The Old Xaverians Soccer Club is an Australian semi-professional soccer club based in the Melbourne suburb of Kew East. The club was founded in February 2002 by alumni & parents of Jesuit school Xavier College with backing from the Old Xaverian Association, the Associated Old Boys Soccer Association, the school's administration, and members of Melbourne's Italian community.
Operating under license from Football Victoria, the club fields a Senior Men's squad that competes in the Melbourne Metropolitan Men's league system, and operates a mixed gender youth academy. From 2012 to 2021, the club also fielded a Senior Women's squad that competed in the Victorian Women's state league system.
History Establishment and debut season (2001–2002) The Old Xaverians Soccer Club was established in early 2002 following a meeting of Xavier College alumni in November 2001. The Steering Committee consisted of Peter De Luca, Jamie McCormack, James Nicholls, John Ubaldi, Peter Clyne and Phil Barcellona. The club was founded in tradition of other prominent Old Xaverians sporting clubs, and is a member of the Old Xaverian Association and the Associated Old Boys Soccer Association, along with support of the school's administration and Melbourne's Italian community.
Former Victorian Premier League and Brunswick Juventus midfielder Luciano Fioravanti was signed as inaugural Senior Men's head coach, and the club was successfully granted entry into the independent Amateur Soccer Federation Victoria (ASFV) for the 2002 season. The club's inaugural season was a success having fielded three teams, in which all were competitive that saw the senior squad earn their first premiership and cup tournament victory. The senior squad finished first on the ladder of ASFV division 2, the reserve squad finished second in the respective reserve league, and the thirds, then known as 'the Socials' finished fourth in the higher division of ASFV Division 1. The club's first-ever match was played at Xavier College against Arlaadi United in what would be a dominant 9–0 victory with a squad average age of 20. At the season's conclusion, the senior team had finished first on the ladder, with the reserves finishing third, and the thirds finishing fourth, creating a culture of both enjoyment but with success to follow. Bundesliga and Swiss Super League veteran Peter Közle assisted in steering the club and its players in development, later earning him a spot in the club's team of the decade in 2012. At the annual general meeting, it was voted on and decided by the members that the club would pursue a license to compete in state league competitive football for 2003, and this was granted by Football Victoria.
First stint in State League football (2003–2006)
The club's first season of state league would be the eastern conference of the tier seven league, then known as the 'Provisional League 3'. Both the senior and reserves teams were to compete in this league whilst thirds and veterans' teams were kept in the amateur leagues. With a mid table finish for 2003, the seniors finished second on the ladder for 2004, an outcome that had depended on the final game of the season against Endeavour Hills. The match finished in a 5–1 emphatic victory with future team of the decade forward Anthony De Luca scoring four to secure promotion. It would be the first and last achievement at Myrtle Park in Balwyn before the club would move its home matches and administration to Hays Paddock in Kew East, and training at Willsmere Park also in Kew East, which is still effective as of September 2019. The conclusion of the season also saw the introduction of the 'Paul Trimboli' medal to be awarded to the highest goal scorer of the club across all teams, named after the former Xaverian and multiple National Soccer League championship winner, as well as a winner of multiple awards for the Socceroos.
Although setting newer and stronger foundations for the club by moving to Hays Paddock, 2005 saw a tougher year for the club but ended in relief when senior team narrowly avoided relegation in the last of the season. The first match at 'Hays' ended in a 2–2 draw with the future league winner Brandon Park on 9 April in round two. The second game would be the week after in round three on 16 April would be the first day of victory against fellow old boys club Old Melburnians, finishing in a 4–1 victory. OXSC, already in the relegation zone of the ladder were to play the third-placed Lyndale United away who needed to win to be promoted. An against all odds 5–2 victory saw the club avoid relegation, and stop Lyndale from being promoted. However, celebrations that day were kept minimal as two serious injuries had occurred in the reserves game prior. 2006 would be another tough year for the club with decision to withdraw veterans team and have the thirds compete in the state league as well. The senior battled hard during the season but managed to avoid relegation again after a 7–0 victory over last place and to be relegated, Noble Park. At the annual general meeting, despite being competitive enough as a club to remain in sixth tier knowing that there were multiple tiers below, it was decided that the club would make a full return to the amateur leagues with the intentions to return to state football at an unstated later date. This would not occur until late 2010.
Returning to Amateur football (2007–2010) The 2007 and 2008 seasons would prove to be years of resetting foundations of the club to ensure future success. 2007 saw all three teams, seniors, reserves and thirds all finishing mid table in their respective divisions. 2008 saw both the seniors and reserves come close to first place with Middle Park being consistent in their dominant season, with thirds finishing mid table in their respective division. Success was finally brought to Hays Paddock in 2009 with both the seniors and reserves finish strongly in both divisions with new nemesis Middle Park coming close in both leagues. Coming off a broken leg in 2008, former Bradford City and Guiseley player Liam Flynn was crucial to the success of the season in scoring fifteen goals and providing thirteen assists in his sixteen appearances for the club, earning him both the Paul Trimboli medal and club best and fairest. The reserves were undefeated for the season with seventeen wins and five draws, with victory of round eighteen proving to be the sealing match of the season, again over nemesis Middle Park. The thirds continued to battle on finishing ninth for the season. 2010 saw the reserves team for the first time in the club's history win back-to-back championships, with the seniors and thirds both finishing mid table respectively. It was decided at the 2010 annual general meeting that the club would reapply for an FFV state league license, and was granted.
Returning to State League football and new foundations (2011–2012) Upon successful application for a state football license, the club fielded three teams in various state league divisions. The club also reincarnated the veterans' team due to an abundance of players but was kept in the amateur league. Positive signs were present at the season's conclusions with the seniors and reserves both finishing third in their respective divisions of 'Men's Thirds 1' (then tier nine) and 'Men's Thirds 3' (then tier eleven) in the south-eastern conference. The thirds finished fourth for the state's fourteenth tier, then known as 'Men's Thirds 6' participating in the south-eastern conference, and the veterans, then nicknamed 'the ducks' finished fifth in the amateur division one afternoon reserves competition. It would be the last time as of 2019 that the club has fielded a team in the amateur divisions, as the club successfully entered the veterans team into the state league system for 2012. The new year would also be of a major step forward for the football club with the decision to establish a females' football department, with both senior & reserves teams having immediate entry into the state league system.
2012 saw success and positive signs for the respective five sides within the club. The senior men's squad celebrated its third championship, being its first in-state league premiership in the Men's Thirds 1 league, following a close third-placed finished in 2011. The reserve men's and senior women's squads would both finish mid table within their respective leagues, while the men's third squad finished second in the Men's Thirds Division 5 North-Western conference. The veterans finished near the bottom but would create strong chemistry between the playing group as a result that would see tremendous success in the years to follow. Both the men's thirds and veterans would be promoted by three tiers following a reshuffle of teams in the state league competition.
Mid season, the club celebrated its ten-year anniversary at the prestigious Crown Palladium Ballroom. By this time, the club had achieved two titles and four runners-up achievements across its five teams with the men's seniors and thirds teams to achieve their awards that year. The club announced its team of the decade featuring Ennis La Torre, Paul Marazita, Nicholas Butler, Matthew Clyne, Michael Sette, Liam Flynn, Michael Fragale, Andrew Vittadello, Gianni Bramante, Adrian Ubaldi, Anthony De Luca, D Clyne, Daniel Prossimo, Joseph Robilotta, Marco Stella, and Thomas Voss. A second team due to the extensive global network created by the school, thus being named as the 'International team of the decade' for players living overseas or were born overseas. This list consisted of Brown, Hainsworth, Michael Esnault, Ashe, Antoni, Andrew Kavanagh, Callahan, Peter Kozle, Juan De La Pava, Giorgio Perelli, Liam Flynn, Balaton, Ficici, Longo, Melvin, Tamanas, and Toomey. Current (as of 2019) vice-president Damian Cilmi and Luciano Fioravanti were also named as the respective coaches of the two teams.
Success and promotions (2013–2016) The four seasons of 2013 through to 2016 would see five championships and four promotions across all five teams respectively. Across the men's reserves, thirds and veterans teams, the club saw championship achievement across all four years. The men's senior squad would start the era slowly by finishing mid table of the Victorian State League Division 5 (tier seven) eastern conference for 2013. After learning from the hardships and disappointments of 2013, the team would finish second in 2014, resulting in promotion from division five (tier seven) to division four in the eastern conference. 2015 and 2016 would see mid table finishes for both seasons but would set up the team for a strong year in 2017.
The men's reserve squad would enjoy a successful era in this time, finishing in the top three in all four relevant seasons. The squad finished second twice in a row for the 2013 and 2014 seasons in the state league five reserve's division, but would finally win its first state league championship in 2015 by finishing first in the state league four reserve's division by one point ahead of University of Melbourne SC. In 2016 a handful of player departures would negatively affect the squad which would also affect the thirds. Some unlucky results on the day despite valiant efforts would see the team fall to third for 2016. Despite being on equal points with Ringwood City, the victories of the reserve games would often be won more than two three goals which saw the team have goal difference as an asset as team finished ahead by fifteen goals.