Rick Perri (Thirds) and Andrew Lachal (Ducks) were also appointed as coaches. All four teams acquitted themselves well with the Seniors and Reserves finishing third, the Thirds finishing fourth and the Ducks fifth in the Division 1 Afternoon Reserves comp. New faces featured at the top of the goalscoring charts for all four teams – Daniel Prossimo (20 goals in the Seniors), Chris Moloney (11 goals for the Reserves) and Gianni Chng (15 goals in the 3s and Ducks combined). At year’s end, Hugh Tobin (President) and Damian Cilmi (Seniors Coach) announced they would stand down from their positions after years of sterling service but both confirmed they would continue their involvement in the club in different capacities. Tim Mullaly was elected as President at the club’s AGM in November and the club resolved to add a fifth team for the first time in its history – a women’s team which would begin playing under the OXSC banner in season 2012.
20122012 ended in the best way possible for the OXSC with the Seniors winning the championship on a dramatic final day. Having started the day three points behind the league leaders, the OXSC convincingly beat Old Marcellin 7-1, leaving the fate of the championship in the hands of Dandenong Thunder. The OXSC crowd was soon celebrating as word got back that Dandenong had been beaten 1-0 by Bayside. Congratulations must go to all players who contributed throughout the year and a special mention to Andrew Hainsworth, who coached the team to a championship in his first season in charge, before moving overseas to Finland in late 2012. The other men’s teams acquitted themselves well but ultimately were a little disappointed not to secure a top two finish (or two) with the Reserves finishing fourth, the Thirds third and the Ducks tenth.The inaugural OXSC women’s team now popularly known as the ‘Sirens’ enjoyed a successful debut season under the guidance of coach Jorge Gero with a solid seventh position in the league. The Sirens rounded off the season in impressive style with a 5-0 whitewash of Fitzroy City in round 18 and topscorer Alexya Campbell received the Paul Trimboli Medal for her haul of 21 goals. The club held its 10 Year Anniversary Dinner at Crown in June and named its Team of the Decade (La Torre, Marazita, Butler, M Clyne, M Sette, Flynn, Fragale, Vittadello, Bramante, Ubaldi, A De Luca, D Clyne, Prossimo, Robilotta, Stella, Voss) and International Team of the Decade (Brown, Hainsworth, Esnault, Ashe, Antoni, Kavanagh, Callahan, Kozle, De La Pava, Perelli, Flynn, Balaton, Ficici, Longo, Melvin, Tamanas, Toomey). Damian Cilmi and Luciano Fioravanti were also named as the respective coaches of the teams.
The Paul Trimboli MedalPaul Trimboli is the only ex-Xavier College student to have represented the Socceroos at senior level. He began his senior career at the age of 19 (and scored in his first World Cup qualifying campaign against Israel) and rounded it off 14 years later with his final Socceroo appearance against Tahiti.At the end of 2004, the OXSC struck a medal in his honour, awarded to the OXSC player who has scored the most goals in that particular season. Paul attended the 2004 Presentation Evening and personally presented the award.Paul has expressed an interest in acting as a consultant to the OXSC. The club values the expertise of one of the most respected and admired players in the Australian soccer community who we can proudly claim as an Old Xaverian.
2002 – Adrian Ubaldi (15 goals)2003 – Vinny Kearns (12 goals)2004 – Anthony De Luca (25 goals)2005 – Anthony De Luca & James Lachal (15 goals)2006 – Evan Tamanas (10 goals)2007 – Adrian Ubaldi (13 goals)2008 – Andy Lachal (14 goals)2009 – Liam Flynn (15 goals)2010 – Evan Tamanas (14 goals)2011 – Daniel Prossimo (20 Goals)2012 – Alexya Campbell (21 goals